Apple WWDC 2009: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Sure, Apple didn't really shock anyone with the announcement of the iPhone 3G S this morning at WWDC, but there was no shortage of news at the Moscone Center -- we also got new MacBooks, final Snow Leopard details, and a release date for iPhone OS 3.0. On the other hand, it wasn't all good news either: AT&T's iPhone upgrade pricing and service levels leave a lot to be desired, and Apple's unfortunate penchant for sealed-in batteries has finally hit the 15-inch MacBook Pro. Apple's posted its stream of the keynote if you want to relive things in real-time, but here's a quick rewind in case you missed anything:

The good

• Current iPhone owners will get iPhone OS 3.0 for free, although some features like video recording and voice control are limited to the iPhone 3G S. It's not perfect, but we don't really complain about free.
• Snow Leopard upgrades will cost just $29, instead of the usual $129.
  
• The original 8GB iPhone 3G is now only $99 for new AT&T subscribers. That's definitely going to make some waves in the smartphone market.
• We'd have loved to see some external design improvements and maybe some more surprising features that weren't rumored, but overall the iPhone 3G S is definitely in the "good" column -- it's a solid set of improvements to an already very good platform.
• MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (including the new 13-inch Pro) specs have increased while prices have come down, and glory be, FireWire is back on everything but the Air.
  

The bad

• As usual, iPod touch owners are going to get dinged $9.95 for the iPhone OS 3.0 upgrade. Hey Apple -- maybe switch these guys over to subscription accounting as well?
• Let's face it, "iPhone 3G S" is a pretty clunky name.
• Sure, it's nice that the MacBook Pros now have an SD card slot, but losing ExpressCard hurts. And why not a multicard reader? Pro DSLRs still use CF.

The ugly

• Sure, new customers and qualified upgraders are getting some sweet pricing on iPhone hardware, but AT&T's basically flipping existing customers the bird -- they'll have to pay anywhere from $399 to a whopping $699 to get an iPhone 3G S. You'd think they'd have looked at how many people went from a first-gen iPhone to a 3G and realized those same people would want a 3G S, but apparently not.
  
• On top of that insult, AT&T isn't supporting all of iPhone OS 3.0's features out the gate: MMS is coming "later this summer," and tethering has been promised but there's no timeline and no pricing information. Thanks, AT&T.
• Sure, it's grand that the 15-inch MacBook Pro's battery now lasts for up to seven hours on a charge and won't lose capacity for five years, but a non-swappable battery on a workhorse professional machine just doesn't cut it for us.

So all in all we'd say that the good outweighs the bad, although AT&T really disappointed here. Of course, that's just scratching the surface -- check out the rest of our coverage after the break and let us know what you think!

The liveblog
Phil Schiller keynote live from WWDC 2009
Apple's video stream of the keynote

MacBook and OS X announcements
Apple's new MacBook family: non-removable batteries, lower prices
Safari 4 released today, offering 'unparalled speed'
Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade

iPhone announcements
iPhone 3G S announced: $199 16GB, $299 32GB, June 19th
Apple's 8GB iPhone 3G falls to $99 on contract
Apple shows iPhone OS 3.0 at WWDC, hits devices June 17th
Apple announces "Find My iPhone" phone-locating service

iPhone apps and accessories
ScrollMotion's Iceberg in-app bookstore announced for iPhone, ready to take on the Kindle?
Line 6 and Planet Waves brings guitar and amp control to iPhone

In-depth / other stuff
Apple digs into Microsoft at WWDC
Video: iPhone 3G S looks the same but it's not, really
iPhone 3G vs. iPhone 3G S: the tale of the tape
Poll: iPhone 3G S or the Pre?
AT&T: we'll offer tethering on the iPhone
Video: iPhone 3G S gets a guided tour
White MacBook last MacBook standing

[darkmax @ Jun 8th 2009 9:00PM]

hmm... getting a micro-step up the mobile phone tech ladder is considered good?....

[darkmax @ Jun 8th 2009 9:12PM]

can we really call iPhone a smartphone? From its specs and price, I don't think it can be considered one, neither can you call the people who pay for one, smart.

