US iPhone 3G gets unboxed and handled
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Jul 8th 2008 6:26PM
posted Jul 8th 2008 6:26PM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
The Jesus phone!!!
Well, not so sure it's the "Jesus phone" anymore. Last year we were told it's the Jesus phone. Now we have the second try, iPhone Take 2. So, it's either
- the second coming (which means the apple aficionados are about to be raptured away), or
- it's the "Mohammad phone"
actually this may be the new JesusPhone because Jesús broke the original.
http://gizmodo.com/5020801/jesusphone-breaks-just-in-time-for-3g-verdict-frak-i-mean-yeah
A warning to anyone at work, it has the word Bitches! in big letters. So I would put a warning that it is not work safe!!!
Yea because you say Jesus when you see the monthly rates.
the first pic looks exactly like the one you guys posted a few weeks back. Good job engadget.
Oh, so now a US one. I'm sure it's totally different from the more multinational, progressive, "study-abroad" type iPhone which was off discovering its roots in foreign display cases and alien hands in the engadget unboxing story this morning...
::sigh::
I can't wait for Friday.
The Apple fanb^H^H^H^Hafficionados are about to be raptured away...
That would be a very good thing.
The hype is almost as much as for Lord Obama, another slick package with alot of hidden costs...
@Fmarkow... LOL nice. I think there is actually a very definite correlation between Obama and the iPhone 3G:
They both are relatively new and look slick, but under the hood they really don't go very far (Obama hasn't really done anything in Congress and the iPhone 3G still can't copy/paste/cut and only has about 4 and 1/2 hrs of talk time)
They both have a cult-like following, regardless of their actual merit for this following (iPhone 3G looks nice and all, but it definitely is not as practical as other phones, just like Obama looks nice, but he's definitely not the best choice of the candidates that were/are available)
They both look like a great idea at the time, but in the long run will cost you more than originally expected (iPhone's plan pricing and Obama's healthcare plans / welfare increases / alternative energy "plan" / tax hikes on everyone except those below the poverty line)
@Fmarkow... LOL nice. I think there is actually a very definite correlation between Obama and the iPhone 3G:
They both are relatively new and look slick, but under the hood they really don't go very far (Obama hasn't really done anything in Congress and the iPhone 3G still can't copy/paste/cut and only has about 4 and 1/2 hrs of talk time)
They both have a cult-like following, regardless of their actual merit for this following (iPhone 3G looks nice and all, but it definitely is not as practical as other phones, just like Obama looks nice, but he's definitely not the best choice of the candidates that were/are available)
They both look like a great idea at the time, but in the long run will cost you more than originally expected (iPhone's plan pricing and Obama's healthcare plans / welfare increases / alternative energy "plan" / tax hikes on everyone except those below the poverty line)
dammit double posted, sorry
@Dave what? Let me correct you.
"They both are relatively new and look slick, but under the hood they really don't go very far (Obama hasn't really done anything in Congress and the iPhone 3G still can't copy/paste/cut and only has about 4 and 1/2 hrs of talk time)"
Obama has done almost nothing? Really? 4 and a half years in congress is nothing? Voting against the Iraq war is nothing? Do you know the least experience Abraham Lincoln(1 year) I think he did a pretty good job.
"They both have a cult-like following, regardless of their actual merit for this following (iPhone 3G looks nice and all, but it definitely is not as practical as other phones, just like Obama looks nice, but he's definitely not the best choice of the candidates that were/are available)"
Now that's just plain stupid. Him and Hillary Clinton agree with each other
90% of the time. He wants do almost everything she wanted to. How is McCain better? Someone who agrees with George W. Bush 89% of the time is better? Someone who proclaimed he knows NOTHING about the economy is better? How?
