First iPhone 3G S Unboxing Photos Showing Compass and Voice Control

[gathart]

Read the specs. It's a significant upgrade.

What did you want, a strobe light? A cheese grater? Speed holes?

Actually, an expresso maker would be brilliant.

 

[MikeDTyke]

What a load of grade-A crap.

Apple pushes out software updates because we pay for them it. People pay a premium for a premium experience. Apple needs to supply that premium to get the high price. Simple enough?

Oh and it is a game. What you and many other of these so called "Dev Capitalists" fail to realize is that the computer industry came about because people wanted to make something better. It wasn't about money. It was about providing people with an experience. Something to change their life, for the better. Milking money was something to be fought against tooth and nail.

Remember down with the IBM suits? Well we now we have Apple Turtlenecks.

Note to mods: if you feel this language is too harsh, feel free to delete it. I just wanted to say my peace.

Well if you don`t think you`re getting enough premium for your buck, then get lost, don`t pay for it. Apple will soon get the message and work a bit harder. Or maybe you`re just such a cheapskate they don`t want your business in the first place. The customer is NOT always right.

When you buy a phone or ipod or computer, you are also paying for the software. A part of that software is updates. It is expected that it will be updated to include bug fixes and some new features.

Take this as an example.

I bought a MBP last year. (Exactly 1 year tomorrow.) It got one with multi-touch. I fully expected that Apple would take advantage of that tech by innovating it. (4 fingers side/down/up.) Of course they did, just not for my model. This had nothing to do with a hardware ability, but a software limitation. Apple could have pushed the update to allow this, but they didn't. I then hacked it to run a new MacBook Air's trackpad software.

This was something I shouldn't have had to do. I paid an expensive premium for the hardware thinking that they would allow me to take advantage of further innovation.

Apple don`t owe you squat, they offered a product with a feature set at a price. You bought it. Now just because the feature is software does not mean there`s zero cost to adding it to your MBP, testing it and supporting it. Maybe, just maybe they looked at the cost of supporting it versus the attraction of new customers when they added it down the line. There`s nothing at all wrong with this. They are in the business of making money and attracting new customers. Expecting a fix to a bug, that`s fine. Expecting apple to add every feature of their newest version just because it`s software is complete bullcrap.

Suck it up people, if you want the latest and greatest, then pull out the wallet and stop whining like a bunch of self important whiners.

M.

 

[MikeDTyke]

I've seen people all over the web complaining that Apple only included video on the 3G S and pointing out that the 3G (jailbroken) could record video with Cycorder.

Truth is Cycorder can only record 388x284 video at 7-15 fps using low MJPEG compression settings.

On the other hand, the 3G S can record 640x480 video at 30 fps, that's 8x more pixels being recorded, and at a much better quality (MPEG-4).

So with 8x the number of pixels being recorded, with a much more cpu intensive codec, I find it hard to believe that the 3G could achieve even half of that with an Apple programmed application.

And I also doubt very much that the faster processor in the 3G S is solely responsible for the increase in resolution and quality of recorded video. The 3G S probably includes an MPEG-4 hardware encoder which is not present in the 3G.

388x284 video at 7-15 fps was simply not up to Apple's standards, so get over it, Apple won't bring video recording to older iPhones.

+1 (i`d give it a +100 if i could, perfect exposition of the situation)

 

[Evangelion]

The iphone 3DS, what a let down!!

no physical change

Why should there be a change? Should the appearance be changed for the sake of changing it?

slightly better camera

Are you one of those ignorant people who think that quality of the camera is determined by the amount of megapixels it has?

might be double the speed but , personally ive had no problem with the speed of my 3G!

Speed is such a feature that you do not know you need it, until you actually get the improved performance. Then the old, slow speed feels unbearable.

yep, it sucks, but hey, as long as the consumer is willing to part with the money, why shouldnt apple keep ripping us off???

How exactly is Apple "ripping us off" here? If you don't like the new phone, then don't buy it, problem solved.

apart from the processor speed, what is actually new about the 3GS compared tot he 3G?

Double the storage, double the performance, magnetometer, smudge-resistant screen, voice-controls, faster data-speeds...