[m3tric @ Jun 8th 2009 9:14PM]

I thought it was hilarious how the mood changed on both Gizmodo and Engadget live blogs after the utter disappointment that is iPhone 3GS

[PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jun 8th 2009 9:17PM]

seriously, and saying at the end "generally the good outweighs the bad"? give me a break you just dont wanna say fuck you to apple. every manufacturer gets put on blast sometime on this site but apple always manages to get away Scot-free

[Michael @ Jun 8th 2009 9:18PM]

You know how bands and movies just put up the stars from the ratings?

"'****' - Rolling Stone"

Apple should do something like that for the iPhone 3GS:

"'Only 3 snarky comments' - Engadget"

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 8th 2009 9:18PM]

#1 Steve Jobs wasn't kidding when he said you should expect to buy a new ipod/iphone each year.

#2 I own shares in Apple so I'm still very happy with what they are doing. VERY HAPPY

#3 I own a 3G and frankly, I don't feel the need to upgrade to the 3GS but, I do see the beauty of Apple now selling the 3G for just $100 and giving the current owners something new to buy if they need to replace their own phone.

#4 Apple should have called it something else - the street hype for new Apple products is always strong so I'd have appreciated it if people didn't have to ask me "hey, you got the new 3GS?" sounds silly.

[NoVaCrY @ Jun 8th 2009 9:21PM]

oops

[ImaYam @ Jun 8th 2009 9:21PM]

+1 for asher.

Engadgets balls must be dry after all that apple porn. HOLY $HlT!! video recording for the low,low price of $700??

[Look_Around_You @ Jun 8th 2009 9:21PM]

It's called damage control.

They have been spending half of the day trying to convince everyone why this was the most amazing day ever in the history of Apple, even though all of the sky-high BS rumors like OLED screens and a very special appearance by Steve Jobs didn't materialize. We got senseless MS bashing (Mind you no "CE-Oh No He Didnt" outrage from the editors), Minor spec bumps, and tacky Apple level bragging.

So now it's saturation time until the talking points sink in.

[ImaYam @ Jun 8th 2009 9:27PM]

Secondly,

"..on an already good platform."

.Are you fkn serious???

After ALLLLL the BS you wrote, engadget and Topolksy (still needs to get excercise, u look like a lard), thats like saying "It was so good originally thaty it really didnt need an update, but since Apple blessed us with VIDEO RECORDING and RUMORS, lets blow it up and get high off the fumes which vaporize from our new mac power lines."

You guys are low on a new level.

[Look_Around_You @ Jun 8th 2009 9:27PM]

"seriously, and saying at the end "generally the good outweighs the bad"? give me a break you just dont wanna say fuck you to apple. every manufacturer gets put on blast sometime on this site but apple always manages to get away Scot-free"

I doubt we will ever see the "Ten reasons why the iPhone 3GS Misses The Mark" article.


And what about that article from Mossburg bragging about "compelling" features that were supposed to be announced today? If anything that guy needs to explain himself especially since he did it in an article that was supposed to be a Pre review.

[Nohone @ Jun 8th 2009 9:31PM]

I also liked this bit in the Good collumn:

"but we don't really complain about free."

So because it is "free", then we can excuse arbitrary limitations? Can I go back and find posts about free products from "other" companies that were criticized (the Zune software for example).

[Jon @ Jun 8th 2009 9:38PM]

@asher

Umm....also in the good column, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT!

Why are you bitching about a phone no one is forcing you to buy? It's a blog genius...If you don't like the post, use your fucking scroll wheel douche bag!

[hangfire @ Jun 8th 2009 9:43PM]

i must admit, it was a let down, the new pro line up was good, but they should have never taken firewire to start with, and no oled !!!!! wtf .

[erik1080 @ Jun 8th 2009 9:43PM]

@ImaYam and @Nohone... +1! Thanks for articulating my frustrations with Engadget and Apple so beautifully.

Hey Engadget, don't you have a sister blog called TUAW to worship the messiah that is Apple, Inc?

