Apple unveils new iPhone with faster Web, GPS

[onehandle]

Source: AFP

SAN FRANCISCO, (AFP) - Apple Monday unveiled a new version of its popular iPhone built for high-speed wireless networks with faster Internet access and more features for business users.

"It's incredibly zippy," chief executive Steve Jobs said as he demonstrated the new mobile device at the opening of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

"We've learned so much with the first iPhone. We've taken what we've learned and more and created the iPhone 3G; and it's beautiful."

The iPhone 3G -- for third-generation mobile networks -- is designed for faster Internet downloads, longer talk times, and takes advantage of the high-speed network to provide GPS mapping built in, Jobs said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080609/bs_afp/usittelecomequipcompanyappleiphone

---

Available July 11th

8GB Model $199. 16 GB Model $299.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

[Cant trust em]

1. the iPhone is very cool, but I don't want to pay an extra $20/month for the data plan.

Mostly I just want it to check the bus schedule when I'm out and about, so it's not really an investment that I'm looking to make right now.

But a cheaper iPod touch would be right up my alley.

[harun]

44. How much is the monthly bill for the two year plan? (the new one)

[aquart]

2. That would be a pleasant present.

Wait a minute. Only $199 and WAAAY better than the first one which cost......?

NEVER buy new technology.

[Tesha]

51. The old and new prices are actually comparable.

The new phone costs $199 *AFTER* a $200 subsidy from
ATT, so the purchase price is cheaper, but...

The new phone's unlimited data access plan costs $10/month
more (for better, faster service) than the old phone's
unlimited data access plan so in twenty months, you'll
have paid back the $200 subsidy ATT gave you and for
the months after that, you'll be exceeding the old
phone's cost.

Tesha

[tridim]

3. So is this new improved version a beta test too?

I think Apple is the only corporation that can get away with having their customers pay $400 to be a beta tester for their v1.0 products.

Guess I'll never understand, I don't even own a regular cell phone.

[parasim]

4. What do you mean, beta test?

I've been using my iPhone every day since I bought it almost a year ago and I never once had a problem with it. Everything has always worked as advertised.

One of the things I like best about it, is when I'm browsing DU on it, it looks exactly as it does on my Mac. Smaller, of course, but the ease of zooming and flicking around makes it quite a nice experience. Without the animated ads, which is a plus.

[NYCGirl]

5. Amen.

I've been using my iPhone every day since August and haven't had a bit of trouble. I love it, and will love the new one (16GB, white back) when I get one.

[parasim]

14. I'm going for the black one, myself...

but, oh, yeah, I'll be upgrading.

[NYCGirl]

17. It probably makes no difference, since I always keep mine in a case. NT

[parasim]

20. Yeah, that was my big mistake with this one.

I bought a case on the first day, but didn't use it because I just liked the feel of the aluminum. Now it's a bit scratched up... oh well, i kind of like the "worn-in" look... lol

[Hissyspit]

23. The leather case I have to take it out of to use does not scratch it.

But I scratched it when I took it out and dropped it, of course.

The hard case that I have that doesn't require me to take it out of to use has scratched it somewhat on the back, though, so there is no real solution that I can find.

[NYCGirl]

26. I use one of these:

http://www.dlo.com/Products/jjcord_iPhone_Prod.tpl

It's not the prettiest thing ever, but you don't have to ever remove it, and it's sure not slippery!

[Electric Flag]

54. You all have it wrong.

Google Zagg Invisible Shield.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I love my iPhone.

But I want one of the new ones now! :bounce:

[parasim]

15. Can't for all the new apps as well!

July 11th can't come to soon...

[Hissyspit]

24. Me, too. I was in the store a couple of days ago and one of the assistants said they would probably

be coming out soon because June vacations had been cancelled for all but people who asked for them a while back.

I'm gonna sell mine to a friend for $75 or so and get a new one.

Wish I could use Credo with it, though.

