Latest iPhone 2.0 Firmware Has 3G On/Off Option

[MacRumors]

Earlier today we posted a screenshot on our iPhone section that claimed to depict an new On/Off option to enable 3G speeds. This new preference was found in the latest iPhone 2.0 Beta 5 distributed to developers. By default, the preference is hidden, but one developer claims to have activated it. We have since confirmed that the text shown is indeed in the iPhone 2.0 Beta firmware, so the screenshot appears to be legitimate.

While the iPhone 2.0 firmware appears to contain 3G code, current iPhone owners will not be able to take advantage of the 3G speeds without buying the new iPhone. It appears that Apple will be using a common firmware for both the existing iPhone and the unreleased 3G-capable iPhone.

Also of interest is that due to the higher 3G power consumption, Apple is giving users an option to fall back to EDGE speeds in order to prolong battery life.

The 3G-capable iPhone is widely expected to be released in the coming months, possibly at the Worldwide Developer Conference in June.

Article Link

Addendum: The text can be found in the SDK: Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneSimulator2.0.sdk/ Applications/Preferences.app/English.lproj/Network.strings

[JohnHawkins]

bring on the new ibricks!!!

[mtrctyjoe]

man I can not wait for this thing!

[aLoC]

That's a confusing switch. Does "off" means it's off now, or will be if you slide the switch to the right where the word "off" is written?

[avigalante]

[sarcasm]

Apple making a 3G iPhone - who would have thought?

[/sarcasm]

[mtrctyjoe]

this seems to suggest we will be waiting for wwdc.... could the iphone 2.0 go now? next week with a new phone?

[arn]

It means it's off. Apparently if you turn it ON on the current iPhone, it crashes. But remember, the option doesn't appear normally -- someone hacked it so it would appear.

arn

[virus7]

that is cool.

i'd run edge most of the time and only switch it to 3G for browsing. My Blackjack's battery has always sucked and I think part of it is due to using 3G. There is a way to switch it off, but I haven't bothered yet.

[JohnHawkins]

Originally Posted by arn

It means it's off. Apparently if you turn it ON on the current iPhone, it crashes.

arn

it wont stop the stupid from trying

[chr1s60]

I get the feeling that the new iPhone will be coming very soon, possibly sooner than the 2.0 firmware will be released for current iPhone owners. The fact that the online Apple store has no iPhones is strange since that would put a month long hold on selling any iPhones if the new one is released at WWDC. I wouldn't be surprised if they released a new 3G iPhone very soon with a working firmware 2.0 that would continue to be tweaked and released to all other iPhone owners at WWDC. Just a guess, but Apple taking a break from selling phones at the majority of their stores for a month doesn't seem right.

[iSlave]

So does this mean that Apple are making a 3G iPhone? Like...fo' real? I for one never would have seen that coming, what with there being no mention of this happening!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twoodcc]

awesome! looking forward to 3G next month, or sooner

[Omni Geno]

Originally Posted by aLoC

That's a confusing switch. Does "off" means it's off now, or will be if you slide the switch to the right where the word "off" is written?

When it says OFF, it's off. When it is switched on, there's also a blue highlight, to kind of signify that something's activated. This helps to eliminate confusion when you're using it. It's not so apparent by looking at a single screenshot.

[christall109]

Very Interesting......

I think Apple is just going to add 3G to the new phone and keep the form factor pretty much the same. They say the back is going to be plastic, but I think the chrome and metal back is a signature trait on the iphone.

As for the 3rd "sensor" that case makers are being told to leave room for must be a camera. How cool would it be to have video chat on the new iphone.

Even though I current gen iPhone, I think i'll stick with it for another year and get the next version of the iPhone. After life in the tech lane is very fast and spending all that money to keep up to date is not worth it.

I wonder if Apple would take my EDGE iPhone and give me a 3G one for free......if only.

[Darkroom]

i'm sure this has been said a zillion times already, but couldn't apple just make their batteries user replaceable? it's not like the design or security of the device would have to suffer - plus wouldn't they make more money by selling iPhone batteries?

same goes for iPod of course... i mean, i'm surprised the Apple Remote has a user replaceable battery.

[Digital Skunk]

Great but they better increase the battery life. Come on Apple and put some real hardware in the iPhone 2.0!

Originally Posted by Darkroom

i'm sure this has been said a zillion times already, but couldn't apple just make their batteries user replaceable? it's not like the design or security of the device would have to suffer - plus wouldn't they make more money by selling iPhone batteries?

Exactly!

[mr.stinki]

I think it would also be appropriate if they put a 3G switch here:

[Ade-iMac-177]

Cool - 3G!

nice option to turn it off too - for some reason i didn't realise that the 3G phone could also use edge!

[mr.stinki]

Originally Posted by christall109

Very Interesting......

I think Apple is just going to add 3G to the new phone and keep the form factor pretty much the same. They say the back is going to be plastic, but I think the chrome and metal back is a signature trait on the iphone.

As for the 3rd "sensor" that case makers are being told to leave room for must be a camera. How cool would it be to have video chat on the new iphone.

Even though I current gen iPhone, I think i'll stick with it for another year and get the next version of the iPhone. After life in the tech lane is very fast and spending all that money to keep up to date is not worth it.

I wonder if Apple would take my EDGE iPhone and give me a 3G one for free......if only.

Perhaps that 3rd sensor isn't really a "Sensor", but an LED that can indicate wether you have a message, or voice mail.

I hope apple can implement this nicely!!

[jrmontag]

YAY!

a half dozen of my friends and i are thinking of buying into a family plan when these babies come out. anyone else tried this to see if it's reasonably economical?

[Badandy]

This option scares me: It almost leads me to believe they didn't use a new, lower-power 3G chip. That is frightening because I barely talk on the phone yet run my battery out in one day.

[PBGPowerbook]

Originally Posted by aLoC

That's a confusing switch. Does "off" means it's off now, or will be if you slide the switch to the right where the word "off" is written?

wow, have you ever used a lightswitch? (much less an iphone?)

[arn]

Originally Posted by Badandy

This option scares me: It almost leads me to believe they didn't use a new, lower-power 3G chip. That is frightening because I barely talk on the phone yet run my battery out in one day.

well, I think even a low power 3G chip is going to be more power than the corresponding lower-power EDGE chipset.

arn

[LizKat]

Originally Posted by jrmontag

YAY!

a half dozen of my friends and i are thinking of buying into a family plan when these babies come out. anyone else tried this to see if it's reasonably economical?

Uh... the data plan comes with your LINE not your plan, no?

[Digital Skunk]

Originally Posted by jrmontag

YAY!

a half dozen of my friends and i are thinking of buying into a family plan when these babies come out. anyone else tried this to see if it's reasonably economical?

If you want to get screwed then go for it. Remember, if everyone pitches in to pay the bill every month OR if you alternate on paying the bill every month there is a chance that one of your friends won't pay. OR one of your friends will run the bill up when it isn't there turn to pay.

I am sure somebody will try to convince you otherwise, but it's really just common sense NOT to get your friends in on something that can ruin your credit, or leave you without a phone.

Just think, some people do it with the rent and electric bills, think about how screwed they get.