50% increase in proccesor speed

Are you one of those ignorant people who think that performance of the CPU can be determined by staring at the Mhz?

 

[Habakuk]

Look at the other photos (there are 19) at the Chinese site:

http://cn.engadget.com/2009/06/10/iphone-3g-s-hands-on/

The article is gone. The link worked before and led to the entry with nineteen highres photos. Good that Mac Rumors has saved some of them. Thanks, folks!

Edit: I've put together all "leaked" photos in my blog. For your convenience so you don't need to search the whole thread: http://rossau.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/erste-fotos-vom-neuen-iphone-3g-s/

Interesting site anyway. Seems to be complete different than the international (English-language) Engadget (what I don't like all too much). What's that (please have a look at the attachment; taken from their site)?

So what are the best replacement earphones (under $100) for the iPhone? Any suggestions?

Headphones/earphones/headsets: The new iPhone 3G S has obviously exact the same features like the iPod shuffle. Voice control (you give instructions), voice responding (iPhone will talk to you), volume switch in the headset (already found in iPod touch 2G). For those features you will need special headphones/headsets. I am quite sure that any other "old" headsets like the Sennheiser MM50 iP will work with full "old" functionality as with iPhone 3G or original iPhone (phone, iPod controls, "double three-way click" etc.) but for the new features (volume, voice control) you will need upgraded earphones/headsets (basic version shipping with iPhone 3G S).

Yes the writing on the 3G S is chrome, matching the Apple logo
& The 3G writing was grey.

I have a feeling the protective (fingerprint prone) coating on the iPhone 3G S will prevent scratching of the chrome on back.

I always though the black iPhone 3G looked a little blue. And this one looks way warmer, but it could just be the lighting.

Yes. Thanks for your photo comparison. Probably lighting or photograph technic white balance. Anyway -- the white iPhone 3G seems a bit "creamy" or "warm-white" in my eyes. A normal sheet of white paper is blueish comparatively. Very fine nuances.

Judged on the "Chinese photos of black iP3GS" I would say that the "shinyness" of the iPhone 3G S (esp. the back but maybe even the touchscreen) seems to be a bit different to iPhone 3G. Maybe the most obvious difference (visual change) between the two models other than the text color and text content.

Yeah...it looks more like "satin" finish that the high gloss of the 3G...at least in these pictures.

+1. Looks like a satin or silk bag on those photographs.

I would have loved if the front-facing camera was in this one... grrrr

And I am very very glad that they ignore that. Nobody needs an extra camera just for conceited self-portraits (you can accomplish that with the backside-camera as well with a little bit of slickness) or for complete useless and bandwidth-wasting video conferences.

Video recording, editing and sharing directly on the iPhone - awesome! Without a click! That and touch-to-focus are milestones in the photography history! For the next iPhone generation please: Live video coverage for everyone! Thx in advance, Apple ;-) HOT!

Found at Chinese Engadget (looks like the thing persons get in hospitals when they can't reach the toilet):

 

[Evangelion]

When you buy a phone or ipod or computer, you are also paying for the software. A part of that software is updates. It is expected that it will be updated to include bug fixes and some new features.

You get free point-releases, but major releases cost money. It's the same with Macs and PC's (PC-users don't get Windows 7 for free)

Take this as an example.

I bought a MBP last year. (Exactly 1 year tomorrow.) It got one with multi-touch. I fully expected that Apple would take advantage of that tech by innovating it. (4 fingers side/down/up.) Of course they did, just not for my model.

Snow Leopard will add multi-finger gestures to older Intel-Macs.

This was something I shouldn't have had to do. I paid an expensive premium for the hardware thinking that they would allow me to take advantage of further innovation.

So, this is the old "I'm ENTITLED to free stuff!"-argument.... Seriously, why is it that so many people these days think that they are entitled to everything? Fact is that you are not entitled to anything at all.

False. 433mhz to 600mhz is less an 50% speed increase.

Yeah, and 3Ghz Pentium 4 is 50% faster than 2Ghz Core 2 Duo is .... Did it ever occur to you that the CPU in the GS is not the same as the one in 3G? That the CPU in GS is a lot faster, clock for clock, than the CPU in 3G is?