[TheWraith]

25. Hey, if you're going to ditch it, I'll take it off your hands for that price. :D

I don't think the original iPhone qualifies as "beta," as some people put it, but I can understand why people are upset about Apple suddenly offering a lot more phone for half the price. But that's the reality in the technology biz.

[onehandle]

8. It's changed my life.

I spend So much less time tied to a computer now. Anywhere I go, I can send and receive work and personal email and look things up on the web.

Watch movies, tv shows, poke through You Tube, map destinations, upload photos I take... It's even a phone!

Half of my posts at DU are made on my iPhone as I move around in my day. I always have something practical and no so practical while I wait in lines, wait for meetings to start, pretty much any just standing or sitting there situation.

I'll be in line for the new one on July 11th.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Me too!

I am posting on mine right now :)

[Hissyspit]

27. Mine's in my pocket. I'm typing at a big ol' Mac desktop at school right now.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Nana nana boo boo - today was my LAST DAY for 10 weeks!!

:woohoo: :bounce:

I am sitting at the airport right now getting ready to get on a plane to Vegas. :)

[parasim]

19. Same here.

It took me awhile to remember that I had a full, fast web browser in my pocket when I was waiting in line someplace. Now, I read DU and other sites more often on my iPhone than on my computer.

and getting fullblown email on the go is great too. the map function has been great, too, but the GPS will be stellar!

[Hissyspit]

22. Same here. No problems. Don't feel like a beta tester, although I understand what the poster means.

I've posted OPs to DU using my iPhone, although I have to type in URLs by tap instead of cutting and pasting. Definitely worth it, though.

[high density]

7. I guess I'll still stick with my $20 Tracfone

Number of times wanted to surf the web on my phone: zero
Number of times I've needed to download big files quickly onto my phone: zero
Number of times I've needed GPS on my phone: zero
Number of times I've cared how neat/pretty/cute my phone is: zero

I guess I'm not the target audience for this device.

[Endangered Specie]

31. Yeah, this is the target audience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlcygXYK_Y0

[truthisfreedom]

9. They didn't fix the extremely quiet speaker, extremely quiet earpiece, and extremely quiet ring?

Phooey!

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I haven't noticed that

I do have one criticism. The battery goes down too quickly.

[parasim]

12. Jobs said in the keynote that the audio has been improved.

"Dramatically", according to Gizmodo. Of course, we won't know how "fixed" it is until we hear it.

[CatholicEdHead]

13. And I have to pay $10 up upgrade my Touch

:(

If I did not have to go AT&T, I would probably have a iPhone now, but AT&T's service sucks in rural areas. In the meantime my Touch has been outstanding as a pocket WiFi web surfing machine and it is also my PDA.

[onehandle]

16. If you are using it like a PDA (I do too) you'll want the new system.

The app store will be awesome for PDA functionality.

[CatholicEdHead]

18. I plan to even though I wish it was a free upgrade

I have to remember with the iTunes store to not download it twice, it was unclear on how to use the Software Upgrade with 1.1.3, in that all you got was an internal code to turn features on.

My Touch is my mini-Laptop I take everywhere, if 2.0 can work with Office documents it will make it even more worthwild. I would love to save files (e.g. my resume) on it and then email it as an attachment at the nearest WiFi hotspot. My Laptop is not going away but I have moved half of my normal tasks onto my Touch.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I wonder if they will allow a trade in

That would be sweet. But I doubt they will.

[Hissyspit]

28. The assistant said it would be cheaper and he said he thought there would be some kind of incentive.

But he wasn't really sure, just guessing.

[Endangered Specie]

30. Just another piece of junk you don't need.

I thought people were hurting financially...

[Javaman]

33. Ssssh, stop bringing reality into the conversation. You know that's a buzz kill! nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

36. Right on

I have a pretty low opinion of Apple, marketing some innovation every few months or so to render
obsolete the thing that was supposed to end all discussion. It's a tremendous waste of resources.
It doesn't matter how well their crap works, or what their political bent is, or who sits on their
board, or which corporation they're running circles around. They waste resources by planning for their
products to be obsolete within just a few months.

