iPhone 3GS announced: $199 16GB, $299 32GB, June 19th
By Nilay Patel 
posted June 8th 2009 1:49PM
posted June 8th 2009 1:49PM
As endlessly predicted, Apple's unveiled a new iPhone today at WWDC, the iPhone 3G S -- the "s" stands for speed. Although it looks almost exactly like the 3G, it's much, much faster -- some tasks are almost four times faster. Data speeds are upped to 7.2Mbps HSDPA, and the camera is now a 3 megapixel unit with tap-to-autofocus and auto white balance -- and just as expected, it now supports 30fps VGA video recording with editing features. You're also getting a built-in compass, Nike+ support, and a new battery that offers 5 hours of 3G talk time and 9 hours of WiFi internet use. There are some surprises, too -- holding down the home button now enables a new voice control interface that lets you do everything from make calls to control iTunes, and Apple's touting a new "fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating." New and end-of-contract pricing is set at $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB when it goes on sale June 19th Stateside and in 80 more countries in August -- and the current 8GB 3G will remain on sale for $99, effective immediately. You'll have to pay a bit more if you're mid-contract, though -- $299 for the 3G and $399/$499 for the 3G S.
Other iPhone news from WWDC:
Apple shows iPhone OS 3.0 at WWDC, hits devices June 17th
Apple's 8GB iPhone 3G falls to $99 on contract
Apple partners with TomTom to bring "real" navigation to iPhone
Apple announces "Find My iPhone" phone-locating service
Line 6 and Planet Waves brings guitar and amp control to iPhone
ScrollMotion's Iceberg in-app bookstore announced for iPhone, ready to take on the Kindle?
iPhone 3G vs. iPhone 3G S: the tale of the tape
Other Apple news from WWDC:
Apple's new MacBook family: non-removable batteries, lower prices
Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade
Apple digs into Microsoft at WWDC
Safari 4 released today, offering 'unparalled speed'
Read - Apple PR
Read - AT&T PR with pricing info
Other iPhone news from WWDC:
Apple shows iPhone OS 3.0 at WWDC, hits devices June 17th
Apple's 8GB iPhone 3G falls to $99 on contract
Apple partners with TomTom to bring "real" navigation to iPhone
Apple announces "Find My iPhone" phone-locating service
Line 6 and Planet Waves brings guitar and amp control to iPhone
ScrollMotion's Iceberg in-app bookstore announced for iPhone, ready to take on the Kindle?
iPhone 3G vs. iPhone 3G S: the tale of the tape
Other Apple news from WWDC:
Apple's new MacBook family: non-removable batteries, lower prices
Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade
Apple digs into Microsoft at WWDC
Safari 4 released today, offering 'unparalled speed'
Read - Apple PR
Read - AT&T PR with pricing info
Probably Meh. Nothing outstanding from this conference for me.
Stop spamming. Hsdpa and 3mpix cam so far, so living up to what I thought.
Still no flash.
I name thee apple iMeh
Yesterdays meatloaf, reheated and a bit parsley on top.
No flash? gosh Apple - isn't it about time you added it?!!!!! A measly 1 megapixel increase since the original iPhone.. pathetic! With no xenon flash and at a rate of 1 megapixel every two years - by the time the camera is actually decent - Samsung/LG phones will be at 50 megapixels wwith red eye reduction!
Same Price Points.
I can't wait to get one!
Early Pre adopters are patting themselves on the back. "You did it, Tiger. You didn't miss a thing", they tell themselves.
Seriously? This is what the fanboys were wetting themselves over? The new features are NICE but they're really just icing on the cake for the people who were looking to buy a new iPhone anyways. The better hardware is really the biggest draw over the Pre. And the "fuck you" $10 charge for Touch users (like me) just keeps our will to jailbreak up.
All good stuff, but I'm slightly underwhelmed if I'm honest... Can't think of anything that really made me think "wow", more like "at last!"
I suppose I should be relieved, since it makes the choice between this and the Pre a bit easier!
@Love iPhones
Don't the apple hired PR men allready get one for free?
HTC Touch Pro 2: My next phone. I have too good of a deal on Sprint, and the Pre will require me to upgrade to an everything plan where I will keep the same price point as my current plan and lose 1000 minutes. Not happening.
Can't wait!
Yeah, I was expecting a "one more thing" after the 3GS was announced but it didn't happen. Meh, not a big enough reason to upgrade from a 3G to a 3GS.
Wow, Apple failed big time IMHO. Very underwhelming. They should have let everyone at the very least update to 3.0 today. Why more waiting?
I'm guessing this is only a minor step-up for the iPhone line and we won't see a true successor till next year. Today was very boring.
Stupid commenting system: no editing.
P.S. I don't have anything against the iPhone. In fact, I applaud it for kicking the mobile market in the rear and making everyone realize that they don't have to use the same designs that they have been using for the past 10 years. However, the reality of the situation is that I have the best deal possible on Sprint, and I'm not going to lose it. I've tried talking with other carriers, and there is no way that they can match the deal that I'm getting.
Definately meh... Sticking with my WinMo phone
Yeah I'm pretty surprised. There were a few cool things they added but nothing mind blowing or anything. Certainly thought they would have done a little more.
No flash? great! unless the figure out a way to add a xenon flash without killing the battery, (not likely anytime soon) who cares? LED "flashes" are about as useful as... well, in my experience, not that useful unless you're about 1 foot away from your subject.
