Apple WWDC 2009: the good, the bad, and the ugly
By Nilay Patel 
posted June 8th 2009 8:57PM
posted June 8th 2009 8:57PM
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
I love my 1G iPhone! I use it all day long and it worth every single cent. I didn't upgrade to the 3G because it didn't see enough improvement to my 1G phone. I waiited a year and now I ordered the 3GS because I get a bigger upgrade from 8GB to 32GB, edge to 3G, better camera, voice dialing, copy and paste, MMS (which I don't care for)...etc. And I received my discount from AT&T ($299 upgrade to a 32GB) because I didn't use mine last year.
If you don't like iPhone then don't buy it.
If you don't like the new 3GS it then don't upgrade.
If you already used up your discount/upgrade right then don't complaint if you have to wait until you are qualify again.
If you hate any posts related to Apple products and/or users then stay out of it.
All day long bitching...WTF!!??
I'll start by putting this out there. I'm an over the top addicted to Apple Apple fan and don't really care what anyone has to say about it. That being said, I'm FUCKING PISSED that they removed express card from the 15 inch macbook pro and replaced it with a shitty SD card reader. As a pro user (film/video/photo) I rely on the Express Card slot for wireless 3g, Sony SXS Cards (digital cards from Sony HD cameras), and an ESATA card, since apple refuses to build ESATA in. These machines are supposed to be PRO machines and they drop a PRO feature in exchange for a fucking worthless SD slot and add insult to injury by not at least giving us a multi-card reader so PROS could plug in their CF cards from DSLR's.
Apple wants to remove 3G from power user laptops.
They will announce a netbook this year, and it will nicely position [i.e. force] their followers will need to buy one of each:
a 3G iPhone, 3G netbook and a mac laptop.
Trifecta I say, Apple is not dumb.
(of course, they already have an iPod for their cars already)...
No Adobe Flash and no camera flash
How about adding to ugly:
Apple "buyiphone" iPhone preorder website down since release (at least for current subscribers)
3+ hours hold time on 1(800) MY-APPLE
@Engadget and Apple: ENOUGH. Please. We're not idiots.
Forget Palm Pre and their closed platform. Its a dead-end.
Android is the future! Free for all and simply beautiful.
20 Android devices this year. Plenty of choice and totally affordable.
And definitely better than iPhone and Palm Pre.
Let's finally wake up.
Hey, can we put some thought into this? Apple probably looked at their numbers and realized the economy still lagging. Why would they lower prices on macbooks when they always sell their product and never care if its too expensive?. Obviously they not gonna up the hardware when they know 80% of the people that actually are buying iphones already have one and their contracts are not up until next year. they did minus upgrades to keep ringing their brand into the market even if is bad. Once every body is ready for and upgrade next year they'll come out with the real deal and sell 10 more million units plus the others that trickle in.
When are you guys gonna realized that all this rumor stuff is bull****. Is people like engadget trying to keep you coming in on a daily basis (after all iphone is the hottest hardware out there), keep everything on a positive note so they still get their free goodies.
Apple never came out and confirm the rumors, thats why Im not disappointed. Even so I still think it was a weak presentation. I blame the economy for that and the fact that the iphone as good as it is its not gonna sell 30 million units and apple knows that, they do the research and hit it spot on when they told you long time ago how many iphones they were going to sell.
Ok, you win, Job is God and Apple is always right... in the mean time I will buy a Palm Pre, thanks for asking!
WOW, never thought I'd see the day Engadget would turn into this, I think I can finally mention Engadget and Gizmodo in the same breath now without any reservations. I'm out...
AT&T! AT&T!! BLAME AT&T! -- it's all their fault! They're the Dick Cheney of the technology world!
Serious engadget, stop spinnning!
"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."
That's exactly like CNet's (a MS biased mag) response to the Palm Pre.
"MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (including the new 13-inch Pro) specs have increased while prices have come down"
But *still out of reach* for the general public compared to a Dell/HP/Lenovo/Acer/MSI
In the end, this conference was 50% good, 50% bad. A wash. It definitely failed on expectations, but did create a good price point for a $99 iPhone. And no Steve Jobs... makes it one of the bland WWDC in the last 10yrs.
For the record: I bought the 17" MacBook Pro unibody specifically because of the sealed in battery. Because I want 7 hours of battery life, less just doesn't cut if for me on a pro machine.
I am also probably one of the three people who actually owned two batteries for my old MacBook Pro. I don't think Nilay or any of the other Engadget editors do, really, because if they did, they would know what a giant pain in the ass swapping batteries really is.