[TommyO]

38. Nothing about the new iPhone renders the old one unusable

Nobody is forced to upgrade, in fact the iPhone 2.0 software brings all of the new features to the original iPhone, with the exception of the new hardware features like GPS and 3G.

As for Apple's other products, I'm currently using a 2 1/2 year old PowerMac G5 and will probably be using it 2 1/2 years from now. No Windows-based PC ever lasted me as long.

[Dreamer Tatum]

39. No, no one is forced to upgrade, but Steve Jobs still pimps every iteration...

...like it's going to make or break Apple.


Apple's corporate policy is planned obsolescense of the consumer items that have transformed their company. It's just plain wasteful.

[TommyO]

40. Consumer electronics is a rapidly changing market,

better, faster, more fully featured products is the norm.

Along with my older PowerMac, I'm still using my ancient cellphone, though I did replace my older iPod with a new one so I could store all of my music, along with Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes podcasts. My old 3G iPod is going to my brother who doesn't have one.

The wastefulness isn't a function of Apple introducing new products, it's a function of individuals who buy into the hype (not just Apple's) that they need the latest, greatest gadgets.

[AP]

49. I disagree. Technology is always going to improve. You can't and don't want to stop that.

Nonetheless, I've been using apple products for years, and I've always been able to stretch the useful life of a product much much longer than I see people stretch the useful life of their computers. I usually use an apple product until I break it. The only apple product I stopped using that still worked perfectly fine was a G3(?) that I used from '96 or '97 until 2006.

[NYC Liberal]

55. Um, that's called marketing.

It's what every company does.

And my 12 year old Mac still boots and works great. If I never sold it after 5 years, my PowerBook from 2001 would be as well, I have no doubt.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

41. "... planning for their products to be obsolete within just a few months."

HA!

I have an Apple PowerMac 7100 at home, which I bought while in grad school in 1997. I upgraded to a third-party G3 card in 2001 (just an upgrade, not a needed replacement), but no hardware problems. Just hums right along. I use it for email, surfing the web, word processing, creating presentations, audio editing and more. As fast as my MacBook Pro? Not even close. But in no way obsolete.

[Dreamer Tatum]

45. So, HOW many iPods have they sold?

At least two for every adult in America.

I rest my case.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

50. Getting back to your statement ...

... you stated that Apple products are obsolete in a few months. Which is *far* different than companies improving products.

Cell phones and iPod-like products are still in the early cycle of product innovation and development, similar to personal computers ten years ago, refrigerators 50 years ago and cars 70 years ago. Products and industries evolve. Should companies take a product to market and then just stop trying to improve it?

My three-year-old iPod - which I bought used from someone who *chose* to buy a newer version - still works quite well in daily use. Not obsolete in any way. Three-year-old technology, yes, but that is what I expect of a product built three years ago (then again, it may be four years old).

[TommyO]

56. iPod sales as of March 2008, approximately 150 million (mar 08)

US population, 18 and over: somewhere around 228 million (US Census data, 2007).

I think your two iPods for every American adult is just a bit exaggerated, it's more like two thirds of an iPod for each adult, and it doesn't take into account that Apple sells the iPod throughout the world, not just in the US.

[Psephos]

43. Although this hasn't been widely announced, you could simply *not* buy one n/t

[Scooter24]

32. I'll probably upgrade my 8GB iPhone that I paid $599 for (doh!)

for a nice 16GB model for $299. I'll need the extra space for all those damn apps i'll be putting on the phone. :D And the $99/year for MobileME isn't such a bad price considering what it does.

