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The performance of a processor is defined more than by just the listed clock speed. For example, the amount of cache, which is what differentiated the the pentiums from the celerons back in the day. The supposed new processor in the iPhone 3GS has a different architecture that improves its overall performance by something like 1.5-2X.

The perfomance of the new iPhone is most likely due to increased Ram and a more powerful processor. Nothing is confirmed, but I'm 99% sure this is what is causing the performance boost.


Exactly what I'm saying. I just don't think a 200 mhz clock increase on the current processor with no change in RAM would cause that noticeable of a performance increase.

We'll wait for iSuppli I guess!
 
I disagree and will continue to disagree. Saying something is 2 times faster is more universally understood than saying we put in 128mb more ram into the phone.

Those who are not technically endowed could care less about what MB and ram is. The people here who understand technical terminology are not the majority. The majority are those people who don't know why their monitors don't power on when they aren't plugged into an outlet.

and what happens when you try to express speed in terms of a javascript benchmark?
 
and what happens when you try to express speed in terms of a javascript benchmark?

How would you describe it to someone who's not technically literate like a grandmother or someone who thinks MB stands for Megabunch? Once you figure that out, that's your answer.
 
How would you describe it to someone who's not technically literate like a grandmother or someone who thinks MB stands for Megabunch? Once you figure that out, that's your answer.

I would do both. I'd say we've double the amount of memory in the iPhone which yields these results....etc etc. Was the so hard to understand. Even if you don't understand the techy stuff you can still comprehend the end results.

OR

If your an Apple die hard, and need everything oh so simple. Don't include it in the conference, but tell gizmodo, engadget, MR after the conference when they ask. Apple didn't even do that. So don't blame the simplicity required in the conference. Reporters asked, apple didn't deliver.
 
Well do you think its because there is something maybe not 100% finished with it or something or they aren't saying because its the same 128 and they dont really want that kind of media buzz kill right after the keynote?
 
Well do you think its because there is something maybe not 100% finished with it or something or they aren't saying because its the same 128 and they dont really want that kind of media buzz kill right after the keynote?

Not a chance the phone isn't finished. they have to have several hundred thousand ready in about a week. They couldn't benchmark it unless they had a working phone with the final specs.
 
Not a chance the phone isn't finished. they have to have several hundred thousand ready in about a week. They couldn't benchmark it unless they had a working phone with the final specs.

Yeah im sure they have it 100% but maybe there is something we havent thought of as the reason for the secrecy.
 
I would do both. I'd say we've double the amount of memory in the iPhone which yields these results....etc etc. Was the so hard to understand. Even if you don't understand the techy stuff you can still comprehend the end results.

OR

If your an Apple die hard, and need everything oh so simple. Don't include it in the conference, but tell gizmodo, engadget, MR after the conference when they ask. Apple didn't even do that. So don't blame the simplicity required in the conference. Reporters asked, apple didn't deliver.

I don't recall blaming anything on simplicity. I'm not complaining about Apple being simplistic. I think it's nice for the crowd that doesn't understand tech talk. Oh and btw, the WWDC was not meant to educate people on basic computer terminology. Apple has very little time for the keynote and they have to deliver product information fast and in a way so that even the most computer illiterate person can understand what's new and better.

I think Apple likes to play a lot of mind games. I'm sure that a lot of these rumored leaks that were sent out were from Apple, thus creating more hype for the phone

As for lack of information, do you know what people do when they don't have the information they want? They keep sniffing around until they find that information. This is basic human nature. As for me, I was doing crazy research on the iPhone 3GS to find information that wasn't provided at the event. And I'm sure a majority of people are doing the same; that is why there are so many threads out asking questions about the iPhone 3GS, like this one. It's indirect marketing. The iPhone hype just continues to increase now without Apple having to do a thing except hold off on information.
 
It may have more, or they may just be adequately clocking the current 3G processor. The fact they aren't giving nitty-gritty tech specs means it isn't flattering to tell.

+1

The amount of RAM has nothing to do with the speed of the device, so it would only need more RAM from multi-tasking or running more demanding apps. Are they ready to restrict apps based on available memory? I think not.
 
