NEW YORK--Collins Osei, who had bought an iPhone 3G last year, came to the AT&T store Friday not to buy the latest-generation iPhone 3G S, but instead he wanted to downgrade to a less expensive Nokia phone.
Osei said his decision to go back to a basic-feature phone was all about cost. The iPhone and its service plan are simply too expensive, he said. Osei, who is in the middle of his two-year contract with AT&T, had his iPhone 3G stolen recently. But he said replacing it with a new one would cost too much. Instead, he picked up a Nokia 2600 for a mere $43.
But Osei's decision didn't hinge just on the upfront cost of the phone. He also said he was tired of paying the additional $30 a month data charge that is mandatory with the iPhone.
"The iPhone plan was just too expensive," he said. "They made me pay $30 extra a month for data, and I don't really need the Internet on my phone. So I went back to a regular phone. And now I'm on a plan that costs $39.99 a month."
Osei might not be the only consumer out there turned off by the high cost of the iPhone service fee. Unlike previous iPhone launch days, there was no line of people this morning waiting outside the AT&T Time Square store hoping to get the latest iPhone 3G S. In fact, it looked like more customers were leaving the store empty-handed or with other devices than those leaving with new iPhones.
The reason for this might be that the new-generation iPhone is only an incremental advance in terms of hardware over last year's model. The two main highlights of the new phone are its faster speed and larger memory. Or perhaps more consumers had their new iPhones shipped directly to their homes.
But the sparse crowds at the AT&T store might also have something to do with the slumping economy. With the national unemployment rate over 9 percent, some consumers are reconsidering buying expensive smartphones and pricey service plans. AT&T and Apple have worked hard to bring the entry cost of the iPhone down to an affordable level. The new iPhone 3G S starts at $199 with a two-year contract, and last year's 8GB iPhone 3G has been reduced to just $99. But customers are required to sign two-year contracts for these phones, which at a minimum will cost them $1,680 over the life of their service contracts.
Peter Pham, CEO of Billshrink.com, a Web site that helps consumers cut waste out of their monthly bills said that it sometimes takes consumers a little while before they realize the full impact of the service fees on their wallets.
"Most people don't realize how much they are paying for their service until they are about six to seven months into their two-year contracts," he said. "And then they start to realize that their bills are really high."
The majority of cell phone users in the U.S. don't use all the services that they pay for, Pham added. His company's Web site can analyze consumers' phone bills and help them figure the best plan for their usage patterns given where they live.
Meanwhile, smartphones, such as the iPhone, continue to sell well. Analysts are predicting a big launch weekend for the new iPhone 3G S. Apple and AT&T are expected to sell more than 500,000 units over the next few days. Apple sold out of its preorder phones well before launch day, and it looked like there were steady lines Friday morning at Apple stores throughout the country.
But as the smartphone market matures and if the economy worsens, it will be interesting to see if consumers start demanding less expensive data plans from their carriers. Or perhaps some, like Collins Osei, will simply go back to their basic cell phones.
Showing posts with label iPhone 3G S. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPhone 3G S. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
The iPhone 3G S: Coming to a country near you
Like the iPhone 3G, the new iPhone 3G S won't be released to the entire world at once. Rather, it will be released on three dates following its initial June 19 debut. Apple announced the 90 countries at the WWDC 2009 keynote, but they flashed by quickly so we don't blame you if you missed your country. Here's what we know so far.
June 19 releases
June 26 releases
July releases
June 19 releases
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
June 26 releases
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Japan
- Netherlands
July releases
- Bulgaria
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Sweden
- Uruguay
- Argentina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Guinea
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Venezuela
Where does the iPhone 3G S get its speed?
So, where does the Apple iPhone 3G S get its claimed "2x faster" leap in speed? Rumors are rampant that Apple is using a new chip to crank up the performance.
Why rumors when Apple has already announced the iPhone 3G S? Apple doesn't disclose chip-level hardware specifications. Moreover, Apple clearly wants to convince any prospective buyer than it's not the iPhone's individual parts that matter but the Apple-branded whole.
The fact is no one will know for sure until teardown specialists like iFixit and iSuppli actually disassemble the iPhone 3G S. "Until we actually decap those chips, we won't know exactly which chip it is," according to Francis Sideco, senior analyst for wireless communications at iSuppli.
Kyle Wiens, one of the founders of iFixit, said Wednesday he is flying to Europe to get his hands on the iPhone 3G S and take it apart.
So, what does Apple claim exactly? Here's the Apple ad copy on its Web site. "The Fastest iPhone Ever. The first thing you'll notice about iPhone 3G S is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view e-mail attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3G S is up to two times faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G."