It's maybe OK for that one intercontinental flight. But on a daily basis, the killer is that you have to charge the batteries. So you come home, and charge one battery in the notebook. Then a few hours later, you have to remember to swap so you can charge the second battery. Again, this is OK for a one-off, but it's not something you'd do every day. In fact, I never did. I just took my power adapter with me and plugged in everywhere I could - that solution was much more practical for me than using my two batteries.
I had two batteries, I paid $140 for my second battery, and I never used it, despite the fact that I am out and about most of my workday. Two batteries is a poor solution best suited for one-off use. Now I have a sealed in battery which lasts longer than my two MacBook Pro batteries lasted together. 100% WIN.
Except maybe for that one person on a boat in the atlantic who is carrying 10 spares.
Please excuse my poor spelling in the same way I excuse the poor commenting system on Engadget. Thanks!
One battery may be fine for you but Im constantly on the go as per my job, I need my laptop to run for up to 9 hours every day without time to plug it in (well when im traveling between jobs I have an inverter for my car but this is inadaquet in providing enough power to charge the damned things). You may say that no one needs extra batteries but I stand against your claim.
Luckily I got one of those external battery packs which do the job, Still though would be nice if these came with swappable batteries and apple sold a charging station, a station to charge batteries so one wouldn't need to charge them through the laptop.
@Keith - Granted, some need more, but I want to point out that the Engadget reaction ("doesn't cut it for a pro machine") is just way off. It's not a choice of sealed vs non-sealed - it's a trade-off of sealed with nearly 2x the capacity vs non sealed. For the vast majority of users who never buy a second battery, or even those who have one but only have one because the battery life of the single replaceable battery was so poor (that would be me), this is a much better solution.
I am surprised your inverter wouldn't charge your computer. I have one of those universal inverters where you just plug in a standard 3 prong plug, and it's rated for 200 watts which is more than the MacBook Pro needs for charging. Watts = Amps x Volts. Looking at my MBP power brick it's 1.5A x 110V = 165W - that is the max. power draw. So you get a 200W inverter and you should be all set.... quick Googling shows that such a device costs all of $30. I hope this helps...
Both Apple and AT&T deserve a collective round of "FUCK YOU"s.
I think that someone should just create a front facing camera accessory to plug in the bottom of the iphone to use for video chat!
Mediocrity cloaked in grandeur.
I wonder how long they'll keep tacking extra bits onto a seemingly simple name
Phone
[ i ] + Phone + [ 3G ] + [ [S] ]
what's next the
Nano iPhone 3G [S] Unibody White '09
;D
Palm pre! Me and my lady are going with the pre until summer 2010 atleast maybe a better iphone will be out then.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!
This WWDC 09 is all gimmicks and no substance. I could care less about having a "greener" MBP or a "faster" iPhone, when connection speed is entirely dependent on the carrier's network. And these price cuts are useless: here in EU (where the iPhone is far from being a huge hit) you can snap one for as little as €99, on British, Italian and German carriers.
I already sensed failure when they started having a go at Vista, and went on endlessly about those flashy apps. Then, what'd you expect?
A "new" product with only slight cosmetic changes, and a new OS. Wow. That's gonna make me run to the shop.
One of the main reasons the iPhone never cut it in EU is that it's HUGE, and too big to carry in your pocket. That's why most ppl, this writer included, were looking for a smaller, handier size - 2G iTouch's would have been great, even without having 3MP camera, or MMS, or 7.2 Mbps, all good things but already available on a bazillion other phones.
So really there is only one ugle since Apple has nothing to do with who AT&T treats is customers.
Did anybody else see this as the "catching up to Android" conference? All their big new features were things that Android can already do on the G1 and Magic.
Compass, Video Recording, Push Notifications, Auto Focus, Copy-Paste
It was like they just went down a checklist of features that their closest competitor had over them and unceremoniously added them to the iPhone. I guess it's good for them that many of Android's specific advantages over their platform are now gone, but it just doesn't make for a very exciting announcement.
Ben is right, look at all the other carriers. Do you guys really think once they get hold of the iPhone they will be any better than what AT&T offers? All carriers are in this market to make money and as better the phones they sell as more money they can harvest.
Just when you think At&t could not suck more! They always come though for us!
Well, that's what I was waiting to hear. I'm done with the iPhone. I'm going to get a Pre right now. This trickle of updates might work when you dont have a choice, Mac/PC or Ipod/iTunes but when the provider is your lock in, not so much. See ya ATT and Apple. Love the multitasking and I CAN FUCKING SEND MMS.
"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."