[ampMOD @ Jun 8th 2009 9:44PM]

Haha, Asher is just copying and pasting their exact same comment from another post. What a troll.

[SONYEDDIE @ Jun 8th 2009 9:54PM]

I waited like half the people said on that multiple choice question about the Pre, and now im going to get the Pre.

[SpydaKat 17 @ Jun 8th 2009 9:54PM]

Apple has disappointed. There are those who said that this day would never come, what do they say now?

[hangfire @ Jun 8th 2009 9:54PM]

i must admit, it was a disappointing wwdc,

no new purchases for me

[Sax25 @ Jun 8th 2009 10:49PM]

Engadget - WAKE UP AND SMELL THE STARBUCKS - the iPhone 3GS is a TOTAL disappointment. It deserves to be in the bad column. We waited one year for this? 12 months of hype and all the oohs and ahhs for nothing significantly new? - "been there, done that" said the other phones. If it wasn't bad enough that Apple didn't give us anything great, AT&T sure felt the need to shaft us with their ridiculous upgrading prices. Robbing me with a mediocre phone at a stupidly unacceptable price - seems this will be what Apple and AT&T are good at doing every summer. I'll just take it that next years iPhone will be a lame duck.

.... not even a friggin external design change.. lazy ass and still charging us the same!


Mossburg can go fly a kite too, that guy didn't know jack - hyping absolutely nothing!

[Jeremy @ Jun 8th 2009 11:23PM]

Engadget. You are fooling yourselves if you think "the good outweighs the bad". They just gave the shaft to every single iPhone 3G customer on the entire planet. You know, the people that made the iPhone the number 1 best selling phone ever -- those people. They are forcing those people to pay $600-$700 for a phone that is at best a mild refresh.

I don't think you fully understand how big of a deal this is going to be. The proof will be the opening day of the iPhone 3GS sales. If they are horrendous then you need to really examine how wrong you really are.

[sacapuntas @ Jun 8th 2009 11:48PM]

What about the "Blackbook" when are they bringing those back? It is an epic fail for Apple to only offer ONE color. At least offer your consumers 1 alternative to brushed Aluminum...

[Matt @ Jun 9th 2009 2:14AM]

You people complaining about the AT&T upgrade are idiots. No carrier gives upgrades before a contract is nearing is end. NO ONE IS FORCING YOU TO UPGRADE!! STFU and wait til the end of your contract, you are not entitled! Or, take responsibility for the contract you signed and pay the etf.

[Quix @ Jun 9th 2009 2:17AM]

Wow, what a bunch of freaking whiners. DOUBLE the processor speed, DOUBLE the storage, more battery life, better camera, same price. Hmm, a 16 GB iPhone for the same price as a 8GB Pre. Yet you tools are disappointed??? Because they didn't redesign the exterior (which is still the best looking phone on the market)? And because AT&T is charging big upgrade fees if you haven't fulfilled your 2 year commitment, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CARRIER DOES WITH EVERY OTHER PHONE???

Seriously, the Engadget comments section is just a place for Apple haters to wail and gnash their teeth to powder. Pathetic.

Suck it, haters. I'll be enjoying my new iPhone 3GS on June 19 (because *some* of us didn't upgrade last summer - and have finished our 2-year commitments). The rest of you, well, you can wait for Windows Mobile 7 or whatever miracle you're hoping for from Redmond.

[atomic punk @ Jun 9th 2009 2:20AM]

@Jeremy. The iPhone IS NOT the number one selling cellphone ever. That title goes to Nokia's lowly 1100 with over 200 million sold.

[sergio @ Jun 9th 2009 5:37AM]

Good news for Palm and RIM... iPhone 3GS it's going to be here for one year... Palm did the Pre in 15 months (with a very cool OS)... Guys, Palm is now a winner. Apple has not learnt about the Treo-PalmOS experience... tweaking a good product over the years give competitors a huge advantage... and remember that not everyone out there is an Apple funboy,,, I will get my Pre as soon as they sell it in Europe.

And sorry Apple, I am the owner of a iPod Touch and I will never again paid for a software update, 7 Euros???? Again???? For what???? Paste and copy and even more crap apps with paternal control????? Come on, I am 33 years old...

