Apple iPhone 3Gs
New iPhone Launches This Week

15 June 2009

I always enjoy watching the Apple keynote addresses when they appear on the Apple site. As a prolific user of many things Apple, chances are the keynote signals the launch of another gadget that'll change my life a little - again.

Even the Developer Conference can hold a few exciting titbits, and last week's was no exception. The biggest news this time is the launch of the new iPhone operating system, 3.0 - and to keep it company, the new iPhone G3s (the 's' stands for 'speed').

Having bought my iPhone the very day it launched in the UK, I've resisted the desire to upgrade to the 3G for three reasons:

• First, I love my original iPhone and it cost me a lot of money. It has a lovely metal back (not a black plastic one) and I don't want to throw it away.
• Second, I suspected that Apple might launch a new phone when they announced the new OS, and I didn't want to make the same mistake as Jeremy Clarkson did by buying the G3 a couple of weeks before its price goes down and the new model is launched. (How didn't he see that one coming? He's usually so perceptive).
• Third, apart from the G3 data speed and the GPS feature of the iPhone G3, there really wasn't much practical difference between my original and the second generation iPhone G3.

Having seen the new features of the iPhone G3s, I think it might be time to make the change. The new features of the iPhone G3s that really appeal to me are:

• The camera is supposedly much better. Let's face it, it couldn't be much worse... It has auto-focus, macro and is 3 Mega Pixels. It takes better pictures in low light and has some lovely new features like tap-to-focus. This means you just touch the item on screen that you want it to focus on. This certainly sounds better than the low resolution pinhole camera on my model.
• The new MMS messaging means I can send picture messages, not just text. Although this will be enabled on existing G3 phones, I don't think it'll work on my original model.
• The camera features video. This is great - you can edit the video right on the phone and send it straight to YouTube, via e-mail or via MMS. It includes the same auto-focus/white balance etc of the new camera as well.
• It has voice control so you can tell it what number to dial while you're driving.
• It has a compass which, whilst of little value on its own, can be integrated into other applications like satellite navigation to enhance the GPS feature.

These are my favourites, but I think what I enjoyed most about the keynote was that for the first time, the UK and lots of other countries were lined up to get the MMS messaging months before the USA. It's the first time I have ever heard booing at an Apple keynote. Strangely satisfying.

Pricewise the new phone shouldn't break the bank, and in the US the G3 will plummet in price to $99. At the time of writing this the prices haven't changed on the UK Apple Store - hopefully it won't be long.

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