"They both look like a great idea at the time, but in the long run will cost you more than originally expected (iPhone's plan pricing and Obama's healthcare plans / welfare increases / alternative energy "plan" / tax hikes on everyone except those below the poverty line)"
Now this is complete rubbish. Obama healthcare plan is better is MUCH better than McCain(he's NOT doing anything). Obama wants to cover every American. Welfare increases? I'll come back to that. His energy plan vs. McCain. McCain: I want to go drilling and ruin our environment, also it's take 15+ years and will only cover 10% of our fuel when it FINALLY comes out. Also I want to put out a 100 million dollar bounty to whoever finds a efficient alternative fuel that works on current cars. Obama: I want to invest money in energy alternatives. That doesn't sound to bad. Oh now onto tax hikes, are you stupid? He NEVER said that. He'll ONLY raise taxes on Americans who make $250,000+ dollars a year. That's only what? 1-2% of America? Do you know George Bush tax plan makes middle class pay a higher percentage than wealthy Americans? A bill that McCain agrees with. Let me explain more WE ARE PAYING MORE IN TAXES THEN THE RICH. Bush tax break is for the RICH. Obama wants to CUT OUR TAXES and give us $1,000 bucks more back a year to middle class America.
Now onto the experience, Bush and Cheney have DECADES of experience where have that gotten us? Trillions of bucks in debt, 20 billion a month in Iraq and one of America's troubling financial situations. Oh and I forgot high gas prices. Did I mention John McCain supports 89% of Bush's policies? I'm not saying Obama's an angel, but he's much better than John McCain. Oh back to the welfare thing. He can afford to give more in health care easily. Bring our troops home save 20 billion a month/1 trillion within his presidency.
Back on topic, I'm just about to get the 2G lol.
@richie
You obviously know nothing about economics...
The kind of government programs that Obama is "promising" the US can in no way pay for. His healthcare plan is not realistic at all (go to factcheck.org and read about "Obama's Inflated Health Savings), since he plan's to magically save $70 billion by switching from paper to electronic, which is not realistic. In addition, the US currently does not have the infrastructure or the money to make this drastic switch to alternative energy - it will bankrupt the system and the US dollar will become the peso due to the massive increase in the money supply needed for these programs.
In addition, Obama's "plan" to impose windfall taxes on oil companies will just do one thing - have oil companies do more business in other countries that are more favorable to their business (and maybe you haven't noticed, but the price in oil has gone up due to rising demand in China and third world nations, where I'm sure the oil companies would be glad to divert more oil to). If you have ever taken an economics course you would see a direct positive correlation between real GDP growth when the corporate income tax is decreased.
People like you just don't get it - change can be a good thing, but then again, it can also be a very, VERY bad thing. Also, I wouldn't complain about the Bush tax cuts too much, since the top 5% of the US pay 53.25% of the TOTAL TAX BILLl, paying for services like welfare and medicare that they never see.
And honestly, how can you seriously argue that Obama has done anything in the senate? He didn't VOTE against the war because HE WASN'T EVEN IN THE SENATE when they voted for it! Do some reading before you blindly follow everything some news outlet/the Huffington Post tells you.
What is the firmware version?
sexy
was that an answer to the question above you?
iPhone V.2.0.sexy
Removable battery? Screws don't lie...
I agree! Somebody needs to take one of these unboxed phones and take a screwdriver to it and see what the story is...
About the same time someone would also figure out why back is curved out the way it is. It's hideous.
When are we going to start banning people for this shit?
For posting twice in a row?
hopefully soon
... fing troll
u called?
someone call the guy at NY App store go home.coz he won't be the 1st
Or you could write a coherent sentence:
Someone needs to tell the guy who's 1st in line at the NY Apple store to go home, because he's not first anymore.... Cuz
You're going to tell him to learn proper English, but you used "1st" instead of first.
Who does this guy know that he gets every cool phone before anyone else? One can only imagine the favors he has done to get them hahahaha
Why do people find this so interesting? I mean, nobody expects it to be anything special, right, except for a new back casing? If it were something brand new, on the other hand, i would completely understand.
Exactly
In fact, i am actually starting to get bored of my 1G iphone.
Hopefully something newer will come along soon.
