Showing posts with label IPhones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IPhones. Show all posts

IPHONE 5 LATEST UPDATE | APPLE IPHONE 5 LATEST FEATURES

Posted by aashu Sunday, 11 September 2011 0 comments


Apple's iPhone 5: Smaller Case, 3.7 Inch Screen, New Button


Here's something interesting: we've gotten used to thinking that Apple's next iPhone will have a larger screen. Regardless of the actual dimensions (depends on which rumor you believe), the majority pointed towards a bigger screen. This might turn out to be false in the light of new findings.

Apple's PhotoStream application contains an icos representing a smartphone that doesn't seem to follow the general iPhone design lines. The phone appears to have a 3.7 inch screen (still larger than the iPhone 4's 3.5 inch) but in a smaller overall case. Also, you definitely have to notice a possible rectagular or elongated home button. The image above is a mock-up made after the icon found in the PhotoStream app. What do you think? 



iPhoneIslam Team claim that they have managed to hack iPad 3G to enable full phone and SMS functionality like the iPhone.An iPad tweak that lets 3G-capable iPads take full advantage of a connection to a cell network, allowing users to make and receive phone calls, as well as send and receive SMS. A few weeks later, the tweak is finally available to the general public, for $19.99.
phoneitipad


With millions of iPhones and wifi enabled iPod Touch’s, and over 100 million applications sold, Madison Avenue is playing close attention to Apple’s success. Who wouldn’t? But the MadMen in New York are seeing opportunities, not applications. They are seeing how incorporating advertising into social networking applications like “Loopt” can turn those millions of iPhones into 21st century bill boards. And they’re betting the farm on it.
According to recent studies by the research firm Informa Telecoms & Media, the mobile market is on a nearly $2 Billion dollar pace for 2008, and promise to grown to an estimated $12 BILLION in mobile ad revenue by 2013. That’s a lot of ads. But how will it work?
The idea is that with smartphones that are GPS enabled, software can pop up targeted ads into social networking sites which seek to find where all your friends are. It can also be embedded into such applications as Google Maps through cell phone internet browsers. Users can see an add for a nearby restaurant, for instance, tap for directions and go directly there.
And other applications like Pandora Radio are getting into the game with major clients such as Best Buy, Beck’s and Jaguar. And using a subsidizing scheme where ads will support making more applications for free, it could be the key to reaching that 12 billion dollar ad ceiling.
But the real question is, do users want their iPhones to harass them with digital advertising pollution?
Frankly, I just want a phone that makes phone calls.


Now, we do know that the iPhone has somewhat turned into a pretty decent gaming platform, and has had its fair share of hits along the way. When it comes to racing games, however, the experience of tilting your phone either way to steer your car isn’t a really fun experience, so here is a peripheral that might just help you out.




The iPhone 4 Steering Wheel with Speakers that retails for $22.20 is here to save the day – this lightweight peripheral is meant specially for the iPhone 4, where it offers high quality audio regardless of whether you’re gaming or listening to music. All you need to do is connect your iPhone to the steering wheel’s adapter, affix that to the middle of the wheel, and you’re good to go. If only the iPhone 4 will somewhat remain on a horizontal plain no matter which way you turn the steering wheel – now that’d be uber cool


Guest author David Harfield is the editor for iphoneappcafe.com where he writes about the latest and the best apps and accessories.
Some people may think that their iPhone is the coolest gadget that they could possibly own. Well, that is until they see this list of gadgets that are specially designed to make the iPhone even cooler! These accessories will transform your regular iPhone into the most fun, funky gadget on the planet, so read on!
Monster’s Tron Light Disc Audio Dock

iPhone 5 pictures: Bigger screen revealed?

Posted by aashu Friday, 11 March 2011 0 comments


Leaked technical drawings suggest a larger display and a thinner bezel.




Worshippers at the font of Apple rumours were blessed today with another reported glimpse of the upcoming iPhone 5, thanks to Chinese tech site idealschina.com.
The images are what the site call "mold engineering drawings", used by designers as guides to create a gadget's outer casing. As the post on the site explained: "We just got what appears to be mold engineering drawings for iPhone 5. These would be used by case designers to create plastic, TPU, aluminum, silicone and leather cases."