Ok. So this statement really grinded my gears (yay Family Guy!). I love you engadget! and I will continue to read you everyday, but the above paragraph is really unfair. Of course current iPhone owners will want the new 3GS. Its not a huge secret. However, the expensive pricing is not flipping the bird to existing customers. Since when does AT&T offer annual phone upgrades with subsidized pricing??? Nothing has changed there. Just because I have a previous model of a phone does not mean that im automaticly entitled to a discount for the new hotness. When I signed that little signature pad when I purchased my 3g, I understood that I got that discount for signing a 2 YEAR CONTRACT.
Im even grateful for the option to buy the iPhone 3GS while in contract/ purchase without contract option is available. Because if you remember, it was not an option once upon a time. Though it would be nice to get future iPhones annually with discounted pricing (and i'll admit that the 1st Gen did spoil me). But the honeymoon is over. SO if you want the new iPhone 3gs and are still under contract ? I suggest you eat the extra $200 and pay full retail like everyone else under contract.
Sooooo, why does engadget think that AT&T is screwing current customers? the company has been giving a $600 phone for $200 for the last year.. and what's the whining for? the company has to get their money back somewhere.
I don't mind the upgrade issues and not being able to get the 3gs. What bothers me is that At&t is really dragging their preverbal feet when it comes to MMS and Tethering. These are features that should be supported come next week. If other carriers can do it, At&t needs to get into rank and file. Way to go At&t...
If the iPhone's so fucking great then what are all of you complaining about? Use the one you already have... It's SO spectacular, isn't it? If you're that pissed off about the "lack of updates," then maybe the iPhone isn't as great as all you commenters have been trying to get us to believe.
I dont normally take the time to post here, but seriously people stop flaming and getting upset, some ppl love apple , some dont, some love other companies, take this! as a tech article, just say its cool or not impressive, thats all, dont have to have a tantrum. I love apple myself and yes im not super impressed with 3GS but some people here are taking it like its their life that fell apart or something.
Everyone's up in arms about the iPhone, but how about No FCS 3 for the "Bad" column? Come on! Minor boost to the pro-lineup wasn't anything to salivate over and it's been more than 2 years since the release of FCS 2 now. And not even a hint of a project in the pipelines? Lame...
It appears apple is pushing aside it's more professional market that gave it a viable existence in the first place to appeal to the shrieking demographic everywhere.
i dont get why video recording wont be an update for the 3g. f it though, jailbreak and get cycorder. that works fine for me. but overall this was pretty dissappointing news and im tired of at&ts crap from the slingbox to the mms i have had enough. tmobile here i come
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WRITE IN TO APPLE REGARDING THE EGREGIOUS UPGRADE PRICING FOR EXISTING AT&T CUSTOMERS!
sjobs@apple.com
Can we please get off the "built-in battery is bad" argument? This is by far the dumbest and most infuriating argument that I see repeated at virtually every review of either the iPhone or now the MacBook Pros. In case you're wondering, here are some arguments FOR the built-in battery:
- More balanced distribution of weight in the laptop/phone.
- Better design (i.e. thinner), more solid structure.
- Much more capacity available/provided with built-ins.
- Whether or not the battery is removable, you have to carry an "extra" battery for it to make sense; for non-removable products, the external battery usually provides much more power, its own charger and a more attractive price compared to an over-priced, regular-power, must-charge-it-internally-or-buy-an-external-charger internal battery.
- No wearing out of the latch or the pins that connect the internal battery to the laptop; no Philips head screws or weird/proprietary-type slots necessary to open and release the battery.
- No more sudden battery "pop outs" if battery isn't securely locked in position or the latch to open it is accidentally triggered.
So, that's my rant. I just wish a more balanced and thought out argument would be made when making the case against built-in batteries. It is one of these tired arguments that I find little thought is given to. I can't remember the last time I saw someone with an extra internal battery for their cell phone or laptop or even an MP3 player... to me it is like complaining about the lack of the ol' mouse bus port or 9-pin serial ports -- just hugely wreaks of an antiquated argument...
I'm still waiting on AT&T to release a statement for the epic failure that's come out of WWDC.
Being at the forefront of computer technology Apple will soon be releasing a lineup of notebooks that will come standard with something called an "SD card slot". Details are sketchy at this time but apparently this will be a little port on the side of the machine that will accept little plastic cards that contain data (pictures/video/music). Unfortunately I'm unable to provide any more details as this news is fresh from this morning's WWDC, Apples World Conference. What they call computer gadgetry I call magic. I bet the whole room stood up, cheered and clapped with this momentous announcement.
Non removable batteries have also been introduced to address the dreaded "battery disengagement issue", a huge and on going problem with Apple laptops where the battery would simply fall out of the system while in use causing catastrophic damage and embarrassment.
