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iPhone 3G -- Latest News and Reviews

iPhone 3G D-Day Roundup
Yes folks, the dearly anticipated iPhone 3G is here, released this morning at Apple and AT&T stores around the country (and around the world yesterday). It's faster, it's cheaper, it does more cool things, and while the fanfare leading up to this launch hasn't quite resulted in the same level of obsession that we had this time last year for the iPhone 1.0 launch, it's safe to say that Apple fans are excited, lining up in droves around the globe for their local Apple Stores to unlock the door and spread the love, and then overloading Apple's iPhone mobile syncing service when they got home (and, more recently, Apple's activation servers, though this may have been resolved by the time you read this).

And why not? Engadget's comprehensive hands-on review reads like a wish-list for iPhone 1.0 users, including much improved call quality over the original, location tracking via GPS (but no turn-by-turn directions, check the vid after the break), and a standard headphone jack that doesn't require an adapter.

Not all is positive, though, as you still can't replace the battery, which is frustrating as connecting via 3G halves battery life to 5 hours of talk time. The much-anticipated full interaction with Exchange -- for syncing with your work e-mail -- will purge your device of any personal e-mail and calendar appointments, meaning this thing is strictly business or pleasure, but not both.

So it's not all positive, echoing the earlier pre-release reviews, and it's still not exactly an ideal corporate smartphone, not least because of the touch-sensitive keypad. Maybe that's why many more casual users are going to wait until the holidays.

All that said, whether you dive in now or wait for later, the reasonable $200 price tag makes it hard to feel all that slighted -- unless you paid $599 last year for half of the same thing.

iPhone 3G Pricing Detailed



Only 10 more days till the updated Jesus phone hits the shelves and some details about pricing are finally starting to make the rounds of the Internet. Of course, with that surprising price drop for the iPhone (which we all knew was too good to be true) comes some hefty price hikes on data and voice plans, as well as some draconian activation limitations.

Folks who already own an iPhone, new subscribers, and existing AT&T customers eligible for an upgrade will be able to pick the iPhone for $199 (8-gigabyte) or $299 (16-gigabyte). Existing customers not eligible for an upgrade will have to cough up $399 or $499. Either way, you'll have to sign a new two-year contract, get an iPhone-specific data and voice plan, and activate the phone in the store -- at least at first. Though it offered no time line, AT&T said it plans to offer a "contract free" option for a sizable premium that lands the 8-gigabyte (GB) iPhone at $599 and the 16-gigabyte model at $699. Exactly what "contract free" means, though, remains to be seen.

Individual plans (unlimited data included)
  • $69.99 - 450 anytime minutes, 45¢ each additional minute, 5,000 night / weekend minutes
  • $89.99 - 900 anytime minutes, 40¢ each additional minute, unlimited night / weekend minutes
  • $109.99 - 1,350 anytime minutes, 35¢ each additional minute, unlimited night / weekend minutes
  • $129.99 - Unlimited minutes
Individual text plans
  • $5 - 200 messages per month
  • $15 - 1,500 messages per month
  • $20 - Unlimited messages
Family plans (2 lines, $39.99 each additional line, unlimited data & night / weekend minutes included)
  • $129.99 - 700 anytime minutes, 45¢ each additional minute
  • $149.99 - 1,400 anytime minutes, 40¢ each additional minute
  • $169.99 - 2,100 anytime minutes, 35¢ each additional minute
  • $209.99 - 3,000 anytime minutes, 25¢ each additional minute
  • $259.99 - 4,000 anytime minutes, 20¢ each additional minute
  • $359.99 - 6,000 anytime minutes, 20¢ each additional minute
  • $259.99 - Unlimited minutes ($129.99 each additional line)
Family text plans
  • $30 - Unlimited messages
  • 20¢ per message if no plan is selected

If you need a refresher as to what you get for allowing AT&T to plunder your bank account, then take a look at Apple's requisite walk through of the iPhone 3G's features and menus.

The first nut-bags, sorry, customers, will be able to get their greasy fan-boy hands on the new 3G iPhones at 8am July 11th, though we wouldn't be shocked if there are already a few dedicated loons waiting on line. [Source: Engadget]

Rumor Mill: What Apple Might Announce on Monday

Rumor Mill: What Apple Might Announce on Monday
On Monday Apple will host its World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, where rumors are circulating that Apple will announce anything from the new 3G iPhone to a Steve-Jobs-manned mission to Mars. But what can you actually expect to come out of those few days in San Francisco? Here are the four announcements we think Mr. Jobs is most likely to make during his keynote Monday morning.

