Apple's iPhone 3G S Incremental Improvements Are Revolutionary

Apple (AAPL) launched the iPhone 3G S Friday. Customers lined up outside stores to get this new version of Apple's popular smart phone. Most lines were shorter than the initial launch of the iPhone, but many locations around the US reported selling out. I tried this phone out over the weekend.

The "S" in iPhone 3G S stands for speed. Apple promises the new phone is faster than the first two versions. The 3G S comes in two versions with a required 2-year contract with AT&T (T):

1. one with 16 gigabytes of memory for $199, and
2. one with 32 gigabytes for $299.

Apple and AT&T say user applications should open faster and internet pages should load more quickly with the increased memory and the new software.

The new phone has:

• Improved speed, "up to 2x" faster.
  
  • It still felt too slow to me compared to other smart phones I've tested, especially loading this blog. Perhaps this was AT&T's fault for poor coverage. My regular cell phone on AT&T's Cingular network often has trouble getting an open line at this location.
• An upgraded 3-Megapixel camera with built-in autofocus.
  
  • We took a picture in difficult lighting and emailed it over the internet this AM. It was so easy to do it blew me away. The camera automatically reduced the resolution of the photo so it looked good on the receiving end with only a 91KB file size!
• The ability to capture and edit VGA video in either portrait or landscape mode.
  
  • We shot a short video documenting us testing smoke detectors in all rooms of a house we are selling to show we meet CA law. The camera had no trouble adjusting to lighting in dim hallways to bright bedrooms. Amazing performance for secondary feature.
• Voice control for contacts and music.
• A built-in digital compass that can automatically reorient maps to match the direction you’re facing.
  
  • Valuable if it allows you to not have to own a separate GPS device.
• Cut, copy and paste between applications. Upload them to the web also.
• Keyboard operates in landscape mode for larger key pads as well as original portrait mode.
  
  • A nice upgrade but some of us are still used to real keypads.
• Internet Tethering. You can share the 3G connection on your iPhone with your Mac notebook or PC laptop. This feature is currently not available in the US.
  
  • I'd buy the phone if it gave me the same speed as my hard wired DSL connection for the added price of what I pay for DSL. That would allow dropping DSL at no extra cost. Perhaps AT&T will have tiers with $30 data plan the slow, low bandwidth version and charge more for internet tethering and nearly unlimited use. Of course, someone will abuse it watching videos so I don't think I'll replace my DSL land line anytime soon.

I heard radio interviews with people at Apple stores. Many said they wanted the phone so they can take, edit and upload videos to the internet like this powerful video from Iran: Powerful Video Poem from the Rooftops of Iran. People are paying a premium to have a voice. To be heard. Sometimes, as the video from Iran shows, what they say, despite amateur production, is quite moving and powerful.

Revolution is in the air and Apple's new iPhone 3G S makes it easier to be a revolutionary!

Disclaimers: None. I have no position in Apple or AT&T stock. I prefer to invest in those who will help them deliver better service so web pages and videos don't take so long to load compared to DSL over land lines.

Comments

[mollytjm:]

i don't know where you connect, but web pages load instantly on my iPhone and i have the 3g with the new 3.0 download. And i LOVE 'find my phone', which also allows you to set a pass code, and if your phone is lost or stolen, you can remotely wipe your personal data from it. If the phone is recovered, everything is backed up anyway, just plug and sync to your computer.
There's just so much that's great about this phone... the least of which is that it's a phone!

Jun 22 09:20 AM