Click here to launch the gallery of iPhone 5 pictures


The images suggest that the iPhone 5 won't differ hugely in form factor from its predecessor, the iPhone 4. In fact, the only obvious difference is that the screen now extends right to the side-edges of the device, no longer constrained by a bezel as found on the current gen iPhone. These are just pictures of the outer shell, mind. We've got a whole article on the whispered changes Apple is making under the hood.


We've already touched on the idea of the next iPhone boasting a larger screen to cash in on the trend for bigger displays we saw at MWC (think Galaxy S2, LG Optimus 3D, Acer Iconia et al.), and the problems that might cause for Apple's leviathan collection of 3.7-inch optimised apps, but this rumour is one that's gathering some momentum. Real deal or fanboy trickery? Let us know via the T3 inbox or the T3 Twitter feed.


Top UK developer, MacFormat and Tap! team up to realise amateur app designer dreams.



Would-be app millionaires big on ideas but small on technical skill will get their shot at Angry Birds-style riches with a competition from new App-centric magazine Tap! and MacFormat.
Entrants are being asked to jot down their ideas for their very own iPhone gaming app and send them over to the mag staffers for judgement. The winning entrant will have their app dreams realised by top UK indy developer Neon Play, and see their pockets lined with a tasty 25% of the profits.


Reckon you've got the creative wherewithal to shake up the world of iPhone gaming? You can read all the fine print anddownload the entry PDF from the MacFormat website.


One of the best uses for augmented reality outside shooting down TIE fighters from Star Wars leads our Fresh Apps list today: it’s Word Lens, and it’ll translate Spanish words to English, or vice versa, instantly using your iPhone’s camera. Check it and some other cool stuff out below.

Word Lens (iPhone) Free (add-ons for $4.99 each)

Word LensIn one of the coolest uses of augmented reality yet, Word Lens performs one simple but amazing function. Turn on the app and it takes control of your iPhone’s camera -- point the camera at a word on a sign, for example, and Word Lens translates it into the language you designate.
Currently there are only two available language packs, Spanish to English and English to Spanish, but more are undoubtedly on the way. Language packs will run you five bucks each, but this is a super-handy app for vacations in foreign countries. It also includes a fun demo to show off the app’s capabilities -- either reversing English words, or erasing them from objects shown by your camera.

WikiLeaks App (iPhone, iPad) $1.99

WikiLeaks AppFull access to the WikiLeaks website is available through this iOS app, allowing you to get hold of the latest in leaked government documents and other information available on the website. It’s a cool way to see what everybody on the news is talking about, straight from the source.
In addition to being able to read WikiLeaks content, you also get direct access to WikiLeaks’ Twitter feed, including items posted from Wikleaks itself and other people using the #wikileaks hashtag. And a dollar from every app purchase goes toward supporting websites that advocate Internet democracy, so you can feel good about your purchase.

Friend Update (iPhone) $1.99

Friend UpdateAdding your Twitter and Facebook accounts to Friend Update allows you to get status updates within the app -- but instead of getting all the updates from every person you follow on Twitter and ever friend you have on Facebook, Friend Update lets you choose just a small contingent of people from whom to get updates. You can also use it to simultaneously post updates and photos to Twitter and Facebook.
The app has recently been updated to run a lot better, decreasing load times and fixing counters to let you know how many updates you have yet to view. Friend Update has also been tweaked so that you can view updates when you’re offline that you’ve already downloaded, without having to reconnect to the Internet.


The new FaceTime HD camera. The difference is clear.