I think even my parents could understand that if the 3G iPhone has 128 MB, and 3GS had 256, that's in fact twice as much, and twice as much is significantly better.

Off hand guess is it doesn't stack up as well with other handhelds (Pre?) and Apple decided to not disclose the CPU and RAM. Best if detractors didn't have two weeks to dampen pre-sales.
 
Off hand guess is it doesn't stack up as well with other handhelds (Pre?) and Apple decided to not disclose the CPU and RAM. Best if detractors didn't have two weeks to dampen pre-sales.

Thats what i think, If they said it has 128MB again they would have a bunch of people comparing it negatively to the Pre right after their hyped keynote. I think it still has 128MB, which is really disappointing
 
I think even my parents could understand that if the 3G iPhone has 128 MB, and 3GS had 256, that's in fact twice as much, and twice as much is significantly better.

Off hand guess is it doesn't stack up as well with other handhelds (Pre?) and Apple decided to not disclose the CPU and RAM. Best if detractors didn't have two weeks to dampen pre-sales.

"Okay, so there's 256 MB of ram. What does ram do? There's a higher number in front of the ram so that must mean it's better, but better at what? Does it mean I can store more music?"

This is how the average consumer thinks. I work at a help desk and deal with these questions all day long. Providing numbers will not get the message through that the iPhone is now 2X faster. Of course, Apple could spend another hour or 2 describing what each specific component of a computer does, and then go into saying this is why it's 2 times faster.

OR

They can just freakin say it's 2 times faster, show a freakin graph comparing it to the 3G, and get the same message across in a shorter amount of time.
 
I still wonder why they do not advertise the specs on these like they do for computers. It would be nice, and it would eliminate question marks out of our heads.
 
"Okay, so there's 256 MB of ram. What does ram do? There's a higher number in front of the ram so that must mean it's better, but better at what? Does it mean I can store more music?"

This is how the average consumer thinks. I work at a help desk and deal with these questions all day long. Providing numbers will not get the message through that the iPhone is now 2X faster. Of course, Apple could spend another hour or 2 describing what each specific component of a computer does, and then go into saying this is why it's 2 times faster.

OR

They can just freakin say it's 2 times faster, show a freakin graph comparing it to the 3G, and get the same message across in a shorter amount of time.

I completely agree, I assumed everyone was at least partially versed in a lot of computer related issues until i got a job on campus this past year. I basically work for geek squad for my college and the types of questions people ask me about computers sometimes really astounds me. I mean like questions that would make you seriously question their intelligence. So for Apple to say "Its twice as fast" massively appeals to a wider audience than "it has 256MB of RAM." I just want to know what it is and why it isnt listed on their website or something like that.
 
"Okay, so there's 256 MB of ram. What does ram do? There's a higher number in front of the ram so that must mean it's better, but better at what? Does it mean I can store more music?"

This is how the average consumer thinks. I work at a help desk and deal with these questions all day long. Providing numbers will not get the message through that the iPhone is now 2X faster. Of course, Apple could spend another hour or 2 describing what each specific component of a computer does, and then go into saying this is why it's 2 times faster.

OR

They can just freakin say it's 2 times faster, show a freakin graph comparing it to the 3G, and get the same message across in a shorter amount of time.

But after they could tell gadget blogs and people who care the actual RAM numbers.
 
I don't recall blaming anything on simplicity. I'm not complaining about Apple being simplistic. I think it's nice for the crowd that doesn't understand tech talk. Oh and btw, the WWDC was not meant to educate people on basic computer terminology. Apple has very little time for the keynote and they have to deliver product information fast and in a way so that even the most computer illiterate person can understand what's new and better.

I think Apple likes to play a lot of mind games. I'm sure that a lot of these rumored leaks that were sent out were from Apple, thus creating more hype for the phone

As for lack of information, do you know what people do when they don't have the information they want? They keep sniffing around until they find that information. This is basic human nature. As for me, I was doing crazy research on the iPhone 3GS to find information that wasn't provided at the event. And I'm sure a majority of people are doing the same; that is why there are so many threads out asking questions about the iPhone 3GS, like this one. It's indirect marketing. The iPhone hype just continues to increase now without Apple having to do a thing except hold off on information.
Okay, so there's 256 MB of ram. What does ram do? There's a higher number in front of the ram so that must mean it's better, but better at what? Does it mean I can store more music?"