Also announced is Snow Leopard, an update to Apple's world famous , "it simply works" operating system. This upgrade of course will not contain any important new features, it will simply be a service pack that will improve stability and performance. Coming to your local Apple retailer in September, a fantastic, almost "givin' it away for free" value of $29.99US.
Some other fantastic news to the 750 or so people who use Apple's web browser Safari. The final release of version 4.0 is just around the corner. This update will allow for history search, and most importantly crash protection. Most of all it will offer "unparalleled speed" when compared to the slowest browser available today, Microsoft's IE8.
Downranked you for being a cry-baby.
One thing i find funny about Apple is their naming system for the iPhone and its successors. All they seem to do is add letters and/or numbers to the previous incarnation... For example, the first device was simply the Apple iPhone... Next came the iPhone 3G.... Now the iPhone 3G S.... Next model?... My guess is the "iPhone 4G S2"
iPhone Type R
I'm a total Apple whore and I thought this press conference was utterly disappointing. I'm coming up on two years with my original iPhone and was looking for a legitimate reason to upgrade. I don't see it. I also can't imagine a lot of 3G owners upgrading like a lot of first gen people did last summer. A slightly better camera with video, MMS, and a faster processor. Yawn.
I guess I'll wait another year to upgrade. Though I'm increasingly impressed at the life span of my first gen iPhone.
Faster processor, double the memory, cut and paste, video, better camera, mms, what more were you expecting?
Whats up w/ the outragous deposit just to get service for ATT? I can buy it unlocked, still have a couple hundred left over to buy accesories AND put gas in my truck...Palm Prez is lookin good right about now..Was trying to avoid Craigslist, but I guess not..
repost...
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, yeah I really don't know why I said that. I really meant to say that in the previous quarter it held the top spot which had been held by the the RAZR for a very long time. Definitely not best selling "ever".
@Quix, the best part will be when Apple releases a new iPhone next summer that actually has real hardware changes and you won't be able to get one because you'll be 12 months into your contract. What you don't understand is that even though this happens with every other phone, those phones aren't the iPhone. You may call it whining, but it's the future. If Palm sells tens of millions of units and then pulls this next summer they will be criticized just as severely.
"up to" 5 years of battery life,
"up to" 1000 charge cycles,
"up to 80%" capacitance after 1000 cycles,
but warranty is limited to one year only. Even with an Apple Care Protection Plan, the warranty for the battery is not extended - and the warranty does not apply for more or less capacitance loss at all, but just for production failures.
Do you trust Apple that it will live that long?
Assume a Pro (it's called MacBook Pro) who will use it two charge cycles a day, 300 days a year - the battery will be gone within 1 1/2 years...
Personally, I feel more than ok about 80 % capacitance left after 1000 cycles. But I'd expect a warranty from Apple that they really believe in their promises.
Ehhh. It was pretty much bad all around. A few "price drops", negligible upgrades here and there...truthfully I was not sold on the 3G S as a current 3G owner. The capacity upgrades,compass and video recording are nice but that's basically it. The speed upgrades are hit or miss, I mean is AT&T even ready for this stuff? Nothing is a "right now must have" feature. This is a really good upgrade for people with the 1st gen iPhone, I don't see current 3G users running first in line for this one though I could be wrong. I was truly expecting a better screen. I guess next year will be 32, 64, 128GB or how about expandable storage? (I'm sure they can keep the phone as thin as it is), maybe OLED-who knows?
I will not be able to upgrade until August 2010 which by then another WWDC would have passed and then there will be a new iPhone on dsiplay with which I believe will have truly significant upgrades. This really seems more like a stop gap measure.
The whole thing left me like "Is that it...?...."
I agree with Ben. Why are the 3G owners complaining about having to pay full price for an NON-ELIGIBILE new phone purchase. You're lucky AT&T didn't make you sign a THREE year contract when you upgraded from 1st gen. AT&T did you a favor and now you're complaining they aren't doing it again?
And why is Engadget encouraging this mentality?! AT&T is not "flipping existing customers the bird." iPhone 3G customers are simply being treated the same as any other customer.
YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT. DEAL WITH IT OR PAY FULL PRICE LIKE THE REST OF US.
Fanboys and haters going at it... what else is new?
Truth is, I WANT an iPhone very badly, but just couldn't bring myself to buy the original or the 3G, simply because it's feature set sucked, always lagging behind the competition. The OS is great and the touchscreen is the IMHO the best in the business (plus the phone looks beautiful). So I was banking my hopes on this iteration.
But it seems to me that Apple is intentionally crippling the iPhone for whatever reason. Honestly, I was looking forward to so much more from Apple, but this is a MAJOR disappointment. So I guess I'm still not gonna get myself an iPhone.
Why would I pay $100 for an iPhone when I can get the Motorola Q Global for free?