Get more of your friends in the picture with crisp, widescreen HD video. The new FaceTime HD camera gives you three times the resolution of the previous camera — perfect for the brilliant LED-backlit display — along with improved low-light performance. You and your friends can make 720p HD calls from one new MacBook Pro to another. You can also make video calls to other Intel-based Mac computers,4 iPhone 4 or the new iPod touch.


iPhone
The big Apple news out this week was the event that launched the new MacBook Pros--and they are certainly drool-worthy. All three new models are twice as fast as their predecessors, featuring quad-core Intel i7 processors for the 15- and 17-inch models, and dual-core i5 and i7 processors for the 13-inch models. The AMD Radeon graphics processors have been improved along with newly added Thunderbolt technology that lets you use a new port (along side your USB ports) to transfer data at up to 10GB per second. Read our full coverage here.
I'm not sure whether I'll rush out and buy one of these new MacBook Pros with theiPad 2 coming out in April, but that's mostly because I don't have as much use for the high-  powered graphics and processing power in my line of work. I also can't afford to buy both.
Are you in the market for a new laptop and thinking about getting a new MacBook Pro? Are you waiting to see what the iPad 2 will offer before pulling the trigger? Are you going to buy both? Let us know in the comments.
This week's apps include a handy image-scanning app for getting quick copies on the go and a 2D side-scrolling game where you can reverse gravity with a touch of your finger.
Genius Scan+
Drag the corners of the grid to get the perfect crop of your receipt.

Genius Scan+ ($2.99) is an excellent app for when you're away on business and need to keep track of expenses, letting you quickly use your iPhonecamera to "scan" receipts for your records. It also comes in handy for making quick copies of documents, shopping lists, or recipes, as examples, but really any time you need a quick copy, Genius Scan+ does the job well.
Upon launch, you have the option to use a picture in your iPhone library or to create a new one using the iPhone camera. Once you have your "scan," Genius Scan+ lets you crop the image using a unique interface feature that lets you drag the corners of a grid around the area of the image you want for the perfect crop. Especially handy for business travelers, Genius Scan+ makes it possible to group several of your scans on to one page making for easy organization when it's time to report your expenses.
Though the app seems like a fairly straightforward way to make copies of documents, Genius Scan+ really shines with added features to make copying and managing documents much easier. The program supports popular apps like DropBox, Elements, and Evernote, so you can sync up with other devices and computers for easy export. Along with automatic syncing with the apps listed above, Genius Scan lets you export your documents as JPEG and PDF file types, or you can simply send them via e-mail.
Among some of the other handy features, Genius Scan+ also offers page frame detection, perspective correction, and scan post-processing, so you know your results will be readable and ready to attach to your expense reports.
Overall, if you're a frequent business traveler who wants a good method to track your many receipts or if you just want a way to scan documents (or class- and meeting-room whiteboards) for later use quickly, Genius Scan+ has the right set of tools to make it easy.
Gravity Guy
As you run, you'll flip upside down to move through the complex levels.

Gravity Guy (99 cents) is a fun game that takes some ideas from the running genre of games (like Canabalt) and adds some unique features that keep the game interesting. The main game mechanic is Gravity Guy's ability to reverse gravity, letting him run upside down on platforms and then switch back when he needs to run on the ground again. The first few levels are pretty easy, but the further you get into the game will require precise gravity switches as you speed through complex courses. To add even more tension to the action, a gravity security guard chases you the entire time (he has the same gravity switching abilities as you), waiting for the slightest slip up so he can blast you.
Gravity Guy's control system involves only one thing: tapping on the screen to switch gravity. But you'll need to be careful because the only time you can switch gravity is when you are running on a platform--not while in midair. This means that if you make a mistake, you'll likely get no second chance. Fortunately, unlike other running games, Gravity Guy lets you continue from the last checkpoint, so you'll be able to try complex areas again even if you die several times trying.
Overall, Gravity Guy is a fun diversion, even if it doesn't rank up with the top games of the genre. The unique game mechanic makes for some interesting gameplay, especially at later levels, and you can also play four-player multiplayer, but you all have to play using the iPhone screen--possible, but crowded. Nevertheless, if you like running games and are ready for a unique challenge, check out this game.
What's your favorite iPhone app? Do you have another use for Genius Scan+? What do you think of Gravity Guy? Let me know in the comments!