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Patriks7 @ Jun 9th 2009 7:33AM]

"can we really call iPhone a smartphone?"
A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone.[1][2] For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers.[3][4] For others, a smartphone is simply a phone with advanced features like e-mail, Internet and e-book reader capabilities, and/or a built-in full keyboard or external USB keyboard and VGA connector. In other words, it is a miniature computer that has phone capability.[5][6] (Wikipedia)

The iPhone seems to fit some of those pretty well.

[iphonerulez @ Jun 9th 2009 7:37AM]

You're right, the iPhone isn't really a smartphone. It's more fitting to be called a geniusphone. It's in a class by itself. It turns smart people into geniuses without about 50,000 apps to pick and choose from. You want to take a dump on WinMo users, there's an app for that. You want to pwn Nokia users, there's an app for that, too.

It had been quoted at the WWDC that developers said they would decrease development resources on all other mobile platforms just so they could become rich on the iPhone platform. They believed that it would be foolish to develop for failing platforms such as Symbian and WinMo. They wanted to go where the money flowed like water. Who can blame them?

[theCS @ Jun 9th 2009 7:59AM]

Why is everyone so pissed? 3GS has new features but so will you iPhone 3G for free! Spoiled, crying babies, need to have it all right now or else you will cry ... till you pass out. Just like the babies do. I was able to upgrade to my iPhone 3G from my original iPhone early but I did pay $600 for the original phone and only $200 for the 3G, meaning no discount on the original iPhone - hence the discount on the iPhone 3G. This is fair to all the other AT&T customers who have to wait to upgrade and dont just get a freebie bc they cry a lot. You want the phone pay for it, you dont have the $$$, well you have to stick to your end of bargain and wait. I know this is a new concept, should have learned this by now.

[darkmax @ Jun 9th 2009 9:36AM]

Think about it this way, the market is filled with touchscreen mobile devices that has better specs, better support and free apps. their tech level is at least 3 years ahead of the iPhone and... still Apple makes their fanbois buy things at current prices. No innovations involved, no creativeness needed, no research needed to be done... and yet, you pay premium prices.

Smartphones are supposed to be able to, well... do it all. iPhone 3GS is barely scrapping past the minimal. And by the time it is avaiable, even if it is today, it is outdated and outclassed. and yet, Apple charge you, the fanbois, an extremely high premium.

Conservatively speaking, they are making an average of 300% on the first model, about 250% on the second and 200% on this current one. That is a very conservative estimate. I suspect their profit is very much higher.

[musback @ Jun 9th 2009 3:25PM]

Remember the old days when it used 2 be just "the good"?
:'( they're screwing me, you, and everybody.

[bringthapayne @ Jun 8th 2009 9:01PM]

Garbage...


Palm Pre here i come...

[m3tric @ Jun 8th 2009 9:13PM]

Agreed, I was one of the people who was waiting for WWDC to see what Apple had in store before getting a Pre. Unfortunately, it was a very long, boring keynote with a very mundane section about the iPhone. Definitely dropped the ball.

Definitely made it an easy decision for me.

[Scott Beckstead @ Jun 9th 2009 3:29AM]

Good riddance

[enz1ey @ Jun 8th 2009 10:17PM]

Honestly, and I sincerely mean this from the bottom of my heart, but I bet there are about 3 people on this site who give a shit about what phone you have decided to purchase. Perhaps you should add some value to your next comment by telling us what kind of toilet paper you prefer to wipe your ass with.

[m3tric @ Jun 8th 2009 11:27PM]

enz1ey:

awww your precious WWDC disappoint you? HAHAHAHA

[bringthapayne @ Jun 9th 2009 12:48AM]

I prefer Kleenex Cottonelle Toilet Paper Enriched With Aloe & Vitamin E

I also prefer to use a wet nap for the final wipe to ensure the job has been done correctly



Thanks for asking..

[Geir E @ Jun 9th 2009 2:21AM]

Am I the only one who found the upgrades in iphone 3gs to be exactly what I have been waiting for. A better camera with video, faster processor, improved gps by the addition of compass and not to mention 7.2Mbps HSDPA.

