As the dust settles on the
iPhone 3G / WWDC blowout, we've sifted through the debris and discovered a few eyebrow-raising tidbits you might be interested to know. The first of which is news that the next firmware update (2.0) could be headed to devices as early as June 27th, at least according to Apple's Australian iPod touch features page, which touts the arrival of the app store later this month. Meanwhile, Apple's cash cow won't get those
OTA iTunes music downloads that were being heavily speculated on in May. Word on the street is that record labels are -- wait for it -- still holding out for those upped premiums, or that AT&T wants a cut of the action, which Apple is reluctant to hand over. Of course, AT&T wanting their share of that revenue makes good sense when you realize that the telco is taking a
major hit on the sale of these devices -- a hit which will stall profits until 2010. Perhaps that explains the new rules about
activation; according to a report from Reuters, the company will penalize customers who buy a phone but don't activate within 30 days, which falls in line with their aggressive new push to lock users into a contract... which looks exactly like the old cellphone business model. On a lighter note, iLounge has some real-world spy shots of the device's shell, which they claim smudges like it's going out of style, though it may be joined by a Product (RED) variation later this year. Enjoy!
Update: Apparently Apple reps have
confirmed that there won't be any early firmware updates for the masses, and that they're still on schedule for July 11th. The Australian site has since updated its info -- so put the champagne back on ice.
[Thanks, Dan and Danny]
Read - Australian iPod touch features page
Read - No Over-The-Air 3G Music Downloads For New iPhone; Labels Holding Out For Higher Price Per Track?
Read - iPhone to cut into AT&T earnings until 2010
Read - Real World Photos: Inside + Outside iPhone 3G's New Shell
posted June 11th 2008 9:34AM
WHAT makes u think the iphone 3G version would cost $1K? Please show me some evidence. All they did was add a #G chip essentially. No new Hardware revisions other then that. And your assuming this wasnt already figured out and planned during the v.1 release.
You would be a fool to beleive At&T would take a bath on the iphone and sell it for $400 if it actually cost 1K to make..
Thank you for playing, you can pickup your door prizes on the way OUT!
NO they are screwing you. Arent they charging $10 more a month. The phone isnt subsidized.. Your just not paying the full fee upfront. but once your 2yr contract is up youve paid the regular iphone price you did last year.
LEMMINGS!
Now I kinda understand being forced into a contract by AT&T, at least in the US. Who else are you gonna use T-Mobile for all that just stick with g1.
But record companies are some money hungry bastards since i buy a song OTA it should cost more or you should get more of a profit. Soon you're gonna start telling me if i use a cellular air card anything i buy over the net is gonna cost more. WTF difference does it make, either your laptop using AT&T's air card or your iPhone using the same 3G like i really am confused ..... And one more thing data is like 10 bucks more with a 5gb cap on it how much more money you bastards want.
To get back ontrack with the actual article... How can version 2.0 of the firmware be coming out on the 27th when 3g phones are being released on the 11th. They would not release a phone with the old firmware just to have you update in two weeks.
Huh?
The article says the firmware is on June 27th... thats a full two weeks before the 3G phone.
The 3g iPhone releases on July 11th correct? It will have firmware 2.0 on it when it realeases as well. So why not release it all at the same time? If the 3g iPhone has firmware 2.0 pre installed it will also have the app store icon on the front page right? Can you access the app store earlier with a 3g iPhone or do you get a useless icon for 2-3 weeks until the app store is available?
I'm confused?!?!?!?
It seems some people can't tell "June" apart from "July".
Anyway, why release it to everyone at once? If 2.0 is ready early (which it would have to be as they need to load it onto the phones they're manufacturing), why not release it early?
To dispute that the iphone does not cost a whole lot more than what will be charged just look at thwe price of the ipod touch. 299 for the 8 gig. 1oo more than the iphone with less hardware inside.
i dont care for the ota music downloads, i get mine before the cd hits the shelves
June 27 is before July 11.
oh its on my birthday =]
The $10/mo extra is for unlimited 3G service. I suppose you believe they should give that away too.
there are already 3g iphone preorders on ebay $500-$600 range
example (i swear not my auction):
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-APPLE-IPHONE-3G-16GB-Black-or-White-w-GPS-BRANDNEW_W0QQitemZ120271623165QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120271623165&_trksid=p4295.l1308
the point is, the contract isnt gonna be a huge deal, there will be ways around it...what sucks is the monthly rate hike vs iphone1
anyone know if i can sign up for an iphone1 plan and use it on an iphone2?
OMFG! STFU about the iPhone already! I don't even have to own one to get tired of one! Jesus...
First Off I would like to thank engadget for all of this Apple/Iphone coverage. You are the true example off beating a dead horse until there's nothing left. Your extreme Apple fanboyism brings a tear to old Steve Job's heart. May biased editorial style journalism continue to lead this fine website to new heights of mediocrity.
Secondly, I have a question. It is my understanding that edge data speeds max out at 256k. If the new iphones browsing speed has been doubled, wouldn't it be safe to say that it's max data speeds caps out at 512k? If that is the case then that would explain why OTA songs/podcasts are not available. Maybe Att is throttling the new Iphones maximum speed ability.
This might be comparing Apples and oranges alittle but I know I'm able to download download nightly podcasts and at least 5-10 songs a week OTA with Sprint (I know they suck but Sero is to cheap to pass up).
apple sure is giving the ipod touch users a big middle finger. Yes. I know that when you buy the phone you're paying for firmware upgrades and with the ipod you arent (even though the phone costs less now...) , but since when do companies charge for firmware versions??? on my playstation you never have to pay for new features they put in firmware. On Xbox i think its the same way. Apple needs to stop charging for these damn "upgrades". On the Zune, when the second version came out, old zune users got the new software for free. F-you apple. We're through.
I would suggest that June 27th was the original launch date for everything (iPhone, 2.0, Apps store). But try co-ordinating at least 22 foreign networks testing a phone! Some of them probably asked for more time. As someone above said. 2.0 must be ready before they produced the phone or everybody in this world (scientifically speaking) is going to need to upgrade their firm where when they turn their iPhones on day 1.
So, clearly, whoever created those fake mockups the weekend before WWDC had some kind of inside info -- they made a project (RED)* one.