Here it is, kiddies: the latest iPhone. Just one year after Apple announced the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3G S has been announced. There is much to love in this update including larger storage options, a faster CPU, HSDPA support and a better camera all for the same price as the current set.
The OS should now run faster thanks to a 50% bump in CPU speed; it now runs at 600MHz. The system memory has doubled to 256MB as well.
Apple didn’t forget about the camera – well, sortof. The iPhone 3G S did get an upgrade in that department too, but it’s only with a 3MP camera. It does finally support auto-focus, but it’s still not up to par with other flagship smartphones. Plus, this iPhone can now shoot video at 30 FPS with auto lighting and auto focus.
The new hardware will come in both 16GB and 32GB options with black and white models available in both sizes. These options will be available in July for $199/$299 respectively. Battery life has improved as well and Apple is claiming that the iPhone 3G S will go 15- to 20% longer on a charge. But no, the battery still isn’t usre replaceable.
The new hardware is welcomed, but the 3.0 software has also been updated with a new feature set. You can now tether – yes, tether – the iPhone via USB or Bluetooth to either a PC or Mac on 22 carriers worldwide; sorry, AT&T isn’t one of them. Speaking of AT&T, MMS will be available sometime this summer through an update. Or so they say.
But at least users can now rent and buy movies right from the iPhone. That’s a win, right.
Anyway, a new feature that most will love is the Find My iPhone. It’s a service for MobileMe subs that, well, finds your lost iPhone and displays its location on a map. It could be a great way to keep track of your spouse too. When activated, you can message your iPhone with a number to call and it will sound a tone even if the phone is on silent. Or you can remotely erase all of the data on the phone.
All these software updates also apply to older iPhones as long as they are loaded with the 3.0 software pack available worldwide on June 17, 2009.
Apple has kept the price point of the current options. So the 16GB will run $199 with the 32GB fetching $299; both are on-contract prices of course. Phil Schiller didn’t mention if current iPhone owners in an AT&T contract will be able to upgrade without penalty, so expect the official word from the carrier soon. AT&T did just that last year when the iPhone 3G was announced.
Expect the lines to start forming now ’cause the new iPhone 3G S will be available on June 19, 2009 in the States with the rest of the world getting on July 9, 2009. The iPhone 3G gets its $99 price starting today though.
Update: Remember how last year AT&T let current iPhone owners upgrade without penalty. Yeah, not going to happen this time around.
From the iPhone product page down in the fine print:
Requires new two-year AT&T wireless service contract, sold separately to qualified customers; credit check required; must be 18 or older. For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).
Hmmm – disappointing – I was at least hoping for a matte back – don’t apple realise that people have lives? that means scratching and slipping and dropping your phone. Make it more tactile and it’ll not get scratched, dropped or broken, which means less warranty claims, and less money spent refurbishing handsets that are sent back…
Seems like common sense I think?
BUY A CASE!!
yeah! I have a matt finish case … brand: casecrown.. got it from Amazon from some private seller for under $10 (including shipping) ;-)
I agree, matte is much better than shiny. I don’t like the way the current 3G looks really, I like the original iPhone much better (which i still have). So I was looking forward to matte, but no love :(
Not like it’s a show-stopper or anything, but, still crappy.
I agree with most of the comments. No FM trasmitter, no flash, no front camera, not matte black finish, such a high price for existing customers. Disappointing for iPhoners.
But, Mac Pro updates are awesome. A $300 price reduction with better RAM, I am buying one.
Current Verizon customer will switch to IPHONE and ATT as long as ATT data plan stays unlimited. Else will switch to Sprint with PRE.
Keeping track of phone minutes is more than I can handled. I couldn’t image having to keep track of data size.
Your first two sentences read like some kind of programming language with if statements spoken by Yoda.
currentVerizonCustomer.switch(IPHONE, ATT) if (ATT.dataPlan == unlimited);
else currentVerizonCustomer.switch(Sprint, PRE);
Man you got learn more programming! BTW… what was the language? doesn’t looks like Java to me…
“These options will be available in July for $199/$299 respectively. ” All the live coverage blogs state that the 3GS will be available on June 19th in US and a few other countries and then the rest of the world in July.
NO USER Replaceable BATTERY !!!!