3G iPhone

This one is sort of a no-brainer. We know the release of this faster, upgraded iPhone is right around the corner -- the only question left is how soon can we get our grubby mitts on it. Rumors have circulated that it will be available worldwide on day one, but we wouldn't count on that. The FCC and other regulatory bodies have yet to see the new phone (if they had, we would know about it), so we figure you probably won't be able to purchase one for about a month, but we do think they're coming sooner rather than later.

iTunes App Store
When Apple announced the iPhone SDK, it also announced it would provide a central market place for the purchase of applications for your iPhone (games, instant-messaging software, etc). The App Store icon is in place, developers have started creating products -- all that is missing is the actual store itself. Don't be surprised when it goes live Monday afternoon.

OS X 10.5.4
Didn't Apple just release an update to its OS X operating system? Sure, but the secretive company wouldn't want to let any potential details about its new 3G iPhone slip with something as innocuous as small operating system update. So expect yet another round of bug fixes and drivers for those shiny new iPhones.

.Mac relaunch
This one is a bit more of a long shot. The .Mac service has been floudering for years. Apple has added new funtionality and kept it useful, but for the features the price is simply too high, and the inteface a bit dated. The rumor mill is suggesting that the .Mac will get rebranded and relaunched with the help of the other tech company du jour - Google.
Engadget

Is This the New iPhone?

Well here's an interesting one. French iPhone blog iPhon.fr got these pics from an anonymous and unverified source, and while there's no way of telling if the shots are legit, they certainly have a truthy ring to them. They follow what we know so far about the shape, size and color of the upcoming 3G iPhone, and while there's always the possibility of knockoff, a Photoshop job, or some other evil plot to mislead us, we're certainly not going to discount these shots entirely in the runup to iPhone's second coming. [Source: iPhone.fr]

[Thanks, Janvier]

3G iPhone Expected On June 9?

Cheaper, 3G iPhones Expected in June

We've been awaiting the announcement of the 3G iPhone since, well, the announcement of the first-gen iPhone ages ago. Many were disappointed at that first announcement that Apple's first phone wouldn't take advantage of the fastest wireless network features of the day and felt sure that the company would rectify it later with an updated phone. Now, analysts believe, we're not far from the release of the newer, faster iPhones, and they also believe we'll see some other, cheaper iPhone models as well.

A few weeks ago AT&T's Mobility CEO indicated that the 3G iPhone was coming within three months, and this latest report backs that up. Then there's the rumored "2.5G" iPhone, which will feature the same basic features as the original iPhone in a slightly redesigned package, also at a lower price: between $299 and $349. It's expected that these phones will be announced on June 9, during a Worldwide Developers Conference keynote that Steve Jobs will give, and, in typical Apple style, will find its way to retailers not long after.

So, again, while we'd hate to hinder Apple's plans to sell 10-million iPhones this year, we also say that right now seems like a really bad time to upgrade if you were thinking of investing in one of Apple's wunder-phones. Wait a couple of months -- you'll thank us later. [Source: PC World]
Engadget

New Nike+ iPod Going Wi-Fi and 3G


Stuff.tv is kicking back in Nike's HQ at the moment and claims to have official word about Nike's future plans with Apple. It says that the Nike+ system will be "definitely" extend beyond the iPod nano to support the relatively bulky iPhone and iPod touch. Interestingly, it will leap-frog the proprietary wireless RF link between the shoe module and nano adapter to take advantage of Wi-Fi and eventually 3G.

This, of course, leads to all kinds of speculation with regard to Apple's "lifestyle companion" patent we showed you last month. 3G support would presumably allow for real-time coaching and uploads of your training activity through the Nike Plus website.

So let's see... cellphone (check), iPod (check), Internet device (check), handheld gaming (almost), and now a Nike lifestyle companion (could be).

Evidence of 3G iPhone in Software Update?

Evidence of 3G iPhone in Software Update?
Intrepid geeks have dug up an intriguing bit of code buried deep in the confines of the latest iPhone software update. Rooting through millions of lines of code revealed reference to "SGOLD3," which very well may be a reference to the follow up to the S-GOLD2 chip from Infineon that powers the current iPhone.