I don't find it interesting, but I just come here to see what you guys have to say about it (iphone 3g).
it really is too bad that the only way to get it to work on other carriers is to hack it illegaly.. there isnt any att service where i live (i know.. im in a podunk middle of nowhere town) and i kinda like this phone.. i may need to move lol
Unlocking your phone is _NOT_ illegal. In fact, if you request unlock codes from your carrier, I had thought it was required by law for them to give them to you. How the iPhone is immune to this I have no idea.
You gonna move for the sake of a phone? WTF has this world come to?
moving anyway for the sake of school.. iphone service is just a bonus..
I can't seem to get to the page. I keep on getting server overloaded.
This might be the ultimate Engadget sin, but Gizmodo has mirrored all of the photos:
http://gizmodo.com/photogallery/3giphoneunbox
BGR site is getting hammered? Won't load.
It took about 45 seconds to load up for me and the pics didn't even load up right. Everybody wants a sneak peek!
It's bound to happen. The servers are being overloaded. Such is the drawback when reporting new information about this excellent device. Something that will rarely, if ever, happens with news from iPhone competitors.
David, what the hell are you, 4?
Are you also going to convince me that if I step on the crack I will break my momma's back?
It's really pretty remarkable in this day and age that it's only getting scooped 3 days before the official release. Seems that other companies phones get unboxed months ahead of release.
AM prety Sure they will make a 32GB after 5 months!!!! people who want more space should wait!!!
why is everyone ignoring the white iPhone... I find it a lot more appealing.
Only the 16GB iPhone comes with the choice of having it in black or white and most people opt for the less expensive 8GB which is only available in black.
not impressed. another iphone clone. next.
uhh yeah... about that
Am pretty Sure they will make a 32GB after 5 months!!!! people whowant more space should wait!!!
is it still a 2 mp camera...? or hoppfully 5mp
Judging a camera based on the pixel count is like buying a processor based on the clock speed.
You'd get a Pentium 4 and look an idiot :)
Sorry, dude. 2mp. 5 w/ no flash would be useless.
As for w00t's comments: while mp may not be the only benchmark worth noting it does say something for the company's commitment to the camera itself. Sony & Nokia are using 5 (or soon 8 for SE) but they'd not be doing this if the optics & software were in place to back it up.
but its not a camera its a phone and i want better camera features...
Yeah well, ANY CPU at 300Mhz wont be effective in a modern PC.
You have to draw the line somewhere.
Have you guys seen how thin the iPhone is? All the iPhone's competitors with better cameras are thicker, in some cases twice as thick. Which laws of physics would you suggest Apple break to get a better camera into the iPhone?
Also, 2 megapixel is 1600 x 1200. That's way WAY more than enough for anything you're going to post on the web. If you want to take good pictures, might I suggest using an actual camera to do it, and not a phone?
This borderlines tech "gossip" Mac winers please, if you want to be surprised, then don't peek!
Chalk it up to Engadget reads to take down another site....grats.
BGR should try to restore the phone, and while he's at it try to grab the final firmware.
I guess I should've avoided those cracks.
call me when its cracked
call me when its cracked
let's see...okay, 3G great if you are a total loser with no social life and has to have blazing speeds for web browsing and mms. Oh wait, no MMS scratch that can use iPod for WIFI access to web. Okay iPod, cool..OH wait NO A2DP wirelessly to bluetooth headphones car stereos etc., scratch that. Okay let's see, Built in GPS naaahhh those who don't have one by now in their auto in some form or another probably don't really need one or they would have picked one up a year or 3 ago, not a huge selling point by any means. Formfactor, back gloss, hmmm sexy BUT, pass "scratchy" and "fingerprity" So you are paying more for GPS and 3G. I Highly doubht Anyone with a 1st gen will justify spending their dough on a 3G is they are only getting like a couple new features, I know there are a few others like enterprise email etc. but most people won't use or know what that even is, I just don't get it. Not for my money, all this tech will change in a year again anyway so until then my 1st gen will remain sexy as it ever was and I'll save the dough for something else. Sad that My Palm Centro will do most and in some cases more (A2DP) than the 1st gen or 2nd Gen iPhone. No WIIFI, but I have my Mac Book Pro for that and when out and about my slow GSM works just fine for email and such.