This is how the average consumer thinks. I work at a help desk and deal with these questions all day long. Providing numbers will not get the message through that the iPhone is now 2X faster. Of course, Apple could spend another hour or 2 describing what each specific component of a computer does, and then go into saying this is why it's 2 times faster.

OR

They can just freakin say it's 2 times faster, show a freakin graph comparing it to the 3G, and get the same message across in a shorter amount of time.

So which is it people? Is the conference meant for developers who know what 256mb means or is it for consumers who don't know it but could easily understand "256mb means this iPhone will load twice as fast."

Apple doesn't have to explain anything. I can summarize this in two sentences. "In the iPhone 3GS we have upgraded the ram to 256mb. This allows the iPhone 3GS to load web pages twice as fast as the iPhone 3G."

Do the developers know what they want to know? Yes, it has 256mb.
Do the consumers know what they want to know? Yes, it's twice as fast.
 
Apple doesn't have to explain anything. I can summarize this in two sentences. "In the iPhone 3GS we have upgraded the ram to 256mb. This allows the iPhone 3GS to load web pages twice as fast as the iPhone 3G."

This is what leads me to believe its still 128MB
 
"Okay, so there's 256 MB of ram. What does ram do? There's a higher number in front of the ram so that must mean it's better, but better at what? Does it mean I can store more music?"

This is how the average consumer thinks. I work at a help desk and deal with these questions all day long. Providing numbers will not get the message through that the iPhone is now 2X faster. Of course, Apple could spend another hour or 2 describing what each specific component of a computer does, and then go into saying this is why it's 2 times faster.

OR

They can just freakin say it's 2 times faster, show a freakin graph comparing it to the 3G, and get the same message across in a shorter amount of time.

Heh. You want to talk arbitrary? 2X faster is arbitrary as hell. More physical memory is at least real, even if you don't know what the hell that means anyone still understands more is better.
 
Thats what i think, If they said it has 128MB again they would have a bunch of people comparing it negatively to the Pre right after their hyped keynote. I think it still has 128MB, which is really disappointing

Yeah, but the catch is more memory might not really matter, or at least an insignificant improvement for the component cost. Better code/design can make a bigger difference than just throwing more memory at it. This though is completely lost in the spec wars, particularly when your device isn't shipping. Unless Apple's specs are as good or better than the comp, it's a losing proposition, like we agreed. When the devices are in hand people can do their own comparisons and the specs become less important.
 
The audience was not just the developers at the conference. The audience was majorily the people who would be downloading and watching the conference from their computers at home.

Apple may have given more technical specs to the developers off camera; however, the number of normal consumers watching the event greatly outnumber the developers at the conference. Apple will shift their jargon so that the majority can understand what's new and attact their money.

ya i understand that but gizmodo reported already that they wouldnt tell the devs after the keynote either. cause gizmodo is attending the workshops or whatever they have there
 
ya i understand that but gizmodo reported already that they wouldnt tell the devs after the keynote either. cause gizmodo is attending the workshops or whatever they have there

Has Apple ever released information on the interal components of any iPhone? I really want to know.

Something though that should be considered, the data itself is stored on a SSD. Certainly loading your entire software into memory will be fastest, but the alternative is still reading from a SSD.

Didn't the other iPhones run off of an SSD? Does the iPhone 3GS have a Super SSD that differs from the other ones in other ways than capacity?


Heh. You want to talk arbitrary? 2X faster is arbitrary as hell. More physical memory is at least real, even if you don't know what the hell that means anyone still understands more is better.

I'm going to reply to this with what I just said earlier: "Okay, so there's 256 MB of ram. What does ram do? There's a higher number in front of the ram so that must mean it's better, but better at what? Does it mean I can store more music?"

Of course more is better, but what does more mean? Of course I agree that Apple could have said we added X amount of something to make it X times faster, but I don't recall Apple ever doing that with any iPhone release. We always find out after the phone is released.
 
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