Technology Web site Anandtech claimed Wednesday that it knows what the chip is. "Although unannounced, the iPhone 3GS uses (again) a Samsung (system-on-a-chip) but this time...it's got a Cortex A8 and PowerVR SGX; just like the (Palm) Pre," according to an analysis published Wednesday at Anandtech by Anand Shimpi, editor in chief .
Most smartphones today--including the previous versions of the iPhone--are based on some version of an application processor design from U.K.-based ARM. The Cortex A8 is a newer, faster version of the ARM design.
A T-Mobile Netherlands' Web page has published features that specify "256 RAM" and "600 MHz-processor." The link is cited in a report published Wednesday by AppleInsider.
"My gut tells me the Cortex A8 is very possible," said IFixit's Wiens, responding to an e-mail query. Though he emphasized that he is simply guessing. iSuppli's Sideco said that the 600MHz speed cited on the T-Mobile Web site doesn't necessarily mean that Apple is using the latest and greatest ARM design. "I wouldn't necessarily make that connection," he said, adding that there are 600MHz ARM processors available based on older designs.
That said, if the Anandtech report is true, this means the iPhone 3G S's application processor--essentially the brain of a smartphone--is similar to the processor used in the Palm Pre. The Texas Instruments' chip in the Pre is also a Cortex-A8 design core from ARM.
Here's what ARM says. The Cortex-A8 processor "is the highest performance, most power-efficient processor available from ARM. With the ability to scale in speed from 600MHz to greater than 1GHz." And using argot probably lost on many readers, it is an in-order, dual-issue, superscalar microprocessor core. Over-simplified translation: it can do more than one thing at a time.
These specifications compare favorably to the processor used in the previous iPhone: an older-generation ARM chip running at 412MHz.
The Palm Pre chip also integrates a Powervr SGX 2D/3D graphics accelerator based on a design from Imagination Technologies. The Anandtech report claims that the iPhone 3G S also uses this graphics silicon.
One of the big mysteries is how much tweaking Apple does to the basic ARM chip design. In one respect, this question is answered very visibly since Apple stamps its brand on the iPhone processor. And for future iPhones, Apple is expected to tap proprietary technology from the recently acquired P.A. Semi. "With their acquisition of PA Semi, the apps (application) processor is the most likely slot to get internalized," according to Sideco, referring to the likelihood that Apple will focus in-house development on the main processor inside the iPhone.
Marion Morales, vice president of IDC's semiconductors research program, said last month in a phone interview that though Apple uses Samsung chips, "when you look at the processor itself, they're designing the processor and using Samsung as a foundry (factory)," he said, underscoring the fact that Apple emphasizes internally developed technology and de-emphasizes external suppliers, even large companies like Intel and Samsung.
Why rumors when Apple has already announced the iPhone 3G S? Apple doesn't disclose chip-level hardware specifications. Moreover, Apple clearly wants to convince any prospective buyer than it's not the iPhone's individual parts that matter but the Apple-branded whole.
The fact is no one will know for sure until teardown specialists like iFixit and iSuppli actually disassemble the iPhone 3G S. "Until we actually decap those chips, we won't know exactly which chip it is," according to Francis Sideco, senior analyst for wireless communications at iSuppli.
Kyle Wiens, one of the founders of iFixit, said Wednesday he is flying to Europe to get his hands on the iPhone 3G S and take it apart.
So, what does Apple claim exactly? Here's the Apple ad copy on its Web site. "The Fastest iPhone Ever. The first thing you'll notice about iPhone 3G S is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view e-mail attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3G S is up to two times faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G."
Technology Web site Anandtech claimed Wednesday that it knows what the chip is. "Although unannounced, the iPhone 3GS uses (again) a Samsung (system-on-a-chip) but this time...it's got a Cortex A8 and PowerVR SGX; just like the (Palm) Pre," according to an analysis published Wednesday at Anandtech by Anand Shimpi, editor in chief .
Most smartphones today--including the previous versions of the iPhone--are based on some version of an application processor design from U.K.-based ARM. The Cortex A8 is a newer, faster version of the ARM design.
A T-Mobile Netherlands' Web page has published features that specify "256 RAM" and "600 MHz-processor." The link is cited in a report published Wednesday by AppleInsider.
"My gut tells me the Cortex A8 is very possible," said IFixit's Wiens, responding to an e-mail query. Though he emphasized that he is simply guessing. iSuppli's Sideco said that the 600MHz speed cited on the T-Mobile Web site doesn't necessarily mean that Apple is using the latest and greatest ARM design. "I wouldn't necessarily make that connection," he said, adding that there are 600MHz ARM processors available based on older designs.
