Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on June 09, 2008 by CyberNet.

Today at the Worldwide Developers Conference Apple announced that the iPhone 3G is going to be released on July 11, 2008. Since then both Apple and AT&T have posted information answering many of the questions you all have been asking. I’ve absorbed as much of the information that I could, and rearranged it into a friendly question/answer format:

What countries will be getting the iPhone 3G on July 11th?
The full list of “launch countries” can be found here, which also includes the countries where the iPhone 3G will launch later on.

Is the iPhone 3G thicker or thinner than the previous generation?
The original iPhone is 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches, while the new iPhone 3G is 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 inches. Overall the new one is actually a hair wider (about 1mm), and also a hair thicker (about 1mm).

Does the iPhone 3G weigh more than the previous generation?
The original iPhone weighed 4.8 ounces (135 grams), while the iPhone 3G weighs 4.7 ounces (133 grams). So the new one is actually a paperclip or two less in weight.

What is the new pricing scheme?
With a two-year contract the price of the 8GB iPhone 3G will be $199, and the 16GB model will be $299. Additionally 3G pricing plans will now cost more:

• Unlimited iPhone 3G data plans for consumers will be available for $30 a month, in addition to voice plans starting at $39.99 a month.
• Unlimited 3G data plans for business users will be available for $45 a month, in addition to a voice plan.

What are the download speeds for AT&T’s 3G network?
AT&T claims that the iPhone 3G should be able to reach speeds up to 1.4Mbps.

Can you turn off the phone’s 3G capabilities for better battery life?
Apple says that the iPhone 3G will automatically switch between Wi-Fi, 3G, and EDGE networks automatically to ensure the fastest possible download speeds. There’s no mention whether you’ll be able to explicitly turn off 3G to save on battery. UPDATE: There is an option to turn 3G off buried within the settings.

Will the new GPS provide directions?
Apple’s website says that the GPS can be used to “find a location, get directions, and, if you like, follow your progress along a highlighted route with live GPS tracking.“

Will the GPS unit give me horrible battery life?
That remains to be seen, but Apple says that the “GPS on iPhone is active only when you need it. iPhone powers the GPS unit on and off quickly and automatically, so it won’t adversely affect battery life.“

Is the iPhone 3G’s camera higher quality, and does it have a flash?
No, the camera is pretty much the same. It’s still a 2MP camera and there is no mention of a flash anywhere on the specs page.

Can you geotag photos?
Yes, the iPhone 3G will be able to use the GPS location information to geotag photos.

What are the different models available?
The 8GB version is available in black, and the 16GB version is available in both black and white.

Is the headphone jack recessed?
No, which means all standard headphones should now work with the iPhone.

Does the iPhone 3G come with any new accessories?
Not really. According to the “what’s in the box” section on Apple’s site the only thing new is a SIM ejector tool, which is probably just a fancy paperclip.

Can we send multimedia messages (MMS) with the iPhone 3G?
There’s no mention of MMS messaging, and so it’s safe to assume that it will not be possible.

Is there a front-facing camera for video conferencing?
Looks like this was merely a rumor… there’s no camera on the front for video conferencing.

Can the iPhone record videos?
Sorry, looks like it’s stuck to just snapping photos.

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