Cell Phones, Advice, Editor's Picks, iPhone, Mobile Phones
Should You Get the New iPhone 3GS?
At least one Web site refuses to swallow the story whole, though. The popular tech blog TechCrunch's M.G. Siegler recently wrote an opinion piece arguing that the iPhone 3GS might not be the best bet. But then again, he lays that blame squarely at the feet of AT&T, only backing up our argument that the media may love Apple a bit too much to give a fair assessment.
It's hard to argue with his logic, though. As Siegler points out, AT&T will not be subsidizing the price of the upgrade for existing iPhone 3G customers (as it did for the upgrade from the first-generation iPhone to the iPhone 3G). When the iPhone 3G launched, AT&T offered it for a single price, $199, to new subscribers and existing iPhone customers alike, regardless of whether or not their contracts were up for renewal. Not so with the iPhone 3G. If you jumped on the iPhone 3G last year, you'll have to either wait another year to get the discount, or pay face value for the 3GS ($399 for the 16-gigabyte version, or $499 for the 32-gigabyte). Of course, if you're new to the iPhone or AT&T, or if you bought the original iPhone back in 2007 and your contract is up for renewal, then you can get the new iPhone 3GS for the nice price of $199.
Even worse, AT&T has yet to lock up exclusivity of the Apple handset. Currently, the contract between the two companies is set to expire in 2010, though AT&T is trying to extend that through 2011. If it fails to do so, you can expect the iPhone to find its way onto other carriers pretty quickly. This means that Verizon fans just might want to wait a year before they sign up for a 2-year contract with AT&T just to get an iPhone (we're not promising anything, though).
Given these stumbling blocks, what's the point of upgrading to or buying the new iPhone 3GS? We've come up with a few pros and cons.
Why you should upgrade: The primary reason you might want to get the new iPhone 3GS is because it's the fastest iPhone so far. The current iPhone is sleek and fancy, but certainly not a speed demon. Many purely 2-D games stutter and freeze, and even basic tasks, such as opening a text message, can sometimes take up to 30 seconds. The iPhone 3GS packs a significantly faster processor, more RAM, and a new 3-D graphics processor capable of handling much more complex imagery (in other words, games will more realistic and run more smoothly). Game developers are loving this new processor, and you'll likely see a number of games hit the App Store that require the 3GS and won't run on older iPhones at all.
Then there are the other perks that come with the upgrade, like the upgraded camera with auto-white-balance, auto-focus, and video capabilities. Naturally, it won't replace your point-and-shoot, but it should finally bring the iPhone up to speed with most other feature phones. And don't forget the digital compass, which may not sound like a major feature, but will make finding your way using the included Google Maps app much easier.
Why you shouldn't upgrade: Besides the pricing issues described above, the iPhone 3GS isn't such a big leap forward in technology that current 3G owners will be driven to assaulting those eligible for the upgrade. The move to 7.2 Mbps HSDPA (double the download speed of the current iPhone 3G) is only useful in areas where AT&T will actually upgrade its network (no specific areas or time frame have been announced), and if you can keep a 3G signal for longer than two minutes. AT&T's service is almost universally panned, and is notoriously spotty in many major metropolitan areas.We can tell you that coverage in New York City (where the Switched offices are located) is infuriatingly inconsistent and often slow.
Also, if you already on an iPhone, then many of the benefits of the iPhone 3.0 software update -- cut-and-pasting ability, MMS, a landscape keyboard for all apps, and turn-by-turn directions using the GPS -- will come to you in the way of an automatic software download and installation.
Bottom line: For users of the first gen iPhone -- or some other aging handset, like (gasp) the RAZR -- the iPhone 3GS might be a worthwhile upgrade. Ditto those who don't own iPhones at all, as $199 is a competitive price for a pretty advanced smartphone, and it's simply the best for watching video and listening to music on the go (especially if you already use iTunes). Make sure to check with other AT&T customers in your area to find out about 3G coverage if you're planning on doing a lot of Web surfing or like to use apps that need a Web connection, though. Another option, if you're a first-gen iPhone owner, is an upgrade to the standard iPhone 3G, which AT&T will be selling for $99 with a two-year contract. The 3G is still a capable handset, and more advanced than most other phones at that price point, which often lack touch screens, and can't match the iPhone's Web browser or catalog of applications. We expect Google, BlackBerry, Palm, and Microsoft to slip into panic mode any day now.
Our advice if you're a current iPhone 3G customer? Wait. The smart phone market is changing so quickly you may regret dropping $399 on phone just because you're impatient. Besides, you have another year left on your contract to see where the burgeoning smartphone market is going. . Android, Google's fledgling smart phone OS, is just starting to come into its own, Palm is experiencing a resurgence, Windows Mobile will be getting a major update in the next year, and BlackBerry is not resting on its laurels either.
In other words we're just now entering the golden age of affordable and advanced smartphones, iPhone 3G owners, so sit back, check out the new releases, save your money, and revisit this decision again in a year. [From: TechCrunch]
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
savvysausage said 5:57PM on 6-12-2009
I live in Atlanta and have a horrible time with reception. I previously was a Verizon client for 10 years. Verizon reception was awesome! I bought the iPhone 3G recently and like the phone. However, I am considering going back to Verizon and eating the extra cost just to get good reception again...
