Breaking News: iPhone 3GS

Today Apple Inc. announced the third and latest iPhone in the family, the iPhone 3GS (the S meaning Speed). This latest iPhone is described as the fastest, and most eco-friendly yet, with a whole bunch of new features (as well as launching with iPhone OS 3.0 installed) when it launches on June 19th. Let’s take a look at the new features, firstly of the 3GS and then of iPhone OS 3.0.

The iPhone 3GS sees no cosmetic change from the iPhone 3G, but does bring some cool new features to the party:

• An upgraded 3 megapixel, auto-focus, video recording camera to replace the current 2 megapixel camera
• A digital compass, with its own app. You can instantly see which direction you are facing, orient Google Maps to the way you are facing; or jsut get bored, spin around, and see if you can stop at 0.
• Basic video editing features (select start and end of clip), which you cna then use to upload directly toYouTube.
• Voice Control: Phone a contact, select a song, or find out what song is playing just using your voice. Hold the Home button to talk to the iPhone, and the iPhone talks back.

The iPhone 3G's faster, more flashy, identical younger cousin

All of these features should run very smoothly, with the 3GS performing up to twice as fast as its 3G cousin. And the best bit? All of this, with improved battery power (All values aproximate, and sourced from www.apple.com):

• Talk time:
  • Up to 12 hours on 2G
  • Up to 5 hours on 3G
• Standby time: Up to 300 hours
• Internet Use
  • Up to 5 hours on 3G
  • Up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi
• Video playback: Up to 10 hours
• Audio playback: Up to 30 hours

iPhone 3G

So what about us iPhone 3G owners? On June 17th we can upgrade to iPhone OS 3.0, for free. Yup, completely free! But what does this get us?

• Cut, Copy and Paste
  • in all applications and websites
• Landscape Keyboard
  • now available in Mail, Messages, Notes and Safari
• MMS
  • Send MMS messages and include photos, audio, and contact info. You can take a photo from inside the new Messages App
• Spotlight Search
  • Flick the Home screen to the right to find a new Spotlight screen, where you can search all of your contacts, calendars, and notes, as well as everythig in your iPod.
• Voice Memos
  • If you have an important lecture or meeting you can now use your iPhone to record the audio, out of the box. Only time will tell if this app can live up to the ones already available in the App Store.
• Improved Calendar
  • The calendar now works with Microsoft Exchange, as well as CalDAV (the protocol used by Google Calendar, and others).
• Buy Movies, TV Shows, and Audiobooks
  • You can now buy all of the above in the iTunes app directly on the phone, but downloads over 10MB still require a Wi-Fi connection.
• A faster, better Safari with autofill usernames and passwords
• Internet Tethering (requires bolt-on in the UK) so that you can use your iPhone as a modem
• Stereo Bluetooth
  • Connect your iPhone to compatible stereo headphones, car kits or other accessories to blast people with music.
• Automatic Wi-Fi Login
  • Do you often use wireless hotspots in cafes, etc? The iPhone can now automatically log you in to these hotspots to save you time and typing.
• YouTube Login
  • You can now use your YouTube account on your phone, to save and sync bookmarks as well as rate your favourite movies.
• Sync Notes
  • Sync notes between your iPhone and Mac/PC so that you never lose them again
• Shake to Shuffle (but not too hard)
  • You can now shake the iPhone to shuffle to a different song in your iPod list. Just don’t shake it too hard or it may go the same way as your Wii Remote.
• Run the Latest Apps
  • iPhone 3G users will still be able to run the latest apps, including peer-to-peer games (multiplayer to you and me), as well as using accessories through the dock connector and bluetooth.

For those of you looking to upgrade to the new iPhone, or buy one for the first time, prices can be found at the O2 Website.