 

[MikeDTyke]

I don't know about it being perfect. Things that it will eventually need:

-multitasking
-revamped UI
-API for integration between apps with some kind of folder structure to download and store files
-OLED screen
-HD video camera
-flash support (I don't like flash but it's going to have to be there sooner or later)
-front facing camera

When it has those things (which will probably take 4 or 5 years), it will be the perfect device. Right now mobile phones are where PC's were in the late 90s/early 2000 when specs meant everything. Eventually we will get to a place where the specs don't really mean anything because we have all the power and features we need. It will solely be about the experience.

-multitasking (Probably for certain apps cleared by Apple, ie streaming radio)
-revamped UI (What the hell for? It`s pretty damn close to perfect, no need)
-API (Would like, but then as soon as your sharing those files the security model is weakened).
-OLED screen (Probably next gen - Whilst others are doing it, they don`t need the quantities that Apple requires)
-HD video camera (Was hoping for this in this release, the cmos sensor is big enough and the SoC if other rumours can be believed will do 720p encoding. I guess the only physical hold up would have been the bus speed or flash memory speed. Maybe next year)
-flash support (Becoming less and less of an issue, don`t think it`s a must Apple will really care about)
-front facing camera (Probably waiting for phone companies to support a decent upstream speed that can do better than a 160x120 postage stamp)

I`m probably going to sit this one out, primarily due to O2`s greed (their pricing, not the whole breaking contract argument). But next June, when OLEDs are standard fair and the fruits of PA-SEMI are realised and with a smidgen of luck we`ll see an end to exclusitivity agreements then you won`t be able to hold me back.

M.

 

[charltonx]

Those pics just reminded me of the joy of when I unboxed my 3G last year...love at first sight!

 

[SeaFox]

Also, the processing speed of your old phones will be noticeably outdated soon. There will be lots of apps that your processor won't be able to utilize to full advantage, if at all.

Do you have any actual source for that statement, or are you just blowing smoke out your ass? Since the 3GS is going to be the brand new device in the iPhone ecosystem, the vast majority of iPhones will not have the faster processor. How any developers do you think are going to build their wares so only a small percentage of customers can use them?

 

[DELLsFan]

Sweeeeet. Shame Apple never went ahead with the matte finish on the back tho.

Oh come now, there are far bigger shames in this world. Wise geeks put The Precious into a case anyway.

 

[mccldwll]

I've seen people all over the web complaining that Apple only included video on the 3G S and pointing out that the 3G (jailbroken) could record video with Cycorder.

Truth is Cycorder can only record 388x284 video at 7-15 fps using low MJPEG compression settings.

On the other hand, the 3G S can record 640x480 video at 30 fps, that's 8x more pixels being recorded, and at a much better quality (MPEG-4).

So with 8x the number of pixels being recorded, with a much more cpu intensive codec, I find it hard to believe that the 3G could achieve even half of that with an Apple programmed application.

And I also doubt very much that the faster processor in the 3G S is solely responsible for the increase in resolution and quality of recorded video. The 3G S probably includes an MPEG-4 hardware encoder which is not present in the 3G.

388x284 video at 7-15 fps was simply not up to Apple's standards, so get over it, Apple won't bring video recording to older iPhones.

I completely understand that a good video experience requires the hardware only found in the 3G S. And I understand that the Cycorder experience is not up to aapl's standards, though I don't know why jailbreaking was necessary to enable video. But since it's been proven that video, although limited, is possible on the older iPhones, aapl should have an app (aapl or 3rd party) which would enable people to record video with the older iPhones, assuming this can be done without compromising other functions on those phones. The iPhone software subscription model is different than the mac line. It was sold with the expectation that there would be updates, and apps, which would improve functionality within the hardware limitations. If a video app is possible for the older iPhones, Aapl should do nothing to limit video to the newest iPhones, even if the result would be lower quality. In the end, I believe it would help, not hurt, 3G S sales since an app would offer a small taste of a larger/better experience. [long time mac/iPhone user and aapl stockholder, and not speaking from any sense of entitlement]

 

[Aggamemnon]

50% increase in proccesor speed

Are you one of those ignorant people who think that performance of the CPU can be determined by staring at the Mhz?