Reply
STAMOS said 6:52AM on 6-13-2009
ok let start i am owner of iphone 3g firmware version 2.2.1 unlock THE WORST PHONE I EVER HAD i am not sales man or someone who has to win from say that this phone is beta and the marketer and the big companys lunch it apple faild to bring something good in the market and that is iphone i will replace it soon with other brand iss not worth it to have a phone that drop calls every 1 min looses battery instanly
Reply
dude123 said 12:34AM on 6-14-2009
First if all, what the hell are you talking about? You are the most illiterate person I have come across in many years, and I'm 16. I have no idea what you're trying to say; there's absolutely no punctuation in any of your sentences, including periods; and your overall statement is just sloppy. For the future, if you're trying to make a point, make it clearly and get a bit more educated.
p.s. I'm 16 years old and I speak better than you.
gsan201 said 9:22AM on 6-13-2009
It blows my mind when even people like this fail to mention or maybe stil has a bias for the Iphone but pretend to be unbiased. The Pre's browser is better then Iphones and even though the screen is a litle smaller it is far more vibrant and better looking,even Palm's 3 Megapixel Cam is better then the Iphones and even phones with 5 megapixel and more. The other thing besides ATT very spotty coverage is that the IPHONE service plan will cost you from $30 to over $50 more a month over the Palm Pre or evn the new Touch Pro 2(whose screen is bigger and brighter then the Iphones and most specs are better too) on Sprint.
$30 more a month for Iphone is $720 more
$50 more is a staggering $1200 more for the 2 year contract it wil cost you for the Iphone. These guys can pretend that thee Iphone is cheap at $99 or $199 upfront but it is the Costs(hidden) they will not tell you about that makes their articles very very DISHONEST and quite EVIL IMHO. tsk tsk shame on you for lying to people.
Reply
tbaby said 5:15AM on 6-18-2009
There is nothing dishonest or evil about the $30 charge for the iphone data package that ATT requires with the iphone. Every ATT website or advertisement for this device tells you about it if you would do your research before you jump into something. Even Apples website advises you that data package is required with the iPhone.
ladycreek728 said 1:08PM on 7-16-2009
I agree with you! The dropped call's alone are staggering! It is just not worth the hidden fee's. Put the info out there where we can get the most for our buck and stop telling us half truth's.
jay said 6:54PM on 7-01-2009
RJD, Inc. located in Marina Del Rey, California, would like to display our proprietary compression process for iMovies from DVD for view in an MP4 format on an iPhone, iPod, or PC.
We have developed a unique process that allows us to optimize the compression of any movie from DVD to almost half the size, which can be downloaded in half the time, and requires half the battery power to run, than any current application available on the market for view on an iPhone, iPod, or PC with Quicktime. We can fit 2 RJDUC compressed movies in the same storage capacity as ONE iTunes iMovie.
Obviously, this offers a tremendous advantage over the existing iMovies. We would like to make an appointment with you at your convenience to discuss our process.
We look forward to hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to display our latest developments in optimal compression technology.
“We’ve done, what they said couldn’t be done” ! RP
Best Regards, Jay S
RJD, Inc.
Contact : jay@rjdenergy.com
Comparison Spiderman
RJD iTunes iMovies
Size: 752 megs. 1.35 Gb.
Bit rate: 127 127
Total bit rate 860 1562
Video dimensions 320 X 240 853 X 354
Time to download 11
Reply
Dette said 4:13PM on 7-16-2009
tbaby: As well as that, I would NOT want to have my iPhone without a data plan (Ok I probably would..) but having a data plan is part of what makes the iPhone so good. I say that and I had Sprint for 7 years, I had the Moto Q, Moto Q9C, HTC Mogul, HTC Touch, and the HTC Touch Pro. and I am glad I now have the iPhone and I am still big into Windows Mobile but even with AT&T's crappy service I like the iPhone better and I never thought I would say that
Reply
JSams4131 said 11:05PM on 7-24-2009
yeah!
Reply
titsmacgee said 3:19PM on 10-12-2009
I read STAMOS's "statement"... then read dude123's reply... I laughed so hard.
Ahem, but that's not the point. The point i'm trying to make is the data package makes the iphone--the iphone. Yeah, it's $30 a month which is fairly reasonable in my opinion, but think about what the iphone is capable of doing: music, video, email, internet (3G or wireless), GPS, and a hell of a lot more than I can think of at this moment. 4/5 members of my household have an iphone 3G or 3Gs. Unfortunately I happen to be the only person without one, which I must say absolutely sucks. I have the blackjack II with windows mobile and am completely fed up with the bull crap associated with this delinquent device. Compare the capabilities of the data package of a iphone 3Gs, 3G, or even the first generation ipod to a--oh i don't know: blackjack II. For relatively the same price a month (approx $30), the iphone provides a gratuitous amount of accessibility to entertainment and production. The blackjack II does... well I stopped caring about what it does because it's practically nothing apart from having a 2"x2" display of the worst version of Internet Explorer. Think your fed up with Internet Explorer on a computer? Try it on a blackjack II and quickly find yourself throwing the damn thing out of the window. Apple and AT&T have teamed up to create one hell of a phone service that makes others such as Windows Mobile and Blackberry look like complete garbage. My suggestion--get it. If not the 3Gs then the 3G. Both are great phones for a fair price. Me? I've just ordered my 3Gs from AT&T. Excuse me while I remove the blackjack II from under the leg of the wobbly table--I think Internet Explorer has just finished crashing and finally downloaded my email inbox.
Reply