That's Just Bad Apples! I was really hoping for a few things especially tethering as modem, A2DP, etc. and still no cut/copy/paste???? WTF?? My Palm 1 or whatever it was under Brodcomm years ago did that!!!!
My 2¢, don't start a flame war, I know you are much more mature than that, I'm just stating a few reasons to consider before kicking out some serious dough. To Each his own, now 3gen 3G or 4G MAYBE ;-)
Did you type that on your old-school Palm?
The irony amused me, a conclusion of "...I know you are much more mature than that..." following the opening of "...3G great if you are a total loser with no social life and has to have blazing speeds for web browsing and mms..."
Anyhow, on to debating your points. First of all, the speeds between EDGE and 3G are very different. 3G is 2 Mbit/s for stationary/slow moving and 348 Kbit/s for fast moving (vehicle). EDGE on the other hand has a theoretical maximum of 474 Kbit/s but averages 237 Kbit/s on a good day. That's not even getting into the differences in protocol, where 3G is far superior in itself for network load and efficiency.
Considering that WiFi is not ubiquitous in every location and EDGE is definitely not great for streaming video or soon to be Flash content. I don't see why it's unreasonable to say most people can and will find a use for the faster speeds, especially when the App Store launches. There are already applications to stream XM/Sirius radio using your iPhone, 3G will definitely assist in streaming that instead of EDGE's waning speeds AND those applications will be released for FREE on the App Store once it comes out.
Yes, the iPhone does lack some features that the [insert phone here] has. They are coming and its even closer to coming to fruition with the soon to be App Store. There are rumors of A2DP coming for firmware 2.0, as it would only be a software update and not a hardware update anyhow.
The phone itself is built rather tough, even as it seems to be fragile. My screen has but maybe one or two scratches, none which are visible when the screen is lit. It has about one dent from me dropping it at chest height and it hitting the edge of a brick bench on campus. The dent is very small and on the top corner near the button. The metallic back is still in perfect condition. I don't even baby the phone, like I've said I've dropped it, had it fall from a table a few times, and had it in the same pocket with my keys sometimes by accident (actually quite a bit).
The plastic ought to help in reception if anything and the new speaker design seems a bit better for clarity and volume (no more pins necessary). As for the smudges, glass cleaner works wonders.
Overpriced GPS? How is 199/299$ overpriced for GPS?
Honestly, what everyone who has beef with the iPhone is forgetting is that the 3rd party apps and SDK are going to rock and make a ton of people realize the potential of the iPhone. I'm waiting, been waiting.
You can say whatever you want about my phone has this and my phone has that, windows mobile this and windows mobile that, but the price tag on this phone is definitely acceptable for what it is. Look at any other phones that are in the similar range and they are of similar price with contract and without.
I have to echo that. I don't own an iphone.. i was looking at getting the 3G. But the first gen looks more appealling to me. I don't need the extra speed for the money it would cost me.
I am looking for a first gen Iphone.
I don't know why everyone on here is hating. It's a cell phone. I'm going to get one. I was patient enough to wait for the 3G. Edge is frustratingly slow. I live in NYC and don't own a car so the GPS would determinately come in handy since I am in a major city and always on foot. I use Google maps all the time on my Nokia e61. My only concern about this phone is the battery life. But I can always turn 3g off when I am not surfing the net and conserve that way.
The increase in service charges sucks but honestly, it's not going to be much more than my current t-mobile set up. For all the angry 1st gen people, at least your battery life is longer. Note to self, never by the first model of anything; especially cars and Apple products.
Call Tyson when it's cracked!
;-)
Faslane
How many people are going to whine and complain if they pay $199 for it and then next week they sell it for $129? If you have to be the first to have it than you pay the price.
Isn't this just a Dell X50v ? with phone capability ?
I know, I know, spelling, grammar etc.., hey I was in a hurry!