Technically the speed of the CPU has increased from ~400MHz to 600MHz - that's not to say that the performance has increased by that amount...

 

[imacdaddy]

And I understand that the Cycorder...although limited, is possible on the older iPhones, aapl should have an app (aapl or 3rd party) which would enable people to record video with the older iPhones, assuming this can be done without compromising other functions on those phones.

I agree Cycorder should be available on the AppStore but is just a workaround...not a "true" video file (recording/encoding). It uses mjpeg...series of compressed jpeg images in sequence. Hence the low framerate. Though I wouldn't use it...it's not worth draining my battery for.

 

[jouster]

Speed is such a feature that you do not know you need it, until you actually get the improved performance. Then the old, slow speed feels unbearable.

Believe me, if you have a 1st gen iPhone, you *most definitely* know you need more speed.

 

[RyanR.]

And I am very very glad that they ignore that. Nobody needs an extra camera just for conceited self-portraits (you can accomplish that with the backside-camera as well with a little bit of slickness) or for complete useless and bandwidth-wasting video conferences.

Agreed, plus video conferences ???? Really AT&T can't even let us send pictures or video via MMS video conferences come on people what do you think this is 2009

 

[drober30]

This is a stop gap production unit. Yes the speed increases are nice and would be even better if AT&T supported them now.

It would seem like more of a change if they changed it to the matt black like the rumors showed.

I will upgrade if I can get someone to buy our existing phones for a decent price or I will wait.

There has to come a time when Apple just cant wow everybody every year which is a shame because that's he image they've created and people expect.

 

[randfee2]

where are sample pics of the camera... or video?!

I want to know if the camera can finally produce a sharp image to read some text on a photographed poster or such....

come on, we all know what it looks like from the outside... why not take some pics with it?

 

[W1LLk]

The iphone 3DS, what a let down!!

no physical change

slightly better camera

might be double the speed but , personally ive had no problem with the speed of my 3G!

i think ill hold off upgrading to the 3GS...

That may be true for you, but I'm still rolling with the 1st Gen, and as soon as AT&T gets their crap together and switches on MMS, I'm upgrading to the 3GS... if only to never see viewmymessage.com ever again. Besides, having GPS will be nice, as I'm still using the Edge guesstimator my iPhone uses.

False. 433mhz to 600mhz is less an 50% speed increase.

See next quote...

That might be correct if clock speed = performance, but it doesn't. The Cortex-A8 at 433Mhz would outperform that ARM11 at 433Mhz.

It is over a 100% increase in performance.

Thanks for taking care of that explanation for me. Some people just don't understand architectural differences in processor structures.

They could have AT LEAST put a S on the back. Is that too much to ask for Apple marketing?????

Damn....

You know, some people actaully choose to have labels removed, like on the back of Porsches. Surely you weren't one of those people who used to buy the Tommy Hilfiger shirts with the biggest most audacious label front and center. Or maybe you still do? Aberzombie? Aeropostale? Holli(douche-bag)ster? Say it isn't so.

The real question is, who are you trying to prove yourself to? It's a phone. A damn fine one, but why do you need a poster to show others?

 

[vassillios]

the back doesn't really look as "slippery" as the 3G.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[pik.]

seems like the black plastic on the iPhone EDGE but a tone more glossy...

but more matte than the iphone's 3G....

 

[vassillios]

Apple ALWAYS redesigns their products to be distinguishable from the old one in some way.

you must not remember when the Macbook Pro first came out...IDENTICAL to the powerbook.

Or the Mac Pro...IDENTICAL to the powermac G5

 

[vassillios]

seems like the black plastic on the iPhone EDGE but a tone more glossy...

but more matte than the iphone's 3G....

I hope....I HATE the 3G shiny back.....maybe they put an oleophobic coating on the back too!

 

[rverran]

Stocks icon

Hey there guys and gals,

I have just noticed that on the picture of the iPhone 3G S box that the stocks icon has changed

This is a big dip (recession?) in the current stocks icon compared with the original icon

 

[artistgreg]

Has anyone heard if the new iPhone works with stereo Bluetooth headsets?

 

[vassillios]

Has anyone heard if the new iPhone works with stereo Bluetooth headsets?

it does....the old phones will too as it is in OS 3.0