The New iPhone 3G

[Aeolius]

As expected, Apple announced the new iPhone 3G today; $199 for the 8 GB model and $299 for the 16 GB. Both have a built in GPS and will be available in July.

New iPhone 2 firmware which adds a host new new features will also be available at that time. To accompany the iPhone's new Push Email, calendar, and contacts, as well as synchronization between iPhone, Mac and PC (Outlook for Windows integration), and "Desktop-like" Web Applications for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, photo gallery, and iDisk online storage. Apple as rebranded their .Mac service as Mobile Me.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/
http://www.apple.com/mobileme/
http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore/

 

[Piratecat]

I hate to say it, but this may have pushed me over the edge. It's pretty darn nifty.

Anyone know if it has bluetooth?

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

The original does, so I'd be surprised if it doesn't. My wife loves hers ... this is even more awesome at that price.

Though I wonder if they've made the improvements we'd like to see:

- Voice dialing
- Easy add-on ringtones
- Drag-and-drop drive-access for music library (because the current iPhone is synch-only, we can't have two as my wife and I share a computer but have different music libraries ... the synch would force us to be the same)

 

[Aeolius]

Anyone know if it has bluetooth?

From: http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html
Cellular and wireless:
UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

- Easy add-on ringtones
- Drag-and-drop drive-access for music library

For the first, try iToner. For the second, if you use a Mac, try Fast User Switching. Each account has it's own iTunes Library.

 

[John Crichton]

Soooooooo tempting!

I need more storage space, tho. 30-40 gigs would do it for me to replace my current iPod. I'm sure they'll hit that soon enough.

 

[ToddSchumacher]

Last year, when they showed it off, I was only a few months into a two month contract, and wasn't about to pay a 200 cancellation fee on top of the 600 dollar phone. i decided to be patient, wait for my contract to be up and then switch. It was tech, and bound to be better and cheaper by then.

A few months later, when they reduced the price by 200 dollars, I was kinda tempted to switch, but decided, no, I'll honor my contract with my current provider.

Now, I'm really, really tempted to ditch my contract. Two things are holding me back for December, though. 1) I just bought an expensive toy and want to hold off and save a bit, and 2) hoping for a 32 gig version by then.

 

[Morrus]

It's about time! Not being 3G was one of the weirdest design decisions I ever heard.

 

[Plane Sailing]

First phone it seems worth getting a contract for.

I'm hoping to 'retire' my old phone, pass my ipod touch on to my wife and snag one of these babies for myself.

 

[Plane Sailing]

(because the current iPhone is synch-only, we can't have two as my wife and I share a computer but have different music libraries ... the synch would force us to be the same)

I don't know if this helps you but...

My wife and I sync to the same iTunes, but we've set up different playlists. Her ipod is set to sync her playlists, mine is set to sync my playlists, and we both end up with the music we want on board.

Would that work for you?

 

[Rackhir]

It's about time! Not being 3G was one of the weirdest design decisions I ever heard.

It looks like it was less a design decision than a financial one. AT&T's 3G network was not ready when they first introduced the iPhone and since they were the ones willing to meet Job's terms for the iPhone, the iPhone 1.0 got built for AT&T's EDGE network, not 3G.

There was some talk about 3G chipsets being too immature or requiring too much power, but I suspect this was largely BS to cover up the fact that 3G simply wasn't an option with AT&T as the carrier at the time.