Worldwide: This past weekend Apple released a new version of their iPhone, a move most of the over 10 million technology-driven consumers knew was eventual but couldn’t fathom happening so soon.
The iPhone 3G, also known as “Stumpy” to techno-geeks, boasts major upgrades, most that could be done to last year’s iPhone, the others more so for Apple as a company than the actual consumer. Today, we will go over these upgrades, and explain how they may impact your life, even if you don’t own the device.
Internet Connectivity:
One of the most touted flaws from last year was how slow the iPhone loaded web pages. Consumers believed that they would be getting cable speed internet connections on a mobile device without direct satellite linkage, and were sadly disappointed. For this release, Apple made a move on correcting this. The 3G is actually 0.2 KB/sec faster than the first generation.
Apple programmer James Aldericht explained, “Hey, we’re trying. It’s hard getting all of these websites to umbrella under our server so we can wrestle control of the internet from Google. Give us some time.”
It should be noted that to experience this faster load speed, you should be outside, at least thirty feet in the air, with no obstacles within a one hundred foot radius.
Global Positioning System:
The iPhone 3G also has a global positioning system, linked to a Google maps application that will mark on-screen where you are anywhere in the world(Alaska and Cuba not included). This is a grand discovery, one which has never been done before…except by Nokia®, LG®, Motorola®, and even Helio®.
The difference is that the 3G will only give you your global position in relation to an Apple Store, your bank, and Steve Jobs himself. There is even a Stevie tracker built-in which beeps when Steve Jobs is getting close to you so that you have ample time to bow to him and toss rose petals at his feet.
Applications(available to first generation with upgrade):
As if there weren’t enough fun things to play with on your iPhone while on the train, in the bathroom, or driving 90mph down the highway(not recommended), you can also download applications to clutter up your screen. Some such applications are:
Loopt: This application allows you to find your friends that also have iPhones and this exact application. This is a crucial tool for any would-be stalker who has bought an iPhone for his or her significant other or anonymously for your “crush.”
GoogleMobile: If the Google link on your Safari browser is too small on the smaller 3G phone, you may want to download this application so that you can…well, I really can’t find a reason to, except to advertise Google even more.
PayPal: With PayPal installed on your iPhone, you can make donations directly to Steve Jobs’ hedge fund, sometimes without even knowing it.
Light: Burn out your screen as fast as you can with an application that turns your screen white! Off switch unknown.
There are many others, which play hand-in-hand with our next subject…
Battery Power:
Unlike its papa, the 3G’s battery life will barely last twelve hours, not including time messing with the internet, games, and applications. This leaves you with a choice of:
a) carrying around a power cord accessory in the event you need to charge up.
b) make the choice of what is more important, being able to make a call in an emergency when you are not in the vicinity of a land-line, or checking to see if any of your friends left comments for you on the un-ending list of social networking sites out there.
c) carrying an extra phone with paid plan for calls, and using the iPhone as a PalmPilot without the useful stylus.
d) all of the above, because it’s a status thing.
Other problems left unfixed include screen cleaniness due to skin oils on the hands, the lack of a copy/paste element, and the annoyance of having your page skip to the side when you clearly did not “slide” it out of the screen(Consumer Reports judged that 80% of Apple customer service calls and emails are due to this glitch.)
Steve Jobs himself commented on these issues publicly. “Wait until the G4. And be sure to bring your ATM pin numbers and first-born child.”