As far at the MP count, 3 is just about perfect for a camera on a phone. that works out to 2000 x 1500 or so pixels. Given the effective resolution of the lens in a freaking phone, more is not really better, it's just more.
Do you really want to print photos from your phone and hang them on the wall or something? 3 mega pixels exceeds the resolution of 90%+ of monitors out there, and the huge majority of people will only be viewing these photos on their screens. More mega pixels is, in practice, just more taking up more space and offering no real benefit. 3.0 MP on a phone is more than enough. What I want is a full frame DSLR with 24 MP for under $1,000.
And no, this is not praising Apple. I think Palm's picking a 3 MP (or is it 2 something?) for the Pre is the correct choice as well.
Besides a 3 MP camera can take really good photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/CraigJacobs99/FeaturedImages#5082827449848888130
http://picasaweb.google.com/CraigJacobs99/FeaturedImages#5082827411194182434
http://picasaweb.google.com/CraigJacobs99/FeaturedImages#5082827505683463026
I don't consider this spam, just backing up my point.
"A measly 1 megapixel increase since the original iPhone.. pathetic! With no xenon flash and at a rate of 1 megapixel every two years - by the time the camera is actually decent - Samsung/LG phones will be at 50 megapixels wwith red eye reduction!"
3 megapixles of good quality is tenfold times better than 50 megapixles of crap. The sensor is limited in size and the pixel density is already too high on those samsung/lg phones. you got alot of noise and no new details in those extra megapixles.
I found the iphone update a great upgrade, time to actually consider buying one.
I've been following the live blog the whole time. Are the processor and RAM upgraded? And no info on cheaper ATT plans? Did I miss something?
Palm's share price, after falling significantly this morning (in anticipation of a big iPhone announcement) has gone back up by nearly a whole dollar since the announcement of the 3GS. Kind of says it all really!
I can't imagine many people other than total fanboys running out to get this.
Very similar hardware, identical O/S features to the 3G. Why bother?
From the Apple store:
"For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB)."
!?!?! WTF. Guess it's a good thing I was on the fence about upgrading my 3G, cause it ain't happening now.
Oh, and Apple shares are down by $4 .....
good thing I'm mid contract with the iphone 3G, i'll just wait for next year. Even the name itself suggests this is a minor revision rather than the big change some of us were hoping for.
Wow sucks about the lack of OLED!
Better camera and video is cool but not a show stopper. And after a months use and some apps I'm sure it'll be a slow as it ever was...
Guess I'm going with the Palm Pre then. Same old iPhone GUI is boring me. Only one app open at a time feels outdated and confusing on such as powerful phone. Palm will release an update soon to fix the hiccups and the app store will follow in a month.
Ernest, as of 3:45 Apple stock is down just over 1%, while Palm is down over 5%. Stocks price fluctuations are measured in percent, and Palm is lower relatively. The short sellers of Palm will see profits from here on out.
Any word on pricing for people upgrading? Especially in Ireland or even the UK.
And Ernest, Apple stock is shooting up starting at 3:15, while Palm is holding steady at near -6%.
It would be nice if the price of the phone didnt go up just because you were mid-contract...
Looks like I'm getting a pre!
seems everyone's forgot about job's in the midst of all this disappointment, huh? wonder if he got over his swine flu........
Well, like many others, I was waiting to see what Apple offered before deciding between Pre and iPhone. Luckily, Apple made that decision easy for me.
I will be picking up my Pre tomorrow morning :)
woosh!
My balls on yo face.
Pics or it didn't happen
Schiller: Microsoft is releasing Windows 7 and Windows Mobile 7 together-ish, we must do the same (innovatively)
Ive: Let's call it the iPhone 3G Snow
Schiller: That's just stupid...innovative, but stupid.
Ive: Okay...hmmm, how about...the iPhone 3GS?
Schiller: Damn, you're such an innovative genius, Ive.
Walt Mossberg interrupted a review of another handset and told people to hold off buying a Palm Pre.....
........for this?!?!?
what kind of weak journalistic intergrety is that, how does that guy even still have a job? has he got tenure or something?
first?
Fail.
Nice one buddy
I know of a good greif/shame counselor if you need it Aaron.
+1 for trying.
+1 Thumbs Down for trying.
:lol: in 6 months you're going to hear a conversation that goes like this
Guy 1: "What iPhone is that?"
Guy 2: "This isn't the iPhone THIS is the Palm Pre!"
Guy 1: "I've never heard of the Palm Pre."
Guy 2: "That's because the iPhone 3GS came out before anyone heard of the Pre"
Guy 1: "Do you like it"
Guy 2:"ehh, I would rather have the 3GS but I bought into the hype that everyone was making about the Pre"
Guy 1: "Isn't that what you did with the Blackberry Storm too?"
Guy 2:"Don't remind me"
skyblaze lies in wait to see if this will truly be the phone to break his streak of never owning an apple device
Nope
just texted my bro bout the annoucment and gave him the lowdown on all the new stuff. first thing he says is "doesn't your phone [G1] do all that?" I say yes (minus the VGA recording) he goes "F*GS! all that talk for what??"
skyblaze is dissapointed. yeah speed is nice... but just like with OS 3.0 the bulk of it all was stuff our "crappier devices" can already do :\
~sigh.... I need a drink.
"~sigh.... I need a drink."
don't you mean "sign....SKYBLAZE needs a drink"?
don't you mean *sigh - Skyblaze needs to go BLAZE?
-1 for breaking third person.