If the calendar is about to flip over to summer, it must be time for Apple to roll out another smartphone. Just as summer 2007 saw the release of the original iPhone and last summer brought us the iPhone 3G, this year, we've got a new model to obsess over -- the iPhone 3G S.
And we won't have long to wait before this new phone winds up in our hot little hands. Apple announced the iPhone 3G S during Monday'sWorldwide Developers Conference keynote; it plans to release the iPhone 3G S next 
Can't wait until then to find out all you can about the iPhone 3G S? We've perused Apple's product pages, talked to company executives, and made some educated guesses about what you can expect from this latest addition to the iPhone family.
How is this iPhone different from the iPhone 3G?
Well, there's an "S" in the name. You noticed that, right?
Actually, as far as Apple is concerned, the S is more than just a humble naming convention. "The 'S' simply stands for speed," Apple senior vice president for worldwide product market Phil Schiller told the WWDC keynote audience, and as far as the company is concerned, that's the main selling point for the iPhone 3G S.
According to Apple, this is the fastest iPhone yet--up to two times faster and more responsive than the iPhone 3G. Specifically, Apple says that apps will launch faster and that it will take less time to jump between apps, say, by clicking a link in an e-mail to open a Web page in the mobile Safari browser. Speaking of browsing, Web pages should render faster on the iPhone 3G S, too.
How much faster? During the keynote, Schiller quoted a few numbers--loading a game was 2.4 times faster on the iPhone 3G S than on the iPhone 3G. Viewing attachments was 3.6 times faster. Loading the NYTimes.com Web page was 2.9 times faster. And so on. Of course, we'll have to wait until the new phone ships to verify these numbers or confirm if the improved performance is that noticeable.
How did Apple boost performance?
The company isn't really saying--it tends to be rather tight-lipped when it comes to the iPhone's innards. But we're reasonably confident that the iPhone 3G S sports a faster processor than its predecessor and that its operating system has access to more RAM. There could be changes to the display circuitry, too, which would account for Apple's claims that the iPhone 3G S offers a better gaming experience.--
According to T-Mobile in the Netherlands, which appears to have accidentally posted the specs for the iPhone 3G S, the latest version of the phone includes 256MB RAM, up from 128MB on the iPhone 3G, and a 600MHz processor. That would be an improvement from the 412MHz version found in the iPhone 3G.
You said "a better gaming experience"--how so?
The graphics should be more responsive. "A faster better, quicker, snappier experience," is how senior director of worldwide iPhone product marketing Bob Borchers put it to us. For starters, Apple says the new iPhone supports Open GL ES 2.0, the latest 3-D graphics API for mobile devices. But the graphics hardware itself also appears to be significantly improved. The graphics processor is reportedly theImagination Technologies PowerVR SGX, a powerful mobile chip that takes advantage of Open GL ES 2.0 to provide advanced shading and rendering capabilities. The result is an iPhone that, according to some developers, will rival dedicated gaming handhelds.
OK, so what else is different?
Just looking at the surface, not all that much. In fact, we're wiling to bet that if we set an iPhone 3G S next to an iPhone 3G, you'd be hard-pressed to tell which is which--at least until you flipped the phones over. Then, you might notice that the "fine-print" writing on the back of the phone--you know, the part that lists the phone's capacity and tells you that it's designed in California and assembled in China--is now color-matched to the silver Apple logo. The screen is covered with a new oil-resistant, or oleophobic, coating, making it easier to wipe off fingerprints. We watched an Apple executive take an iPhone 3G S and wipe it off with his shirt sleeve, something that wasn't too effective in removing smudges with earlier models.
Then again, physical changes usually aren't the focus of these iPhone updates. Apple puts its effort into upgrading the software features offered in new phones.
What are the new features in the iPhone 3G S that aren't in the iPhone 3G?
(Image Caption: The iPhone 3G S features a compass app that knows which direction you're facing.) The iPhone 3G S has a few features that you won't find in previous models. Just as the iPhone 3G added the ability to figure out your location via GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, the iPhone 3G S lets you know which direction you're pointing in via a built-in compass. The iPhone 3G could figure out which direction you were moving in by tracking you via GPS, but the iPhone 3G S will know your orientation even when you're still. This is useful for maps and GPS applications (and Boy Scouts, presumably). Who knows what clever iPhone app developers will come up with to take advantage of knowing when your iPhone is spinning and when it's still.
In addition to a new built-in Compass app, compass features are integrated into the Maps app. In Maps, tap the current location button to display where you are on the map--that's a feature you'd find with the original iPhone, the iPhone 3G, and even the iPod touch. But tap the location button again, and the map will re-orient itself to the direction you're facing. Turn east, and Maps will rotate to that direction. It should make navigation much easier.