S-GOLD3 is a 3G cell phone chip capable of downloading data at 7.2 megabits per second, about three dozen times faster than the current EDGE network the iPhone is saddled with. Currently AT&T's network is only capable of 3.6 megabits down, but that is plenty fast for a truly rich internet browsing experience.

The chip also adds support for higher resolution cameras (5 megapixels instead of 2) and an SD/MMC slot. This just adds to the mounting evidence that an iPhone with a blazing fast 3G data connection is right around the corner.

From Engadget


What's 4G and Should You Even Care?

Verizon Wireless working on 4GWhen people talk about the future of wireless communication, they sometimes speak of 4G, which is short for Fourth Generation Communications System. This is a still pretty much undefined area of wireless communications, but simply put, it means fast data, voice, and streaming content everywhere you go at any time. And so its also the topic of much interest for wireless companies, such as AT&T and Verizon, which just announced some of their goals for the bigger, better, faster wireless Internet.

The FCC is starting to let these companies talk about their plans for the standard, which they say will allow better applications to be developed for wireless gaming, smartphone functionality and remote control of digital video recorders, among other tasks.

While 4G functionality and devices are still a ways off from being available (and 3G is still really in the implementation stage, as well), the fact that the wireless spectrum is being made available for use and development is a big step that could lead to powerful applications being created for personal and business use -- and, of course, to new revenue streams for the service providers (and we all know that's one of the biggest motivating factors for these companies).

The 4G standard will be able to provide speeds from 100 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second both indoors and outdoors, with the promise of greater quality and security (and we all know that's something personal and business users want).

What could this mean for you, dear reader? Well, right now, not a whole lot. But soon you'll start to see devices and products, both wireless and plugged in at home, that are more completely integrated.

From BetaNews.


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Faster 3G iPhone Coming Within Three Months

3G iPhone Coming Within

When it comes to gadgets, it seems there always has to be a fly in the ointment. For the iPhone, it's slow network speed. Yes, the device is a lovely piece of kit, with a smooth, functional UI (user interface) and a nice form-factor, but -- due to the slower AT&T EDGE network -- it doesn't deliver the speeds for Web surfing or e-mail downloading that competing 3G phones offer.

As a result, even since the iPhone's launch, there's been talk of a 3G version of the phone, which would offer considerably faster downloads. It's been mostly rumors, but now we have a pretty clear indication that the 3G iPhone will be out by this summer. That's because earlier this week, AT&T's Mobility CEO spilled the beans at a press event and told reporters that all of AT&T's smart devices would be offered in 3G flavors within the next three months, including the iPhone.

So, faster iPhones are good news, right? Yes, but there's still a catch: You won't be able to upgrade your current phones. If you took the plunge as an early adopter, or even if you waited a good six months before buying in, you're still going to be stuck with slower speeds than those who waited until this summer. Alas, those are the breaks.

But this is great news for anyone who held off on buying an iPhone, which is still most people. To those people, we would say wait until this summer before you plunk down any cash for an iPhone.

From TUAW

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Faster iPhones Expected Before Summer



The other shoe may be about to drop for those who have been holding off on buying an iPhone: According to analysts at Bank of America, Apple is expected to launch a high-speed (read: 3G) version of the device in the second quarter of 2008.

"Our latest channel checks point to a significant production build of a 3G iPhone beginning in the month of June after an initial small build in May," Bank of America analyst Scott Craig told Reuters. This falls in line with the thoughts of many other analysts, who have said they expect Apple to launch an advanced iPhone around that time -- right around Apple's World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC).

AT&T said last year it expects to be able to sell a 3G version of iPhone in 2008, but it declined to comment on specific launch dates last week.

From Reuters


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Chrysler to Offer Wireless Internet Access In Its Cars

Chrysler to Offer Internet Access in Its CarsChrysler is looking to pick up its sagging sales by being the first to offer in-car Internet access in the U.S. Later this year, an unspecified mobile broadband (read: cellular data) radio will be offered as an option on Chrysler vehicles, with the goal of making it standard on all of the company's cars down the road.

Inside the new cars, a Wi-Fi router will be installed to allow any Wi-Fi-enabled device to take advantage of the connection. That means no wasting your cell phone battery or messing with add-on cards to get your laptop online from the road. You'd simply connect to the car's Wi-Fi as you would to your home network.

