IPhone 3G – It’s Here…Well Kinda

Image via Wikipedia

So Steve Jobs had the big announcement today. While not everything I wanted was in there, this is gonna be one helluva phone. Let’s see how I did against my expectations list versus the real feature list:

I said:

• the all new IPhone software (so I can give Apple even more money). Yeppers – coming July 11th
• the new APP store where you can download cool new apps to run on the phone (no one else has this). Yeppers again – also coming July 11th
• a dedicated GPS chip that will scare Garmin and all the other GPS makers (and so I can look smart while getting lost) Yeppers again…its even better then I hoped. We’re talking A-GPS (that’s assisted GPS which means it does better then standard GPS. Rumor has it that Tom-Tom already has an app prepped for the App Store. Hey if you can’t beat em why not join em?
• 3G network with rocking speeds of broadband quality (700k per second downloads at least) Yeppers one more time! Actually it will get speeds of 1.2mbps. We’re talkign T1 speeds baby!
• 16GB or 32GB memory versions. Well I got this one half right. It’s gonna be 8GB and 16B. I would have liked to see storage equivalent to the Ipod Touch but I’m still liking the 16GB.

Here is where I put on my wizards cap and tried my hand at techno punditry…how did I do…hmmmm

Some potential surprises we might see:

• Rumor has it that it may also have capability for video conferencing so maybe we will hear of a new version of IChat (for Windows)? Nope. No videoconferencing capabilities. Missed that one.
  
• improvements to the software that will make it more responsive then it already is (hard to believe but I’ll take it) Better power management will keep the battery life up to par. We’ll call this one a draw.
• Price reductions from AT&T as long as you mortgage your soul for another 2 years. Yes! Score one for me!
• Nano or IPod Touch sized phones (slimmed down versions of the IPhone with less features and lower prices). A total strikeout on this idea. How could I have missed that one so badly?
• No carrier requirement (use it with any carrier you like). I doubt this one because of the exclusivity deal with AT&T (although that may only apply to model 1.0). Another blow to my fragile ego. Not going to shake the AT&T grip for the near future.
• A new app that has never been mentioned before (maybe something that leverages the GPS chip?). Well I got this right..a lot of new apps, some free and some for pay..but definitely new (e.g. the scientific calculator and a whole bunch of new games. Woot!
• Running the new version of OSX? I’m calling this one a draw because it is possible that still may happen when released. No details have been given.
• The Beatles deal!!! Maybe they can finally announce that the Beatles catalog is available on ITunes! Well I missed this one too. I keep scanning the crowds at the Moscone waiting for Steve to get up there with Paul McCartney but all I saw was Walt Mossberg and Al Gore. Allrighty then.

Oh well, I guess this proves my I am not ready to lay claim to the title of successful techno pundit yet.

So the IPhone 3G sounds awesome but dissapointingly it won’t be ready until July 11th. I’m an impatient kinda guy when it comes to technology. If you are going to announce something, make it available.

I want it NOW!!

Ahhh. I feel better now. So here’s some of the really cool things it’s gonna have on July 11th:

• “A-GPS” (better then the regular GPS you can get in your car because it works in buildings and more rural areas
• up to 16GB of storage
• 5 hours of 3G talk time
• 10 hours talk time on 2G (current IPhone cellular protocol)
• 24 hour audio playback
• 300 hours of standby time
• black or white (only 16GB models) case. And yes it is plastic but so is the current case on the IPhone even though you think it’s aluminum (it’s hard plastic painted silver to look like metal)
• New Me.com which brings enterprise level push email, contacts, photos and calendar technology of MS Exchange and Blackberry to the common folks for only $99 per year
• New scientific calculator
• Geotagging of photos
• tri-band 3G (works on all the worlds 3G networks)
• wifi
• bluetooth
• GMS
• the App store with a host of free and pay apps
• IPhone 2.0 software – free to IPhone users and $10 for IPod Touch

Additional information:

• You will not be able to to activate your new 3G phone via ITunes. Only in store at AT&T or Apple (this process reportedly takes 10-12 minutes according to AT&T).
• Free upgrades for some recent buyers of IPhone 1 (post May 27th)
• AT&T will require a new 2 year contract but won’t tack it on to an existing one you might have, just replace it with a maximum 2 year one
• 3G iPhone – 8GB – $199  3G iPhone – 16GB – $299

Once again, Apple has reinvented the phone. Version 1.0 was revolutionary in its design with its button less form factor and touch screen interface. Version 3G now assumes evolutionary status with the internal workings via advancements in usability, features and the soon to come app store which will make this phone new again every time you download a new program.

So come July 11th you will find me standing in line as Apple opens its doors and permits us blessed folk to buy the best damn phone on the planet. So, don’t trip over my sleeping bag and no cuts in line!!!!

The IPhone 3G is Almost Here!

Image via Wikipedia

Tomorrow’s the big day!!! Woo hoo!!

What the heck am I so excited about?

The Steve Jobs show is starting tomorrow at around 1pm Eastern Daylight Time and I will be watching via the Internet broadcast.

That’s right, it’s the Apple WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) for those of you uninitiated and its happening over at the Moscone Center in San Francisco land.

Steve is going to spill the beans on the new IPhone and I can’t wait.

I have the IPhone 1.0 version and I love it, despite its not having a real GPS chip or that its slow downloading my email on the AT&T Edge system.

Notwithstanding that – it’s the best phone I have ever owned.

But that’s all going to change tomorrow!

Steve should be announcing the latest version (no doubt available for sale on June 16th and just in time for Father’s Day) which is going to have:

• the all new IPhone software (so I can give Apple even more money)
• the new APP store where you can download cool new apps to run on the phone (no one else has this)
• a dedicated GPS chip that will scare Garmin and all the other GPS makers (and so I can look smart while getting lost)
• 3G network with rocking speeds of broadband quality (700k per second downloads at least)
• 16GB or 32GB memory versions

Some potential suprises we might see:

• Rumor has it that it may also have capability for video conferencing so maybe we will hear of a new version of IChat (for Windows)?
  
• improvements to the software that will make it more responsive then it already is (hard to believe but I’ll take it)
• Price reductions from AT&T as long as you mortgage your soul for another 2 years
• Nano or IPod Touch sized phones (slimmed down versions of the IPhone with less features and lower prices)
• No carrier requirement (use it with any carrier you like). I doubt this one because of the exclusivity deal with AT&T (although that may only apply to model 1.0)
• A new app that has never been mentioned before (maybe something that leverages the GPS chip?)
• Running the new version of OSX?
• The Beatles deal!!! Maybe they can finally announce that the Beatles catalog is available on ITunes!

When I first got the phone I was worried about AT&T. I had heard really bad things about the quality of the service from users and other bloggers and initially my experience with the IPhone wasn’t the greatest (dropped calls happened a lot). But then things got better, reception improved and a couple of software upgrades later, life with AT&T wasn’t so bad. I can’t recall when I’ve had a dropped call since. Matter of fact, its pretty darned good now so I can’t wait to try out the new 3G network they just finished upgrading. And the data and voice plan pricing can’t be beat.

Yes I am excited about a phone…but it is the best phone around bar none….and it’s about to get better!