That said, if the Anandtech report is true, this means the iPhone 3G S's application processor--essentially the brain of a smartphone--is similar to the processor used in the Palm Pre. The Texas Instruments' chip in the Pre is also a Cortex-A8 design core from ARM.
Here's what ARM says. The Cortex-A8 processor "is the highest performance, most power-efficient processor available from ARM. With the ability to scale in speed from 600MHz to greater than 1GHz." And using argot probably lost on many readers, it is an in-order, dual-issue, superscalar microprocessor core. Over-simplified translation: it can do more than one thing at a time.
These specifications compare favorably to the processor used in the previous iPhone: an older-generation ARM chip running at 412MHz.
The Palm Pre chip also integrates a Powervr SGX 2D/3D graphics accelerator based on a design from Imagination Technologies. The Anandtech report claims that the iPhone 3G S also uses this graphics silicon.
One of the big mysteries is how much tweaking Apple does to the basic ARM chip design. In one respect, this question is answered very visibly since Apple stamps its brand on the iPhone processor. And for future iPhones, Apple is expected to tap proprietary technology from the recently acquired P.A. Semi. "With their acquisition of PA Semi, the apps (application) processor is the most likely slot to get internalized," according to Sideco, referring to the likelihood that Apple will focus in-house development on the main processor inside the iPhone.
Marion Morales, vice president of IDC's semiconductors research program, said last month in a phone interview that though Apple uses Samsung chips, "when you look at the processor itself, they're designing the processor and using Samsung as a foundry (factory)," he said, underscoring the fact that Apple emphasizes internally developed technology and de-emphasizes external suppliers, even large companies like Intel and Samsung.
iPhone 3G S First Take
iPhone fans got what they were waiting for June 8 when the third-generation model of Apple's popular handset made its debut during the WWDC 2009 keynote. The iPhone 3G S, which will hit stores June 19, promises a faster iPhone with an extended battery life, more memory, and improved features. It looks exactly the same as the previous model, but both the 16GB ($199) and new 32GB ($299) models will come in white and black versions.
Though the jump from the iPhone 3G to the 3G S isn't quite as big as the jump from the first- to second-generation models, this latest handset still adds enough new features to make it a compelling upgrade for some users. And when you add in all the new features that will come with the iPhone OS 3.0 (available June 17), we finally get an iPhone that can run thousands of snazzy applications and do something as basic as send a multimedia message.
Yet, we still have some concerns. A faster AT&T 3G network isn't going to happen overnight, and some features, like tethering and the aforementioned multimedia messaging, won't happen right away. We also came away from the keynote without any mention of call quality, which, as any iPhone owner can tell you, remains far from perfect. But most importantly, the iPhone 3G S's price will vary widely depending on your eligibility. If you can get it at the lowest prices, it's worth your while. But if you're not yet eligible for a discounted upgrade, we suggest that you wait.
Speed
Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, promised that iPhone 3G S (the "S" stand for speed) will be faster in a number of ways. Not only will a new processor enable it to load apps faster, but it will also utilize an upgraded AT&T 3G network for speedier Web browsing. We expected both of these improvements, so we're not surprised that they are the new model's prime selling points. I'll start with the processor.
Schiller didn't provide any hard metrics on the new processor, but he said that the 3G S would open applications two times faster than the previous two iPhones. Honestly, this isn't something that we've been pining for--we would much prefer to get Palm Pre-style multitasking--but we'll welcome it just the same. We'll have to wait for a review model to see how much faster the 3G S is.
On the other hand, we've eagerly been awaiting zippier 3G speeds, so we're glad to hear that they're on their way. Here, too, Schiller was short on specifics outside of mentioning AT&T's forthcoming HSPA network upgrade to 7.2Mbps. That is an important qualifier considering that AT&T won't start rolling out the faster network until later this year. What's more, full deployment is scheduled for 2011. Though we expect that urban areas will be first, coverage will vary widely for the next year, at least. As such, we don't predict any miracles soon.
Battery life
Though battery life on the first iPhone was mostly satisfactory, the iPhone 3G sucks up juice rapidly. Indeed, you're lucky if your handset lasts longer than a day of heavy use. Luckily, the iPhone 3G S offers some hope. Schiller rattled off statistics that certainly sound promising. It should offer 9 hours of Wi-Fi battery life, 10 hours on video playback, 30 hours on audio playback, 12 hours 2G talk time, and 5 hours 3G talk time. Like with the processor, we'll have to wait for our review unit to see if these ratings hold up, but we like what we're hearing so far.