This iPhone also supports voice control. You can now dial the phone by holding down the Home button for a couple of seconds and then commanding your iPhone to dial Joe Blow (or any other contact in the iPhone's Contacts list). You can also speak a phone number instead of a name, and Voice Control will dial that, too.
In addition, you can ask your iPhone 3G S to play music--specific songs or playlists, for example. Say "Play 'Know Your Enemy,'" and the iPhone 3G S, after repeating your command back to you, will begin playing Green Day's latest single. You ask the phone what song is playing, and it will tell you the title and artist; you can also invoke the phone's Genius feature by saying "Play more songs like this," to play songs similar to the one you're currently listening to. Voice Control supports 21 languages.
Apple has also included Nike+ functionality in the iPhone 3G S. This means that--as with the second-generation iPod touch--you don't need to attach a Nike+ dock-connector dongle to your iPhone to use it with a Nike+ sensor in your running shoes; the receiver is built into the phone (and the Nike+ app is pre-installed).
Those worried about security will be happy--perhaps even excited--to learn that the new iPhone also includes hardware-based encryption of all data on the iPhone. Combined with the new wipe-it-clean option of Find My iPhone and encrypted iPhone backups in iTunes, this means that unless you leave your iPhone unlocked without a password, your data is safe from all but the most skilled thieves.
I've heard that the camera is better in the iPhone 3G S. Is that true?
(Image Caption: The tap to focus feature lets you decide which part of the image to focus on with the iPhone 3G S's improved camera.) Yes, the iPhone 3G S's built-in camera is definitely better than what you found on previous iPhone models. It's got three megapixels of resolution, up from two megapixels in previous models. And this camera has the ability to auto-focus. Apple also says that the quality of the images it takes are generally better than the previous model, including vibrant colors and better low-light performance, and that the camera can shoot much faster than the one on previous iPhones. If you've used the camera on the existing iPhones, you know that's setting the bar pretty low.
A cool new software feature in the Camera app is "tap to focus," which lets you select what the camera focuses on. By default, the camera focuses on whatever object is in the center of the display, but if you'd like to focus elsewhere--say, an object in the background--just tap on the object on your iPhone's display. The camera not only changes the focus but also adjusts the exposure and white balance, as well. The camera also includes an auto-macro mode, allowing you to get very close to the objects you're shooting--a major failing of previous iPhone cameras.
So can this iPhone finally shoot video?
Yes, the iPhone 3G S's camera can do one other thing you couldn't do on an iPhone 3G or original iPhone--shoot movies. To be specific, that's 30fps VGA video, which you can shoot in either portrait or widescreen orientation. You use the same Camera app, which on the iPhone 3G S features a simple Still/Movie switch. In Movie mode, you start recording by tapping on a red record button that's in the exact same spot as the button that snaps still images; tap the button again to stop recording. Video is saved in the iPhone's camera roll, alongside your photos. The video-recording mode provides the same auto-focus, -exposure, and -white balance features you get when shooting stills. And yes, when you shoot video you also capture audio through the iPhone's microphone.
(Image Caption: Not only can you shoot video with the iPhone 3G S, you can trim start and stop points as well.) Once you've shot your video, you have the option to trim the beginning and end of a clip by tapping on the video to summon on-screen controls and then dragging the start and stop points with your finger. Preview your edit by tapping Play; if you like what you see, tapping the trim button saves the changes. You can then share your clips with the world via e-mail, MMS (when AT&T supports it), a MobileMe Gallery, or direct upload to YouTube.
How much does the iPhone 3G S cost?
The answer to that question is not as straightforward as you might think. The price Apple touts for the 16GB iPhone 3G S is $199; a 32GB model costs $299. And if you don't already have an iPhone--or you aren't otherwise an AT&T customer using a subsidized phone--that's the price you'll pay. If you are a current iPhone owner, though, the situation gets a little trickier because of your service contract with AT&T. How far along you are in your two-year contract--and what model iPhone you use--will determine exactly how much upgrading to an iPhone 3G S will cost you.