SUCKS !!!
don’t ever expect replaceable batteries from apple products from here on in. they LOVE their unibody construction and aren’t going to give it up until it causes plummeting sales
which doesn’t look like people care quite that much
why you need to replace your battery, you will buy a new one before that battery goes bad, I still have the first gen and battery is still good.
Firmware is just as much of a player in battery life as is age. 2.0 killed my battery, but that was fixed in 2.1
So what’s the upgrade eligibility for current iphone 3g users??
Stugots!
I posted this in another thread, so I’m sorry for double posting, but I think it’s relevant for existing AT&T customers who have an iPhone 3G (e.g. ME!)
For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).
http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare-iphones/
Ridiculously unfair if you ask me and I’m not usually one to complain. :)
Henry, this price is probably for those who have lost or smashed their iPhone 3G. The price for upgrading as opposed to replacing is hopefully different.
I went through the upgrade form at the iPhone website too and got the same pricing.
I do hope I’m wrong though. :)
On the other hand, Snow Leopard upgrade for $29 is awesome.
Henry . . . do you know why I would have to wait 18 months for the upgrade when you only have to wait 12? I called AT&T and they have NO clue, and are talking me in circles. I am happy to wait until July, but DECEMBER?????? I haven’t that much patience ;)
No, that is the price for existing customers who upgraded last year. Apple has an online elegibility form you go through. Enter your phone number and other AT&T details and they tell you if you qualify for an upgrade. I bought the 3G last year and it says I do not qualify until 12/18/09 and if I want the 3Gs, I have to pay the prices listed above.
Ok, I went through that form and here’s what I got:
As a valued AT&T customer, AT&T can offer you an early iPhone upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee. You may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade on 07/12/2009.
* $299.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
* $399.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
* $499.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
So the pricing is not quite as bad, but it sounds like if I wait a few weeks after launch, I may qualify anyway.
FYI, I bought the iPhone 3G on the launch date last year.
where did u find this form?
morgan, click “get started” on the link below. I didn’t get the discount Henry mentions but full retail price. Odd since I upgraded to the 3G last summer too.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTE2OTU
That pricing doesn’t make sense since the early termination fee is $175. So you’d save $125 by paying the fee to break your existing contract and then sign up as a new customer to get the subsidized price of the 3GS.
where did u find the form?
Could one actually do that? Wouldn’t AT&T put 2&2 together? Maybe not…
who care if they put 2 & 2 together, they cant tell you that your unable to do so, its your money you can do what you want. i work at AT&T and i would cancel, then re sign another 2 year contract. if anything, it benefits you and us. a. you keep your iphone 3g and u can sell it, and b. we get your business for at least another 2 years, which if u cancel again, we get the early termination fee.
Wow, this is like the 6th Apple post in a row. You guys might as well just be an Apple news shop!
You do realize today was the Apple WWDC right? An annual major event about Apple products? A bunch of Apple stuff got announced, so they reported on it.
Duh.
Just like they reported on video game stuff around E3. This ain’t rocket science.
there were rumors that you would be able to text sideways is that still true?
You mean via Landscape mode (like when Safari browsing)? Yup it’s true.
Ok…upgrade pricing for current 3g users is a JOKE!!!!! Who the hell does ATT and Apple think they are. I absolutely hate sprint but looks like I’m going to buy a pre even with the screen issues it has. Watching this blog and the net for the paste 2 hours, it sucks I can’t get my life back. I think I’m going to go vomit now.
How much upgrading PRE will it cost? I guess you didn’t read Sprint’s fine print did ya ;)
“You can now tether – yes, tether – the iPhone via USB or Bluetooth to either a PC or Mac on 22 carriers worldwide; sorry, AT&T isn’t one of them.”
Anyone know if o2 (UK) is one of the 22?
O2 was listed on the slide which showed all the companies offering tethering.
Well thats… disappointing?
but does it come with a mouse?
The compass is worth all the money in the world. How can we make it to new worlds without a compass built into our phones? Hmmm? Didn’t think about that, did you?
All other features are secondary and the program manager in charge of the built in compass ought to be hailed as the savior of Apple and global commerce.
So how do people rate the Nokia N97 against the Iphone’s latest edition. I for one am not too impressed. A lot of rumors about something special being launched but the basics are still missing
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/iPhoneUpgradePricing/
They are ripping us off! They want only $199 from new customers, but existing customers must pay $499… Even with a 2 year extension. It’s right on their website: “For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).”