At least initially, charges for a cellular data plan will apply.

From Engadget

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Verizon Reveals More Open Access Details

Verizon Reveals More Open Access Details
As promised Verizon offered up some more details about its open access plans, though some questions were still left unanswered, such as the specific requirements for certification and the price of getting devices certified.

By the second half of the year, the program should be in full swing. All retailers and handset makers will have to do is get their devices certified by Verizon, which claims the requirements are only slightly stronger than industry standards. There will be no limitations on the phones or software that can be run, which means by the end of the year we're sure to see Android and other platforms working on Verizon's high-speed EV-DO cellular data system.

There were two very exciting revelations about Verizon's plans. One, that the open access system will be extended to the company's 4G LTE ultra-high-speed data network, which should enter testing phases by the end of the decade. And two, that Verizon is considering a multi-device flat-rate subscription, which would allow you to use multiple devices on the network for the price of one.

From Engadget and Reuters

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OQO's Tiny PC Is First Computer On Sprint's New Wi-Max Network

OQO Updates Its Tiny PC, Becomes First Device on Sprint's New Wi-Max Network

You may not be familiar with the OQO 02 but the company is making some big announcements today regarding its pre-UMPC UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC). This tiny little device is a getting trio of upgrades that make the miniature Via-powered Windows computer even more lust worthy.

First up is a 64-gigabyte SSD (Solid State Drive). The 64-gig of Flash won't hold your massive collection of illegally downloaded movies, but it will make loading the bloated Vista and other applications dramatically faster. Then the company has fit the diminutive device with a sunlight readable screen, so when it warms up and gets sunny you can take this bad boy to the park and check your e-mail while everyone else does the things you're supposed to do in a park.

Lastly, and certainly not least, the OQO 02 now has Wi-Max, a 4G wireless technology that is just now beginning to see the light of day in the U.S. OQO has partnered with Sprint to make the OQO 02 the first device capable of running on Sprint's Xohm Wi-Max network. Xohm should average download speeds between 2 and 4 megabits per second, more than 2 to 4 times the speed of Sprint's current EVDO network. At speeds like that, streaming high-quality video over the air shouldn't be a problem, and, at last, thank goodness, the difference between access on your home PC and your mobile phone or mobile-broadband-capable computer won't be all that discernable.

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AT&T CEO Says High-Speed 3G iPhone Coming Next Year

AT&T CEO Says 3G iPhone Coming Next Year

>AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, told Bloomberg that the 3G iPhone that we had all hoped for is coming next year. Most of us expected the addition of near-broadband data capability to the iPhone, but confirmation such as this lets us rest easy since the device's current slower EDGE network (for surfing the Web and getting e-mail) is so five years ago! No date or any specifics are known beyond that, but presumably the phone will run on the same HSDPA network that the new BlackJack II uses.

Stephenson cited battery life as the reason the first generation was saddled with the pokey EDGE data network, saying that 3G chipsets are "real power hogs." Stephenson says the faster download speeds of AT&T's HSDPA network will come as battery technology improves, and hopes to get the talk time back up in the five-hours-plus range.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you haven't bought an iPhone already and can wait up to a year for the latest and greatest, you should definitely hold off! This is a real boon to anybody who's got a year left on their Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless accounts.

From Bloomberg (via Engadget)



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T-Mobile Finally Getting High-Speed 3G?

T-Mobile 3G Announcement Set for December 6?

According the Inquirer, there will be a major announcement regarding the oft-rumored and much-needed 3G upgrade for T-Mobile in the United States. The announcement is supposedly set for December 6th, just over a week away. This would mean that T-Mobile users might one day finally be able to get the near-broadband speeds for Web surfing and music and video downloading on their phones that people with Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T accounts have had for months and even years.

T-Mobile has been sitting on 3G capable spectrum since 2006, and even launched its first 3G capable phone, the Samsung T639, back in October, but still no mention of a network has been forthcoming.

Don't get too excited, though. Even if T-Mobile does unveil its new high -peed data network next Thursday, it is likely going to be a long time before there is widespread availability. Networks take a while to build out and it is unlikely that a company as high profile as T-Mobile could build it up in complete secrecy.

From The Inquirer

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