The basic rules in the U.S. appear to be: If you purchased the original iPhone, you're immediately eligible for "new customer" pricing (otherwise known as Apple's advertised $199 and $299 prices). If you purchased the iPhone 3G, AT&T subsidized the cost of that phone via the two-year contract you signed, so you don't get the lowest price. However, if you purchased the iPhone 3G more than a year ago--and remember, it hasn't quite been a year since the iPhone 3G's debut--you should be eligible for AT&T's "early upgrade" price on the 3G S: $299 and $399 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively So if you bought the iPhone 3G on opening day (July 11, 2008), you'll be able to buy the 3G S at a partial discount on July 11, 2009. (Note that this will require you to extend your AT&T contract until two years from the new purchase date.) If you purchased the iPhone 3G more recently, the prices are $399 and $499. Oh, and you'll also have to pay an $18 "upgrade fee" regardless of which price you're eligible for.
But wait, there's more! It's also possible to pay AT&T's $175 early-termination fee to cancel your current contract and then start over with a new contract, paying a lower price for the iPhone 3G S along with a $39 activation fee; however, there's no requirement for AT&T to treat you like a "new" customer, so this approach is risky. (Plus there's a chance you could lose your phone number.)
That seems simple enough, right? Unfortunately, the real-world experiences of Macworld's editors and readers indicate that the situation isn't quite this straightforward. AT&T uses an internal formula based on numerous factors, including your tenure as a customer, your billing plan, and your bill-paying history, to determine which upgrade price you're offered. We've seen all sorts of different prices when various members of our staff and their friends and relatives have punched in their phone numbers on Apple's Web site. You won't know what deal AT&T is offering you until you ask.
Can you explain the pricing of this phone? I got a subsidized phone last year, but am not eligible now. Can I cross-upgrade and give my 3G to my wife? If I've got an original iPhone, do I have to pay the higher upgrade price? What are AT&T's 3G S rate plans? And do I need to upgrade at the AT&T Store, the Apple Store, on the web, or somewhere else? Help!
The pricing of the iPhone 3G S has engendered a lot of strong feelings, and understandably so. We will be devoting more coverage to this issue in the days ahead. The short version of the story is, when you buy a subsidized iPhone in the U.S., AT&T is actually paying part of the cost of that phone directly to Apple. AT&T gets that money back via your phone bill over the course of a two-year contract. If you want to get a new phone within the contract period, AT&T hasn't had a chance to recoup its investment in your last phone, and things get complicated. We hope that AT&T will be working hard in the next week to better communicate what customers' options are.
We assume that if you've got a family member who is eligible for a full upgrade, AT&T will find a way to let you transfer the remaining portion of your iPhone 3G contract commitment to that person and let you do a regular upgrade to the iPhone 3G S. Or swap SIM cards after the fact. Or something. Perhaps we're too hopeful about AT&T, but given the massive amount of iPhone users on AT&T's network, we think the company will realize that allowing iPhone fanatics to upgrade in as many different ways as possible will only help its business. We shall see.
The good news about the iPhone 3G S upgrades is that they seem to be much more widely available than in the past. You seem to be able to upgrade via either Apple or AT&T's Web sites, or either company's retail stores.
I've already got an iPhone. Should I upgrade to this one?
It depends on a variety of factors. If you have an iPhone 3G, you're not going to get the special $199 and $299 prices that Apple is touting, at least not for a while. That makes the upgrade a lot less appealing. And getting an iPhone 3G S means committing to another two years of AT&T service in the U.S.
If you routinely make calls when driving, the iPhone 3G S's Voice Command feature may keep you from driving your car into a tree, by allowing you to call while keeping your eyes on the road. For many people that will be the feature that sells the phone.
But there's one vitally important thing you should keep in mind: Many of the features Apple touts in its iPhone 3G S guided tour--including copy and paste functionality, MMS support, the new Voice Memos app, and search capabilities--are part of the iPhone 3.0 software update, which is available to all iPhone owners for free starting this Wednesday, June 17. (iPod touch users will have to pay $10 to upgrade to 3.0.) So if those features are more appealing to you than the improved camera, new compass, and Voice Control feature, you're probably better off sticking with your current phone.
The upgrade story from the original iPhone is a bit stronger. Owners of original iPhones will likely be able to upgrade at the lowest prices. You'll gain GPS and access to the much faster 3G data network, as well as all the new iPhone 3G S features we detailed above. And the iPhone 3G S will offer you at least twice as much storage space as you've got now--and imagine how spacious it will feel if you go from a 4GB original iPhone to a 32GB iPhone 3G S!
So which new features are exclusive to iPhone 3G S?
Good question. From what we can tell, here's a complete list of features that are found only on the iPhone 3G S; in other words, you won't get them on your iPhone 3G by installing the iPhone Software 3.0 update:
  • The faster processor, more RAM, and new video circuitry