We have to rise up and stop this. Apple has listened before. We have to make them listen again. 3GSRipoff.com
Rise up, huh? Any “oppression” from a free-market enterprise is self-inflicted.
You don’t like the prices: you don’t buy it. No oppression.
Guys, thanks for the news! Great job! But I guess the worldwide sales start on 9 August ;).
I don’t think the 3G S is the biggest announcement from WWDC, though. Here’s why, http://bit.ly/dSlG2.
I will buy it this summer as soon as i have the money!!!
They are ripping us off! They want only $199 from new customers, but existing customers must pay $499… Even with a 2 year extension. It’s right on their website: “For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).”
We have to rise up and stop this. Apple has listened before. We have to make them listen again.
Express your view at http://www.iPhone3GS.org see ya
With the new 3G S iphone, does anyone know if we will be able to view website that use flash?
I went on my ATT to feign the upgrade and it would’ve been $199 for me to get an 8GS
This is THE MOST ridiculous thing I have heard of! So brand new customers, and customers eligible for upgrade, can buy lets say the 32gb for $299. If I am a current customer though, who isn’t eligible, I have to pay 699?! That’s $400 more than someone new! And you still have to sign another 2 year contract!! If both customers are signing a 2 year contract, why should the current customer get penalized out of $400?
Or lets use my situation as an example. (Even though I qualify for the cheaper price, I’m just illustrating a point) My wife and I both have iPhones currently. If we didn’t qualify, and assuming we both wanted the 32gb, we would have to pay $699 + $699. That’s $1400 and a 2 year contract.
OR…….
We could cancel our contract for (at most) $175 per line, and then buy 2 new phones for $299!
$175 + $175 + $299 + $299 = $950 and a 2 year contract anyways!
$950 vs. $1400 hmmmmmmm……..
There is absolutely NO rhyme or reason behind this pricing other than to completely rip people off
Does anyone know if the speakerphone in the 3G S will be an improvement over the 3G? Lousy speakerphone and so so in-ear phone call quality are two things that have stopped me from buying an iphone so far. They may stop me again!
You people complaining about the ‘current customer pricing’ are failing to consider that your current phone, whatever it may be, has probably not been paid for yet. You know what ’subsidized’ means in this context, right? Say you chose to get some LG touchscreen like 9 months ago for “$49.95″ – the real cost of the phone was probably $300, and they haven’t recovered that yet. It’s a normal upgrade cycle, people. You have to wait 18 months if you pay your bills on time, 24 months if you don’t. You can’t just get a new phone at ‘new customer price’ every 6 months – WTF!!!!
iPhone tethering is coming. Just give them a month or so.
I freaking HATE with a passion that apple ALWAYS does the same S#!t. We cant be happy with their products for at least a year because they always come with something way better for the same price of the the old device, while the old device gets a price cut. Do they really expect us to spend hundreds of dollars EVERY TIME they come up with something new? I’ve had the 3G for just 2 months; which I paid $199 for, now there is a much better 3G with more storage and better features for that same price, while the old 3G is now $99. WTF!
Huh? If you’re intending to be ironic then a smiley would make that clearer. If not, what you want is zero progress and you claim you’d be happy with your 1980’s Motorola shoe phone. WTF?
@Bozo
If that message was in reply to mine, it really has nothing to do with what I expressed. What I’m not happy with is the fact that I paid $199 for a phone that is now $99. While the newer one has much better features. It has nothing to do with “progress” Perhaps you should read out loud to see if you understand the context of the message
I just bought a 3G 16MB less than a month ago , and I went to the ATT store yesterday. They said the new 3G S would arrive June 19 and there would be no problem exchanging the 3G for the 3G S at no additional cost or contract change. Other friends of mine got the price difference after they lowered the 3g accredited to their account. I live in Puerto Rico (there are laws here that deal with sudden price changes within one month of purchase).
all of you people complaining the b!tching about the pricing can just shove it. Really, ATT did you an effing favor by helping you get ur iphone 3g. they paid part of the phone FOR you and they are recouping the cost over a 24 month plan which YOU effing signed for. Now why should they pay for part of a new phone that you want while the OLD one is still not paid for?? How about ATT just charge the FULL price of an iphone to everyone, your poor little runt probably can’t come up wiht teh money!!