The only thing I'm not quite sold on is the polished black or white back. I really like the brushed-steel backs, it gives it a clean look and has been very scratch-resistant. I'm not so sure this new design would be so scratch-resistant. But who knows, I might just eat those words come late July after a few weeks in my pocket :)

[MadHound]

34. Ahh yes, all the better to track your movements with

Built in GPS, now your movements can all be corporately monitored, where ever you go. No thanks

I love Apple's computers, but no way in hell will I buy an Iphone.

[LanternWaste]

52. Do you have...

Do you have evidence that Apple will be monitoring the movements of its customers?

I mean, sure-- it's all dramatic and stuff to pretend that Big Brother is everywhere (heck, my grandfather though that state drivers licenses were the sign of the apocalypse till the day he died... but he was old and lovable), but do you have any evidence that customers will be tracked and monitored by men in black suits working at Apple headquarters?

[MadHound]

57. Apple monitoring the movements of its customers, no.

But other corporate entities are doing just this

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-12/22/058r-122299-idx.html>
<http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/10/business/traffic.php>
<http://infowars.net/articles/August2006/110806Tracking.htm>

Etc. etc.

Yes, I realize that this is, at least nominally, being done in the interest of traffic reports, and that supposedly all identity markers are supposed to be stripped from the phone signals, but do you honestly believe that traffic control is the real reason for this sort of tracking? After all, they are now tracking cell phone signals in areas where there isn't any sort of traffic report forthcoming,<http://www.infowars.com/articles/bb/cell_phone_tracking_missouri_spy_drivers.htm> so what the hell are they doing with all this "traffic" data? And given the complete abrogation of the fourth amendment in this country, just how anonymous this technology really is?

Apple's built in GPS, much like Onstar's built in GPS, allows for much better tracking, hence my comment. After all, commercial trucks are now being monitored using GPS, rental vehicles are being tracked using GPS units, and Onstar can locate you via GPS, so what makes you think that phones, using GPS, won't be tracked?

No, it's not going to be Apple tracking you, it's going to be other, anonymous corporations that will track you. A GPS equipped cell phone allows for much more accurate tracking.

What makes you think that these abuses won't occur?

[LanternWaste]

58. I have no cause for belief one way or the other.

"What makes you think that these abuses won't occur?"

I have no cause for belief one way or the other. I've simply heard the melodramatic cries of "dear God! it's big brother!!" one too many times over the past twenty-five years.

Cable TV was going to track us when it becomes popular. Satellites were reading our minds and watching our every movement. The internet will destroy all our privacy-- they're watching us from the other side of the screen. The list goes on. Just call me cynical about cynicism.

[ozu]

35. Upgrading

Upgrading mine as soon as they come out. 3G, GPS, and most importantly... a headphone jack that doesn't require an adapter for non-Apple earbuds.

I spent a bunch of money on my Shure earphones and I expect to be able to use them. Stupid design flaw.

[ryanmuegge]

37. Can it record video, copy and paste, and/or do instant messaging yet?

Not that I have any desire to do that kind of shit with a phone, but some nerdy tech dudes I know were complaining that it can't do that shit.

[KillCapitalism]

42. It seems to have everything except...

two Nvidia GeForce 9800GX2's running quad SLI.:rofl:

[TommyO]

46. Give it time, eventually an iPhone (or its successor)

will have more horsepower than today's fastest Mac Pro. I'm not predicting when.

[Deja Q]

47. No thanks. Don't need more iWaste.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apple+iwaste&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apple+green+environmental&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apple+green+dumping&btnG=Search

[onehandle]

48. What are your electronics made of? Twigs and berries?

Did you post that message with positive thinking from your electric-less, plastic-less and chemical free unabomber shack?

If you did, my apologies.

[Electric Flag]

53. Yawn. We are way behind Europe and Asia on cell phone networks.

They didn't even try to sell the original iphone in Europe since it didn't have 3G, and in Japan and Korea they're long past even that standard. Also, why are we letting the carriers dictate what phones we can have when in Europe you can buy whatever you like unbranded and then choose the carrier to go along with it? As usual we are in the hands of big business, and becoming more and more like a third world country every day.