  • Improved battery life

  • The improved camera hardware

  • Video recording, trimming, and sharing

  • The digital compass

  • Voice Control

  • Accessibility improvements

  • Built-in Nike + iPod support

  • HSPA7.2 compatibility

  • Open GL ES 2.0

  • Hardware encryption

  • Environmental improvements

  • Will existing accessories and cases for the iPhone 3G fit the iPhone 3G S?
    Given that the form factor hasn't changed at all, cases should fit. It also appears that any dock-connector or headphone-jack accessory that works with the iPhone 3G will work with the iPhone 3G S. On the other hand, Apple has whipped out a surprise or two in the past related to new capabilities (as well as limitations) of the dock connector port, so we can't swear all dock-connector accessories will work. But the most likely scenario is that all existing accessories will work with the iPhone 3G S.
    And don't forget that one of the cool new features of iPhone Software 3.0 is the capability for iPhone software to work directly with hardware accessories. All iPhones and iPod touches should gain this functionality through the 3.0 software, but since the hardware differs between the models, we don't yet know if there will be hardware accessories that work with the 3G but not the 3G S. (We're pretty sure there will be accessories that take advantage of new hardware features of the iPhone 3G S--such as the digital compass--and thus won't work with other models.)
    When will the AT&T network support the new high-speed 7.2 HSPA network that the iPhone 3G S supports?
    According to beloved onctributor Glenn Fleishman's story explaining 7.2Mbps networking, AT&T claims that the network will start appearing on cell towers "later this year." However, the full upgrade of AT&T's 3G network won't be complete until 2011.
    No other iPhone can do Voice Control. What allows the iPhone 3G S to pull it off?
    (Image Caption: Voice control features on the iPhone 3G S let you dial phone numbers and control music playback, all with the sound of your voice.) We don't know, but we're guessing that the additional processor speed and RAM of the iPhone 3G S are what enables it to perform voice-recognition tasks, and that previous models just don't have the power to do that reliably.
    I love flash. Will this new phone run Flash? And does its camera have a flash?
    Adobe would love for Flash to run on the iPhone, but Apple has demonstrated no interest. The iPhone still doesn't run flash.
    The iPhone 3G S's camera does not have a built-in flash (just like the camera on previous iPhone models didn't have one). Given the new access that app developers have to the dock connector, perhaps some clever developer will find a way to trigger an external flash unit attached via that port. We'll see.
    Hey! I bought an iPhone 3G on May 9. Can I turn it back in for an iPhone 3G S?
    Yes, if you bought an iPhone 3G between May 9 and June 19 you can return it for a restocking fee and replace it with an iPhone 3G S.
    How does the battery life compare to the iPhone 3G?
    Apple says the battery life for the iPhone 3G S is longer than what you'd get from the iPhone 3G. Specifically, the company is promising nine hours of Internet access on Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video, 30 hours of audio playback, and 12 hours of 2G talk time. The five hours of 3G talk time on the new model is consistent with the estimated talk time of the previous iPhone 3G.
    Can we stream live video?
    Depends on what you mean. Can you stream video you're taking on the iPhone 3G S? We don't think so, though who knows what third-party apps might be able to accomplish? It's not included in the camera's basic functionality. The iPhone 3.0 does offer app developers access to streaming functionality, meaning you should be able to watch live video more readily on the iPhone in the future. But out of the box, no, live video isn't part of the base iPhone 3G S experience.
    Will the iPhone video recorder be on par with the Flip-type cameras?