And about all of you people whining about ATT/Apple set up. This has to happen. Why? Iphone is unique, all the technologies needed/needed to be upgraded to accomodate the iphone is costly. If none of the carriers is allowed exclusivity to charge and recover those costs, no one would want to offer the iphone. Notice how Apple originally APPROACHED Verizon. If Apple just sold iphones and not all carriers develop the technologies to take advantage of iphones capabilities, what’s the point if you got a low monthly plan? u’re just paying for an underpowered service. no thanks.
and for those who bought the iphone in 6 month period. nope, it sucks to be in ur situation. But on the other hand, if you just GOOGLED any new iphone news, there were a billion threads about the rumors of new iphone coming out. You should have done ur homework. My contract with Tmobile ended near the end of may, was about to get an iphone, did my research, and decided to wait. Just because a new model came out and you bought a “not top of the line” model, (that someone helped u pay for, and u agreed to it) doesn’t mean you should get the new one automatically for the same price. come on how ridiculous that sounds. Would YOU like to be footing the bill of those subsidies??
I have to say that all whiners need to get an effing lesson about how things work. Just because they dont work in your favor does not mean it is wrong. The world doesn’t revolve around you whiners.
by the way, i happily ordered 2 spanking new iphones thru a discount plan that shaves 23% off my data and voice plan (1st line only). in two years, my iphones would have been paid for completely by ATT. so thank you ATT.
Service issues? 3G issues? please, just travel to any white zones (areas with weak or no coverage) with any carrier’s coverage map, and then say how their services are shotty. Come on…….
In addition, this is probably one of the few countries that need subsidies. If iphones are offered at full retail price, and all you little effing whiners would complain about how pricey it is and that none of the carriers would work properly with the iphone to use iphone to its full capabilities.
and even in places where iphones are sold unlocked, you still need to pay full retail for a 2 yr contract!! consider yourselves lucky that ATT decided to make ownership easier for you.
If I am only 12 month into my contract and a new iphone 3GS Pro comes out, I will happily wait til 18month and get the new subsidy pricing. AGAIN, that is a FAVOR they do for you ungrateful whining little buggers.
Please excuse me and all of the other whiners if we do not appreciate being ripped-off. I suspect that if the phone was offered at full retail price, few would buy it…
What AT&T is doing is pure and simple price gauging, nothing more. Pardon me if I choose to voice my opinions regarding how I feel about the subject.
“Tim” is RIGHT ON…I’m so glad that someone else has some sense.
How much is the Nokia N97? That’s right, $700. How much is the Sony X1 (which isn’t even that good)? $700.
You guys do realize that even the most basic clamshell phone is still $200-300 for ‘full retail price’, right? What a bunch of whiners. THIS IS NOT a rip off!
N74JW says “I suspect that if the phone was offered at full retail price, few would buy it” – OF COURSE NOT – that’s why they make you do contracts and you can’t upgrade every 2 months. Are you really that stupid?
I have had my phone for a year, now. AT&T/Apple let me upgrade from a gen 1 phone to a 3G phone without gauging, what gives now?
Being ignorant only discredits your point.
The first iPhone was like, the first unsubsidized phone in America for YEARS. You paid what – $399 / $499 ? It wasn’t build into the plan! Why do you think the better 3G was half the price?
I will grant this – maybe they shouldn’t have done that because people get confused. Also, it’s GOUGING, not GAUGING. Who’s ignorant?
Thanks for the correction. If all you have is a jab on semantics, then you really don’t have anything. It seems that you are content with being screwed, but you can’t expect everyone to feel that way. Apple and AT&T have never marketed the iPhone as just another phone, but an all-encompassing media gadget. The notion that product fans will wait around the stipulations of their contracts to save themselves from being gouged is not practical. The idea is a mistake that will bite AT&T in the ass. “Word of mouth” counts for a great deal, but since neither company can have much influence on that, they often just ignore.
What part of the word SUBSIDY dont you understand?? They HELPED you to get an iphone exactly because of YOUR reasoning that you would NOT buy it at retail price. And now, because AT&T haven’t recovered all of the help that they gave you, you are actually effing complaining??!!! ATT paid for part of your phone so you can get it at a lower price!! Then they need to recoupe that cost from the monthly plan. You are X months into the plan not reaching 24 months yet, of course you would have to pay more if you upgrade. They are not going to pay for a new phone for you until your old phone is paid off.
