Apple Iphone 3g

release date: July 2008
colours:
 
black
 
white
Apple Iphone 3g

RATING

5 stars

Pros

  • 3G and HSDPA - Fast Internet Access
  • IPhone App Store
  • Microsoft Exchange - Push Email
  • Powerpoint and Office
  • Assisted GPS and maps
  • 3.5-inch multi-touch screen
  • IPod
  • Threaded SMS
  • Wi-Fi
  • User interface
  • ITunes Wi-Fi store
  • Safari browser
  • Visual mail

Cons

  • No voice dialling
  • No Bluetooth A2DP
  • No MMS
  • No video recording
  • No voice recorder
  • Still only a 2 MP camera
  • No front camera
  • No camera flash or auto-focus
  • No cut and paste
  • No Safari Flash support

SUMMARY

iphone 2. New features include: 3G, HSDPA, iPhone App Store, A-GPS and Microsoft Exchange. Big touchscreen, iPod, Wi-Fi, excellent user interface. Still missing some basic features.

Review

An Apple iPhone with 3G. Lick those lips. The new Apple iPhone 3G AKA iPhone 2, is Apple's latest iteration of their wonder phone.

iPhone 3G - What's New?

3G and HSDPA: That means MUCH faster Internet access speeds. Instead of waiting 10+ seconds for a Web page to appear, pages typically appear in under 2 seconds. Much better than woeful EDGE data speeds.

App Store: Developers can build applications to take advantage of the iPhone technology - the touchscreen, accelerometer, GPS and 3D real-time 3D graphics. Example applications include: eBay, Super Monkey Ball (Game), Loopt (Social Networking application). You can browse the App store at iTunes. Many applications are free, others you must pay for.

App Store

Microsoft Exchange: Apple iPhone is now "enterprise ready". Apple say the iPhone is the best mobile phone for business. Perhaps. From the Apple Web site:

It supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, delivering push email, calendar and contacts. And it gives mobile users secure access to corporate resources with Cisco IPSec VPN and network services with WPA2 Enterprise and 802.1X authentication.

Assisted GPS: Get precise location data with assisted GPS-powered maps.

iPhone 2.0 Software Update: Features include:

  • Download applications from the App store
  • Push Email
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • MobileMe - Get push email, calendar and contacts on your iPhone and on any computer. Make a change on one device, and the changes are pushed to the "MobileMe Cloud"
  • Better Email Management - mass email move and delete.
  • Contacts Search - Search for contact names using the search box. Look up contact names in your company’s Global Address List (GAL) with Microsoft Exchange.
  • Additional Languages - Better language support.
  • Email Attachment Support - Now includes iWork and Microsoft PowerPoint file support.
  • Scientific calculator - Includes scientific functions.

iPhone - Still Lacking Basic Features

No MMS, no Bluetooth A2DP, no video capture, no front camera, no voice dialling/memo, no flash support in Safari browser, no touchscreen haptic feedback, no cut and paste and there's still only a lowly 2 MP camera with very few features - no flash, no auto-focus.

Other than that, design and features remain the same as the original Apple iPhone.

Design

Very similar to the original iPhone dimensions. 0.5mm taller, 1.1 mm wider and 0.7 mm thicker. The back is now plastic with slightly more bevelled edge - the new iPhone 3G weighs 133g, 2g less than the original iPhone.

The 16 GB flash drive version also comes in white. Tasty. The 3.5 mm audio jack is now flush with the top of the phone - plug your earphones in with ease. Other than that, design is the same.

Features

For a comprehensive run-through of iPhone features, see Apple iPhone Review. We'll cover the new features here.

GPS

Find your location, track your progress, get directions and see traffic with GPS. The iPhone finds your position using GPS satellites or by using Wi-Fi mobile phone base stations. Do a keyword search to find nearby businesses. A-GPS gets a lock pretty fast.

You can view turn-by-turn directions or get live GPS tracking. Switch between views: Google map, hybrid view or satellite view. Tap the screen to zoom, drag to pan. Very easy.

iPhone GPS

iPhone 2.0 Software

If you have an iPhone 1, you can update to iPhone 2.0 software (it's free). iPhone 2.0 software includes the Application Store (new icon on the home screen), MicroSoft Exchange and new Mail, Contacts search and other features.

iPhone 2.0 Software

Fast Internet Access - 3G and HSDPA

The first iPhone got fierce criticism real for not having 3G - EDGE is not very fast. 3G and HSDPA (up to 3.6 Mbps) offers a far more satisfying experience. Web pages can load much quicker. Use Wi-Fi to connect to local wireless networks.

Summary

3.5-inch touch-screen, Wi-Fi, GPS, App Store, Microsoft Exchange, excellent interface, looks pretty, easy-to-use contacts, good Web browsing (for a phone), EDGE, 3G and HSDPA and all for a decent price. Better than iPhone 1 - 3G, HSDPA and GPS are the main feature upgrades. iPhone 2.0 software is available for both iPhone versions.

It's still missing some basics - video capture and Bluetooth A2DP are biggies. The 2 MP camera, whilst providing OK photos in decent light, is some way behind many of the leading camera phones in terms of features and image quality.

PAYG iPhone?

Yes, a PAYG iPhone will be available later in 2008. See the O2 Web Site.

O2 iPhone Contracts - Better Price

8GB iPhone: Free on the £45 and £75 tariffs. Only £99 on the £35 and £30 tariffs. Sign up to an 18 month pay-monthly contract.

16GB iPhone: Free on the £75 tariff or £59 with the £45 tariff, £159 on the £30 and £35 tariffs.

Activate the iPhone over iTunes.

Features / Specifications

* confirm features at manufacturer's Web site.

Release Date
July 2008
Size
115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm
4.5 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches
Weight
133 g
4.7 oz
Colours
 
black
 
white
Screen
  • 3.5-inch TFT
  • 320x480 pixels
  • 262144 colours
  • Touchscreen
  • Auto rotate
Memory
  • 16 GB phone memory
Networks
  • Quad-band (GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 Mhz)
  • EDGE
  • 3G (UMTS 2100 Mhz)
  • HSDPA (Max: 3.6 Mbps)
Battery Life
  • Talk time: 10 hours
  • Standby time: 300 hours
  • 3G talk time: 5 hours
  • 3G standby time: 300 hours
OS
Apple iPhone OS 2.0

In The Box

iPhone 3G, Stereo Headset with mic, Dock Connector to USB Cable, USB Power Adapter, Documentation, Cleaning/polishing cloth, SIM eject tool.

Connectivity

  • Wi-Fi
  • GPS
  • Bluetooth 2.0
  • USB 2.0
  • TV-Out
  • 3.5 mm jack

Camera

  • 2.0 MP Camera

  • features: Photo geotagging, iPhone and third-party application integration

Messaging

  • SMS, Email
  • Push Email
  • Software QWERTY

Entertainment

  • Music Player
  • Video Player

Internet

  • Safari Web browser
  • RSS Reader

Installed Applications

  • YouTube video player, photo gallery, Google Maps, iTunes, Visual voice mail, App Store, Scientific calculator, MobileMe
  • Document viewer
  • PIM: Calendar, world clock, alarm

Prices

Prices coming soon.

Latest Apple Phones

view all apple phones



Apple Iphone 3g Apple Iphone 3g
Apple Iphone Apple Iphone

Apple Phones Coming Soon

view all coming soon phones


No coming soon phones.