Camera
Up until now, the iPhone's camera has been good, but far from great. Though picture quality is decent, camera editing features on the first two iPhones are nonexistent. The minimalist shooters bothered us so much that we began to worry if Apple was leading a new trend of "dumbing down" cell phone cameras.
The iPhone 3G S, however, has helped put some of those fears to rest. Apple boosted the camera's resolution to 3 megapixels and it added an autofocus feature. In the future, you'll also get settings for white balance, exposure, low-light sensitivity, and a macro mode for close-up photos. The autofocus feature appeared to work well during the keynote so we're looking forward to testing it ourselves.
Video recording
When we last asked about video recording at the OS 3.0 announcementin March, Apple wouldn't comment on whether it would come to the iPhone. So we have to admit that we weren't expecting it to happen anytime soon. But thanks to its improved camera, the iPhone 3G S will offer the ability to record VGA clips at 30 frames per second. It also promises a nifty editing feature that will let you trim clips to your liking. And once you're done, you can upload them to YouTube with just a couple of clicks. Again, it looked good onstage so we're excited to check it out.
Voice Control
We've long berated Apple for not including voice dialing on the iPhone. So when we heard that it would be on the iPhone 3G S, our initial reaction was a cynical "it's about time." Yet, our hearts softened just the slightest bit when we saw that the new Voice Control feature will go far beyond just voice dialing and commands.
Sure, you'll be able to dial a contact using your voice, but you'll also be able to activate the iPod player by asking for a particular music track or artist. What's more, you can use Voice Control to identify a song by name and you can ask to play related tracks (as they're associated in the iTunes Genius feature). Seeing those additional features almost makes us forgive Apple for taking so long to add something as basic as voice dialing, but not quite.
Compass
We were a little skeptical when we heard that the new iPhone might offer a digital compass. Yet, Schiller confirmed that the rumors were true. Like any other compass it will automatically point to north, but it also will integrate with Google Maps to point you in the right direction. A nice touch, to be sure.
What didn't we get?
Fortunately, this list is getting shorter with each incarnation of the iPhone. Though OS 3.0 adds many notable missing features like multimedia messaging, turn-by-turn directions and stereo Bluetooth, there are a few capabilities still lacking. Flash support for the Safari browser, app folders for the home screen and USB mass storage are just a few. And hey, though we know that we'll never get it, we'll throw in a user-replaceable battery too.
So should you buy it?
Like we said earlier, the iPhone 3G S offers some notable feature improvements, but it doesn't offer quite the same leap that the iPhone 3G offered over the first-generation model. If you don't own an iPhone yet, and you've been waiting around to see what happens, now is the time to go for it. The same goes for iPhone Classic owners who never made the jump to the iPhone 3G.
But, if you're a current iPhone 3G owner, the answer isn't so clear. If you're eligible to upgrade at the cheaper prices ($199 or $299), then we suggest doing so, as long as you remember that a new two-year contract is required. If you own an iPhone 3G, but are not eligible for the upgrade yet, then we recommend waiting. As much as the iPhone 3G S brings, it's not worth the extra $200 that both the 16GB and 32GB models will cost you. In the meantime, you will get the new OS 3.0 features when they're released for the iPhone 3G on June 17. But not only that, you'll have extra money to spend on apps.
Though the jump from the iPhone 3G to the 3G S isn't quite as big as the jump from the first- to second-generation models, this latest handset still adds enough new features to make it a compelling upgrade for some users. And when you add in all the new features that will come with the iPhone OS 3.0 (available June 17), we finally get an iPhone that can run thousands of snazzy applications and do something as basic as send a multimedia message.
Yet, we still have some concerns. A faster AT&T 3G network isn't going to happen overnight, and some features, like tethering and the aforementioned multimedia messaging, won't happen right away. We also came away from the keynote without any mention of call quality, which, as any iPhone owner can tell you, remains far from perfect. But most importantly, the iPhone 3G S's price will vary widely depending on your eligibility. If you can get it at the lowest prices, it's worth your while. But if you're not yet eligible for a discounted upgrade, we suggest that you wait.
Speed
Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, promised that iPhone 3G S (the "S" stand for speed) will be faster in a number of ways. Not only will a new processor enable it to load apps faster, but it will also utilize an upgraded AT&T 3G network for speedier Web browsing. We expected both of these improvements, so we're not surprised that they are the new model's prime selling points. I'll start with the processor.