[bhxcer2002 @ Jun 8th 2009 9:01PM]

Think ATT will cave under the negative press and speed up with the MMS...

[Guy @ Jun 8th 2009 9:10PM]

That and the pricing, and the tethering. I'm so mad, like I was so excited to hear that tethering was on the iPhone now but AT&T had to go and not support it. And the pricing. iPhone users already pay a lot as it is, and now they want us to pay even more to get a new one! They should be throwing new iPhones at us.

[JOSE @ Jun 8th 2009 9:17PM]

they might cave in if enough customers rip them apart...you would think they would have the common sense to remember that most if not all iphone owners ditch other carriers to own this phone.. they have nothing to lose in giving current iphone owners the same price as new owners... they already rape us all with the phone and data plans...

[Cassini @ Jun 8th 2009 9:48PM]

AT&T, you suck. You've become fat, dumb, and arrogant.

You also won't be getting any of my money.

[enz1ey @ Jun 8th 2009 10:10PM]

Yeah, and the fact that tethering is going to be YET ANOTHER additional charge is just outrageous. You practically need to buy the iPhone plan with unlimited everything to freely use the phone, and that's already close to $100 a month. I guess AT&T hopes the phone with be enough of an attraction itself cause we sure as hell know the plans won't be.

[Ryan LN @ Jun 8th 2009 11:00PM]

Here here Cassini. I really think that AT&T must hate their customers. I absolutely love my iPhone; and I would quickly and easily agree to a new two year contract at a shot at my *third* one for double the memory and cool new features- but no, AT&T has to ass rape me on the way to granny's house. Great. Now I have to wait another year for my new phone. All I know is, with the way they treat me. as SOON as iPhone exclusivity is abandoned, I'm outta here.

[Jeremy @ Jun 8th 2009 11:31PM]

@Ryan LN, you are exactly right. This is going to be a huge problem for AT&T when the exclusivity runs out. AT&T has already reported that many people are leaving their carriers to get the iPhone (I forget the exact numbers). If people don't feel secure with AT&T not raping them they're never going to want to sign another 2 year contract after they wait 1 year for their current contract to expire. I'm pretty sure the exclusivity will be over within the next 3 years no matter what happens so why the hell would I stick around with a company that has shown how little they care about the customers who resurrected their broken company?

[Ben @ Jun 9th 2009 2:19AM]

I'm really trying to understand why there is so much anger regarding the pricing of the iPhone 3G S. I've been an AT&T customer for 8 years now (actually AT&T, then Cingular, then AT&T again) and have been very happy. And during all that time I understand that the *only* time I can receive contract pricing on a new phone is when I'm eligible for such pricing. Currently I am not eligible until Feburary 2010 - this is true for ANY phone that I might be interested in purchasing. So why should the iPhone 3G S be any different just because I own a 3G now? I might also remind those that the $299 I paid for my 3G was a subsidized price. The way I view it, I don't actually "own" the phone until I have fulfilled the portion of the contract that covers the subsidy, which I understand to be 18 months. So why should AT&T extend me preferred pricing when I haven't even held up my end of the deal yet? I think everyone here needs to enter the real world and understand that the goal of Apple and AT&T isn't to appease fanboys but to make mainstream money.

[kilik64 @ Jun 9th 2009 11:19AM]

Just jailbreak your phone, its called pda net...

[Tom @ Jun 8th 2009 9:03PM]

Bad:
MacBook Air still stuck at 2GB ram

Also, on the removable battery thing, I'd prefer the larger sealed in battery. I've never found a need for two batteries, and the only time mine has been popped out is when it needed to be replaced. Since the new ones can still be replaced, I'm not upset.

Yes, I know some people need swappable batteries, but I'm betting it's a very minor percentage of laptop owners.

[Aguiluz @ Jun 8th 2009 9:11PM]

Ugly: Total Engadget invasion.

[rory @ Jun 8th 2009 11:39PM]

I agree. I don't get what the big deal is about having swappable batteries - you can buy an external one that plugs into the MagSafe port, get over it!