The new iPhone: Some pluses, some questions

Well, we got some of our wishes, at least. The new iPhone 3G, announced today at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, will indeed use a connection to a high-speed 3G network, one of the attributes on our top 5 wish list for the new phone, posted a few days ago. Apple chairman Steve Jobs even claimed performance would be faster than other 3G smartphones. The new phone boasts slighter thinner edges than the original, but retains a close family resemblance. (Click on the image at right for a closer look at the iPhone 3G.)

The new phone, which goes on sale on July 11 at $200 (for an 8-GB version) and $300 (for a 16-GB version) will also boast true, satellite-based GPS, another of our wish-list items, rather than the earth-based location technology of the current iPhone. (Click on image at left for a closer look at the original iPhone.)

On the other hand, the new phone will not add stereo Bluetooth capability, a feature we sought that would allow it to be used with pricey Bluetooth stereo headsets. But Apple has at least banished the old iPhone's much-derided recessed headphone jack, which demanded use of a third-party adapter to be used with any but the headphones supplied with the phone.

Less clear is whether the remaining two items on our list will be addressed. That is whether iPhone 3G will have voice command, a feature that's all-but-standard even on less pricey phones, or a last-number one-button redial. Neither feature was mentioned at the presentation or included in the online list of specifications for the device.

It's also unclear whether the phone will offer the option to operate solely on the slower AT&T EDGE (2G) network used by the current iPhone. The specifications for the iPhone 3G list talk-time figures for both 3G and 2G operation. That unusual differentiation seems to raise the possibility of being able to select 2G operation to conserve battery life, instead of the phone automatically selecting 3G operation where it's available, as is customary.

The new phone will add some other welcome features as a result of an upgrade to the iPhone's operating system. The upgrade will also be available free to owners of the original iPhone, and for $10 to owners of the iPod Touch, the iPhone-like music player. The enhancements from the new iPhone 2.0 operating system include:

• Support for Microsoft Office. For the first time, iPhone users will be able to open and edit documents in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and more.
• Better e-mail management. This includes the ability to move, delete, or reorganize a large group of e-mails.

As usual with such announcements, much remains unclear or up in the air. Among the points we'll be watching: What, if anything, Apple or AT&T, the exclusive iPhone carrier, may do to accommodate those who want a new iPhone and are in the middle of the mandatory two-year service commitment for an old iPhone.

—Mike Gikas

Comments

[Alan]

I'll be on my 4th replacement Iphone/3g/16GB: the face plate icons freeze up and it is necessary to turn off the phone to correct the problem/ (the face plate turns black), plus using the iphone for 1-hour of talk time and 3-hours of sleep time the battery is LOW, and it is necessary to charge it completely with the 110V charger the phone came with. What is the solution:....?

I also own the original iphone (June 29, 2007) and never experienced any problems.

[Patricia]

Josep, it's not a matter of how many people carry a spare battery, but when I'm out of town, I may find myself with an unexpected low battery and no immediate means of charging or time to wait for a recharge. I carry a spare, charged battery at all times. My personal choice.

With the iPhone, if the battery completely dies, you have to physically take it into an AT&T store to have them replace it for you-not convenient evenings, weekends, or holidays when your battery dies and there is no quick fix. Spare batteries that are user-replaceable are a lifesaver.

Now for the catch...

Turns out, current AT&T customers will be able to purchase the new iPhone at the lowest price ONLY if you are currently eligible for an upgrade.

From their website:

"If you are upgrade eligible and your account is in good standing, you will pay $199 for 8GB (black) and $299 for 16GB (black or white). Two-year contract required.

You have the option to purchase an early upgrade priced at $399 for 8GB (black) or $499 for 16GB (black or white). Two-year contract required.

Coming soon, AT&T will offer a no-commitment option of $599 for 8GB and $699 for 16GB."

Bummer!

[Josep]

About the user-replaceable battery requested by Patricia. Really, What % of phone users have a second battery?

Also, by adding a user-replaceable battery you have to get a standard-sized and -shaped battery (which means, a bulkier device), more mobile parts (which means more stuff that breaks apart) and general annoyances for those that more than once have seen our current cellphone battery drop to the floor (or garbage bin, like happened to me with my Razr).

And if a user cannot touch it, a user cannot break it.

About 1st generation iPhones and 3G, as Sam Russell: No, you will not be able to have 3G in your "old" iPhone.

"3G" is provided by a chip that must be included inside your cellphone.

Think of "3G for a cellphone" as a "Brolier for an oven". If your oven did not had a broiler when you bought it, you cannot add the broiler even if "next generation oven" is almost exactly like yours and includes a broiler.

Cheers,

[troy]

Is it true that you still cannot send multi-media messages?
If so.. can i please have a logical reason for it?

[Julie Chapman]

The 'phone' part of the iphone is really lousy! I'm surprised there are not more comments being written. OFTEN I experience 'call failed' repeatedly -- and can sometimes manage to make a call by turning the whole system off, waiting a minute, and turning it back on. I repeat this process often during a day! Calls do not show up when you are otherwise using another feature of the iphone -- and you cannot count on 'missed calls' to tell you that someone did try and call. Incoming calls are sometimes routed directly to voice mail, for no apparent reason. It is difficult to hear someone talking while in the car, and the speaker portion of the phone is not loud enough to use, and the speaker is located at the bottom of the phone, so you end up turning the phone sidewise to try and carry on a conference-type call. (The volume for the ringer & wake up is loud -- but is not available for the speaker!?) The gadgetery of this phone is great -- but the phone is unreliable and unprofessional. AT&T doesn't want to hear any complaints - so plan on getting to an Apple Store everytime you need help here. What a mess - with a high entry cost and now a 2-year AT&T commitment to boot!

[Jonathan]

That's pretty outrageous that it won't support bluetooth stereo headphones! I don't know why people don't make a bigger deal out of this. Right now if you have an ipod you either have to carry around tangled up wired headphones or a bluetooth headset along with a bluetooth adapter. The added part becomes a serious hindrance as it's just one more thing to keep track of.

Why in the world do they sell a phone that specializes in downloading and playing music without giving you the most convenient way to listen to it - through bluetooth! What idiots!

[sam]

What about Flash?

I don't see one on the spec sheet http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html.--Mike Gikas

[Dennis James]

how about using the iphone with bluetooth keyboards? That would make editing documents a lot more user friendly.

DJ

[Sam Russell]

Will the new Iphone have the ability to send and receive pics without having to use the viewmymessage website?

[jeremy]

So, if i have the first-generation iphone there is no way to have 3G is there??

Unfortunately, you are correct. And no GPS either, unless someone comes up with a special attachment.--Mike Gikas

[Bill G]

To your point about turning 3G off to conserve battery power. It had been reported earlier that the iPhone 2.0 firmware *does* have that capability.

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/05/10/latest-iphone-2-0-firmware-has-3g-on-off-option/

Interesting. Well, that's something we're definitely going to check out on the final production model. (I can't tell you how many times manufacturers have shown us great features that miraculously disappear once the carrier takes over.--Mike Gikas

[Patricia]

Oh well-looks like I won't get my wish for a user-replaceable battery...

The new model will also come along with one major undesirable feature-an increased cost for the i-Phone data plan.

I am happy about the interface for MS Office applications and the decision to open up to third-party applications, however, first and foremost for me will be how well it functions as a phone with regards to holding a signal and call quality.

The jury is still out as to whether I'll jump on the iPhone bandwagon in the near future or wait for yet another updated version to be released.