The iPhone 3G: What's Changed, What's New, and What's Still Missing Part 3

Posted: 2008-07-08

(This is the last article in a series about the new iPhone 3G, which is scheduled to arrive in three days as of the time of writing.)

Previously, we’ve outlined the policy changes surrounding the new iPhone 3G’s launch and the new Apple App Store platform. This time around, we’ll be going over the new key features of the iPhone 3G and some features that still have this particular blogger feeling a little less than appeased.

What’s New: iPhone 3G Only

• 3G Speed: Let’s just get it out of the way: the new iPhone 3G’s high speed 3G service is much faster than the aging EDGE network, but not nearly as fast as other mobile phones on AT&T’s 3G network. No specific reason is known why AT&T and/or Apple have slowed down the iPhone’s access although some speculate that this may be done to try to cope with the inevitable flood of iPhoners come July 11th. Whether or not the iPhone will have faster 3G access in the future through an update on AT&T’s side is anyone’s guess.


• Assisted GPS: The iPhone 3G will also have a GPS chip and antenna built in. However, this is no ordinary GPS. The great thing about Assisted GPS is that while it uses the normal GPS system of using a synchronized clock and multiple satellite triangulation, it also benefits from cellular tower triangulation. That may sound like a mouthful, but in actuality all Joe Consumer will need to know is this: if you pull up Google Maps on the iPhone 3G, the “Find Me” button in the lower left of your screen will work a bit differently depending on different locational circumstances. If you can acquire GPS satellites, your position will be denoted by a pulsing blue dot and a crosshairs. If you aren’t able to get enough satellites or any info at all, your position will be approximated by using your cellular position and location. That is, your phone will poll two or more cellular towers, do some high-school math, and give you a rough idea of where you are. Once again, a crosshairs will pop up, however it may be covering a much larger area than if you were using GPS. Remember, it’s an approximate location.

What’s Been Upgraded: iPhone 2.0 Software

• International Support: Click here. Over 70 countries with major language support for each one.


• Scientific Calculator: The calculator app is expanded to include scientific calculator functions when the iPhone is rotated on its side.


• Phone: There is now a search function in the contacts view in addition to the “quick jump” functionality on the right side of the screen and flicking through contacts.


• Mail: Mail has gotten quite a bit of an upgrade with the release of the iPhone 2.0 software. There’s now support for MobileMe and Exchange push email. This means that whenever an email is sent, the email server sends it to the iPhone as opposed to the iPhone having to go to the server at predetermined intervals. There’s also support for more email attachments such as PDF, JPG, Word, Excel, iWork 08, and Powerpoint files. Keep in mind that the iPhone currently only allows reading these files and not interacting with them. Also note that while images are able to be saved to the iPhone, other file types are not. (Here’s hoping a third-party program comes out that allows for more interaction with the filesystem.) The update also allows for deleting or moving multiple emails via checkboxes (note: Thank God). That’s quite a hefty update for Mail.


• Calendar: Calendar also gets the Exchange and MobileMe treatment. Event invites are also pushed to the iPhone and can be replied to wirelessly. Events are now also color-coordinated with regard to which category they’re in. This is a welcome update for users of iCal, who are familiar with this functionality.


• Maps: As mentioned before, Google Maps now gets live tracking and turn by turn directions with Assisted GPS.


• Camera: This doesn’t mean the camera itself is getting an upgrade, but rather the Camera app. As first noticed in the beta release of the iPhone 2.0 software, camera will have a “geo-tagging” option that’ll let users use GPS to locate their exact position at the time of shooting a photo and append that information to the picture. That way, they can later go back to a picture and know where they were when they took it.

So that’s quite an extensive list. Luckily for existing iPhone owners who aren’t quite ready to make the leap to the 3G, the iPhone Software 2.0 Update does not only apply to the iPhone 3G! That’s right; current iPhone owners will be able to use every feature on this list with the exception of those that rely on the GPS functionality. That’s quite a bit for the cost of...$0. The new update will be free for all iPhone owners, including the app store, new MobileMe (subscription costs $99 a year) functionality, and all the bells and whistles. Unfortunately for iPod touch owners, the update will be available for a nominal fee, but ask anyone and they’ll tell you it’s well worth it.

”Well, All That Sounds Great! What’s the Catch?”

If those updates sound like they’ve added everything to the iPhone 3G, then take a step back and try to find the little chinks in the armor. Almost like a “Where’s Waldo?” puzzle, you have to look really hard, but it’s there. What am I speaking of? Why, Bluetooth support of course. The iPhone 3G still won’t have any support for the most commonly-used OBEX, PIM, A2DP, PAN and FTP profiles. That means users are still unable to transfer so much as a vCard, let alone a song or picture between iPhones and other Bluetooth devices such as laptops or PDA’s. While some may argue that this is to prevent iTunes videos and songs from being transferred from phone to phone without purchasing them, when compared to copying via computer and using encryption and other security methods, their argument falls flat. No one really knows why Apple is refusing to implement this technology into their flagship phone product and they aren’t being very forthcoming with it. But there’s hope! Since their phone already has a Bluetooth antenna and chip, all it would take is a software update (paid or not) to enable those profiles. Remember, they’re supported in Mac OSX on the desktop and that’s what’s running on iPhone, so everyone just has to keep their fingers crossed. (Side note: this should go without say, but since there are so many specialized functions for storing media and files, there is also no direct file manipulation via the official Apple software. Fortunately, there are many intelligent iPhone hackers out there who offer homebrew solutions that allow for accessing the iPhone’s UNIX filesystem. However, this doesn’t really concern the average user, so let’s move on.)

Another unfortunate area where the iPhone falls flat is cut/copy and paste. As of this writing there is still no support for it built into the iPhone’s software. Nu-uh. Zip, zero, zilch, and nietski; another mystery for the ages. Once again, Apple’s motives behind this are unknown, however there are web apps that allow users to copy and paste. Hopefully, they’ll be coming to the iPhone in native form soon after the launch of the app store, if not at launch. So with theses questions answered, there just one more thing...

The Verdict: Should You Buy the iPhone 3G?

So now the final question remains: should you buy the iPhone 3G when it comes out this Friday at 8 AM local time? Well that depends on what you’re looking for. For most current iPhone owners, the answer will be no. Since they’ll be receiving the software update for free, Apple’s only bargaining chips for getting customers to upgrade are the 3G and GPS functionalities. Whereas that’ll be more than enough incentive for potential owners and gadget gurus to purchase the 3G, existing owners without a lot of extra cash lying around may want to think twice. In bundling all these great upgrades and technology into the iPhone, Apple has truly made the One phone to rule them all. The only question now is whether or not that’ll come back to bite Apple in the rear and that’ll be decided on the battlefields (otherwise known as Apple and carrier stores worldwide) this Friday.