    It's early days yet so we don't know how the iPhone's camera will work in low light. We do know, however, that it shoots standard-definition video only. Many (if not most) of the current generation of pocket camcorders shoot 720p high-definition video.
    Does it support A2DP and AVRCP?
    The iPhone 3G S--as well as the iPhone 3G with the iPhone Software 3.0--support A2DP, which lets you stream stereo audio over Bluetooth--for example, to headphones or speakers. It's not yet clear if either model will support AVRCP, a feature of Bluetooth that lets you control audio and video devices over Bluetooth.
    Is A2DP for all system audio, or app specific? In the Tom Tom app, can I still use a headset for hands-free?
    We're anxious to get our hands on the iPhone 3G S hardware to test this, but in the meantime, iLounge provides a summary of A2DP functionality based on the latest developer release of iPhone Software 3.0 and an iPhone 3G.
    Will the iPhone 3GS charge via FireWire again? (Hey, FireWire is back on the MacBook Pro.)
    Dare to dream, but almost certainly the answer is no. Apple switched to the USB-only method of charging in order to reduce the amount of circuitry on the interior of its devices. Accessories have been updated to use this new method. There's probably no going back.
    Can Voice Control on the 3G S be used with Bluetooth headsets?
    Voice Control is triggered by either holding the Home button down or holding down the button on your iPhone headphones. When we asked Apple executives if other devices such as Bluetooth headphones and car kits would be able to access Voice Control, they suggested that the makers of those devices would find a way to trigger that same action. That's not exactly a yes, but it's an encouraging sign.
    in a sentence, what does the S get me?
    Speed, swagger, sleek, sexy, sense-of-direction, and sinematography. It's possible that we made that last word up.
    Will the compass and GPS work even when there is no cell signal?
    Yes. As long as you're on Earth and Earth still has its magnetic field, the compass will work, though if you're standing near a giant magnet, you might get skewed results. And although the iPhone tries to use cellular signals to speed the acquisition of your location (a process called "assisted GPS"), if you're out in the backcountry and you give your iPhone enough time to find all the satellites in the sky, it will be able to pinpoint your location. (It won't, however, be able to display it on a map unless you're using an app that includes pre-loaded maps. The good news is that there are a few of those now and a lot more on the way, including both turn-by-turn direction apps and apps more oriented toward hiking and mountain biking.)
    I want to know if Apple will have a separate App Store for the 3GS apps, since they will have different features.
    Apple hasn't said anything about this. We're guessing that two things will happen: Developers will write apps that simply behave differently on the different devices, and eventually the App Store will add some sort of compatibility filter that makes it clear that certain apps only work on certain devices.
    How many minutes of video can the 32GB iPhone GS hold?
    By our back-of-the-envelope calculations, about a zillion. Seriously, it will depend on how much media you've already got loaded on the device. But a lightly-loaded 32GB iPhone should be able to capture hours and hours of standard-definition video.
    Will my old, deactivated iPhone 3G still work without AT&T service as an iPod touch?
    Yes.
    About that oleophobic coating: Will it prevent me from using protective films for the screen, or all-over treatments like InvisibleShield or BodyGuardz?
    Great question, and one for which we don't yet have an answer. Zagg, makers of the InvisibleShield protective coverings, told a Macworld reader that it'll be testing its products with this new screen as soon as it get its hands on the iPhone 3G S

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