Schiller didn't provide any hard metrics on the new processor, but he said that the 3G S would open applications two times faster than the previous two iPhones. Honestly, this isn't something that we've been pining for--we would much prefer to get Palm Pre-style multitasking--but we'll welcome it just the same. We'll have to wait for a review model to see how much faster the 3G S is.
On the other hand, we've eagerly been awaiting zippier 3G speeds, so we're glad to hear that they're on their way. Here, too, Schiller was short on specifics outside of mentioning AT&T's forthcoming HSPA network upgrade to 7.2Mbps. That is an important qualifier considering that AT&T won't start rolling out the faster network until later this year. What's more, full deployment is scheduled for 2011. Though we expect that urban areas will be first, coverage will vary widely for the next year, at least. As such, we don't predict any miracles soon.
Battery life
Though battery life on the first iPhone was mostly satisfactory, the iPhone 3G sucks up juice rapidly. Indeed, you're lucky if your handset lasts longer than a day of heavy use. Luckily, the iPhone 3G S offers some hope. Schiller rattled off statistics that certainly sound promising. It should offer 9 hours of Wi-Fi battery life, 10 hours on video playback, 30 hours on audio playback, 12 hours 2G talk time, and 5 hours 3G talk time. Like with the processor, we'll have to wait for our review unit to see if these ratings hold up, but we like what we're hearing so far.
Camera
Up until now, the iPhone's camera has been good, but far from great. Though picture quality is decent, camera editing features on the first two iPhones are nonexistent. The minimalist shooters bothered us so much that we began to worry if Apple was leading a new trend of "dumbing down" cell phone cameras.
The iPhone 3G S, however, has helped put some of those fears to rest. Apple boosted the camera's resolution to 3 megapixels and it added an autofocus feature. In the future, you'll also get settings for white balance, exposure, low-light sensitivity, and a macro mode for close-up photos. The autofocus feature appeared to work well during the keynote so we're looking forward to testing it ourselves.
Video recording
When we last asked about video recording at the OS 3.0 announcementin March, Apple wouldn't comment on whether it would come to the iPhone. So we have to admit that we weren't expecting it to happen anytime soon. But thanks to its improved camera, the iPhone 3G S will offer the ability to record VGA clips at 30 frames per second. It also promises a nifty editing feature that will let you trim clips to your liking. And once you're done, you can upload them to YouTube with just a couple of clicks. Again, it looked good onstage so we're excited to check it out.
Voice Control
We've long berated Apple for not including voice dialing on the iPhone. So when we heard that it would be on the iPhone 3G S, our initial reaction was a cynical "it's about time." Yet, our hearts softened just the slightest bit when we saw that the new Voice Control feature will go far beyond just voice dialing and commands.
Sure, you'll be able to dial a contact using your voice, but you'll also be able to activate the iPod player by asking for a particular music track or artist. What's more, you can use Voice Control to identify a song by name and you can ask to play related tracks (as they're associated in the iTunes Genius feature). Seeing those additional features almost makes us forgive Apple for taking so long to add something as basic as voice dialing, but not quite.
Compass
We were a little skeptical when we heard that the new iPhone might offer a digital compass. Yet, Schiller confirmed that the rumors were true. Like any other compass it will automatically point to north, but it also will integrate with Google Maps to point you in the right direction. A nice touch, to be sure.
What didn't we get?
Fortunately, this list is getting shorter with each incarnation of the iPhone. Though OS 3.0 adds many notable missing features like multimedia messaging, turn-by-turn directions and stereo Bluetooth, there are a few capabilities still lacking. Flash support for the Safari browser, app folders for the home screen and USB mass storage are just a few. And hey, though we know that we'll never get it, we'll throw in a user-replaceable battery too.
So should you buy it?
Like we said earlier, the iPhone 3G S offers some notable feature improvements, but it doesn't offer quite the same leap that the iPhone 3G offered over the first-generation model. If you don't own an iPhone yet, and you've been waiting around to see what happens, now is the time to go for it. The same goes for iPhone Classic owners who never made the jump to the iPhone 3G.
But, if you're a current iPhone 3G owner, the answer isn't so clear. If you're eligible to upgrade at the cheaper prices ($199 or $299), then we suggest doing so, as long as you remember that a new two-year contract is required. If you own an iPhone 3G, but are not eligible for the upgrade yet, then we recommend waiting. As much as the iPhone 3G S brings, it's not worth the extra $200 that both the 16GB and 32GB models will cost you. In the meantime, you will get the new OS 3.0 features when they're released for the iPhone 3G on June 17. But not only that, you'll have extra money to spend on apps.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)