Faslane
PEOPLE, I NEED HELP
Let's just say, I live in Germany, I buy an iPhone for someone (with 2 year contract) and I ship that iPhone in some other country (so he can use it, and jailbrake it) ... the SIM i get with iPhone I will use in my old Seimens... and now - the question?! Can I spend 50 minutes (that's how free minutes I get when I choose 29 euro rate plane) for calling abroad??? PLEASE, I NEED AN ANSWER ---- srry for my english!!
BGR report got theirs because the demo units were distributed to AT&T and Apple stores today. They can't be activated yet, but the boxes are here. Still, someone is gonna lose their job
Yes, and probably won't be able to activate either LMAO, good one. Someone will certainly do some side deals or something, I can say I read it here first when it makes the headline, Kudos!!
Faslane
Oh come on !!!
The iPhone is pretty well an exact copy of the Dell X50v from 2004...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/17/review_dell_axim_x50v/
The Emperor has no clothes !!
I highly doubt anybody ever wanted to copy that ugly piece of shit.
You are joking right? It looks nothing like the iPhone, except the color or chrome edge, and runs WinMob to boot, oh, and it's like almost 5 years old now.
Dude, seriously.
All you guys care about is the looks? OOoo sorry my bad you are apple boys.
Chek out the kick your ass fruity phone specs on that f****r!
The dude was right... it does look like a Dell Axim X50v .... IF YOU GOT BOTH YOUR EYES CLOSED !! C'mon! There's obviously more elegance here... I personally don'tfollow the hype but i guess that would be different if i got one..:). Being a technology junkie myself tho, If you can justify it andafford it, go for it! p.s. my condolences to the guy who is gonna lose his job for this...he'll go down as a martyr tho :D
Yay, more pics of the "two tries and we still can figure out how to impliment standard features even free with contract gheto phones have" (*cough* MMS, *cough* bluetooth stereo) iPhone.
Hi, there's this new technology you might want to look into called "e-mail". You can send pictures in email, and best of all everybody has email - not just other people with cell phones. Have i mentioned that since the iPhone has an unlimited data plan, you can send as many emails as you want for no additional costs?
Yeah, MMS is old and beat. Get with the times please.
How about being able to send to both non-iphones and email users using MMS?
Perfect!!! Thank You, 3rd times' a charm I Spose!!
Faslane
Wonderful post kccboy2004. It simply reaffirms my conclusion that you are incapable of differentiating a meatball from a beach-ball. Your powers of observation are the stuff of legends.
You know, I think Apple copied Dell's Axim x50v's design with this thing. Considering it predates the iPhone by about 3 years, Dell surely didnt copy them.. but it has the silver bezel on top, and the black case of about the same form.. so Apple's non-originality anyone?
Why would Apple want to copy an ugly device???
My store in phoenix got four demos today, I'm sure thats what this is. Anyway, their not active yet but the phone FEELS sooo nice. Very different then the original, it feels wider but thinner, and just much more comfortable. also it has some very nice touch's of a steel mesh on the ear piece as well as speaker and mic, looks classy!
In direct comparison the 3G iPhone looks kinda fat. I don't like the frame around the screen. It didn't look that fat during the presentation on WWDC, but direct confrontation with its predecessor unveils all the extra pounds.
All i gotta say is BOY GEnIUS is the FN MAN.
He sells minimis? Cool!
Can someone please tell us if they've added copy/cut/paste? I'm simply not going to get it if they haven't added something so utterly elementary as this.
Their site is down.
I've been sworn to secrecy for many weeks now, but I work for a fortune 40 and we've had 3G for about 8 weeks now. I don't know why people think it's surprising to see them in the wild
i've had 3G for 3 years. where were you?
That's McDonalds slogan.
How scientific.
I like the iphone but come on its just a phone!!! You people need to get laid!!
My iPhone got me laid!!!! I'm not kidding!!! A Woman was checking it out at a club one night and we hungout and had drinks etc. and well, the rest is well.....you get the idea.
Faslane ;-)
White Would Rule!! so would Copy and Paste, will it come???? hmmmm...
Faslane
wait a Fn minute. i can get sirius on the new iphone.
hold the phone. my mind is changed . I am now lookin for a 3g iphone
Hi! this is a test!