ATT is NOT price gouging, it is reasonable what they do. I am a reasonable customer. And you know what, all you whiners, ATT dont need you. They need reasonable customers like me and i can SEE their reasoning. If you dont like the way they do business, dont use them. Guess what, they will not miss you. and I wont either.
Your opinion is formed WITHOUT considering all the facts surrounding the issue. Just because you can’t get the new customer/ 18month pricing does not mean they are gauging you. They are a business trying to make money, they are not an effing charity,
in Taiwan where iphones are made, you have to PAY $700 for the phone AND sign a 2 yr contract. You should consider yourself lucky that ATT decided to offer the iphones this way.
c_mick, i hear ya loud and clear. they first iphone was NEVER subsidized, for all ATT cared, they could have upgraded you anytime after the iphone 3G came out for the 199/299 pricing. I pity these whining little fools living in their mommy’s basements hamburger flipping poor runts for complaining how they are getting gouged. You effing tards didn’t say “oh, I underpaid for the iphone 3g” right when it was offered? The subsidy was a wide known FACT and you single digit IQ fcktards did not get or simply cannot comprehend. C_Mick made good point about it was NOT built into the plan and the sales figures were terrible. That is why they decided to do the subsidy, to increase sales.
Whiners, please go cry a river, build a bridge, and get the fck over it. I for one will be enjoying my new iphone 3gs for two years. If they came out with a newer iphone 3gs pro a year from now, I will patiently wait til i am 18 month or 24 month, then get the new susidized pricing. that’s what I signed up for, and I sure aint gonna complain about it.
god, effing whiners make me just wanna vomit.
absence of whiners here. mission accomplished, time to scout out uncharted territory for whiners who haven’t been who been crucified. it is so very satisfying putting whiners on a pole and have everyone laughing at them seeing how stupid they are. dont understand contract, dont understand subsidy, dont understand businesses are there to make money and maximize profits and are not charities, dont understand how lucky they are that they even have an option to upgrade. Rogers up north stated, NO UPGRADE options available. again, EFFING whiners can take a ride and hug a tree. peace out. my work here is done.
You’re a dipshit
Ryan, wtfe. pointless calling you useless names. whiners are dipshit. You are just almost about as useless as whiners, not as bad, but almost.
Here is a tip to have an Iphone with ATT wihtout contract and without paying the data plan for 30dls you need to have another line to use it though, but here is the tip:you can cancel your line still on contract saying that the user has died, they wont ask you for death certificates and that stuff (ATT policy), and you wont have to pay for the Early Termination Fee that is of 175dls prorated. You can also keep the line without cancelling it, saying that the phone was lost or stolen, giving the imei of another phone that doesnot need a data plan and thats it.
I don’t consider it’s worth buying the new iPhone 3G S, unless your carrier offers you a cheap upgrade option. I’d like to keep my iPhone 3G at this moment.
However, fans of the iPhone are cheered when Apple’s iPhone 3G S made its debut. Also, most users would like to put DVDs movie video on iPhone 3G S. I’ve found a good tutorial about import DVD / video to iphone 3GS/ iPhone 3G:
http://www.daniusoft.com/tutorial/dvd-video-to-iphone-3g-s.html
This looks amazing. I’m still an iPhone 2G owner, and this seems like it would be worth the upgrade.
Hey–we’re trying to get a debate going on our blog about what the iPhone 3G S means for Apple in the long-term. Please check us out: http://uimagicinc.com/blog/?p=165
A lot of people in the comments here seem pretty upset about the restrictive contract that goes hand in hand with owning an iPhone, or the inability to upgrade without penalty. Do you guys think that this restrictive contract policy will hurt Apple in the long-run, especially as the novelty of the new upgrade wears off (and maybe even quickly)?
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With the Find my iPhone feature, I’ll never spend another morning searching for my iPhone. My keys are another story, however, until Apple decides to come up with the iKeychain for my keys.
I recently got the MMS update. It has been about 2 weeks and I have one concern since the update. My phone sometimes now randomly shuts itself down. Has this problem happened to anyone else? Does anyone know how to fix this?
What is better to buy – iPhone 3GS or LG Arena? They seems to be rather similar by reviews. Or iPhone is much more better? Thanks for answers.