The long-awaited 3G model, available July 11.
Australia gets the iPhone 3G on July 11 and it does indeed have quite a few improvements over the current iteration — but notable omissions have disappointed some fans.
3G is huge, of course, GPS is a welcome addition, and third-party applications are nothing to be sneezed at. Not to mention it's thinner at 115.5 millimetres by 62.1 millimetres by 12.3 millimetres, has a flush headphone jack, and just got a huge price cut. (In the US the 8GB will retail for US$199 while the 16GB will retail for US$299. Australian prices will be confirmed in the next few weeks.)
But we were expecting a lot more than what Jobs announced. Here's a short list of what we wanted from the second-gen iPhone, but just didn't get.
- Multimedia messaging — Almost every other cell phone in the market has the ability to send images to other cell phones via multimedia messaging, or MMS. Yes you can still e-mail those photos, but MMS is such a basic feature that it should've been in the iPhone from the start.
- Copy and paste — Again, this is such a basic feature. Having copy and paste makes it easier to type out text messages and e-mails.
- Video recording — In the world of mobile video, Qik, and YouTube, it's a shame the iPhone doesn't have video-recording capabilities. Yes the quality wouldn't be that great, but it should be an option anyway.
- Voice command — For a touch-screen phone, we think voice command and voice dialing would've been a great feature add-on for the iPhone. Perhaps this will be added via a third-party app, but we would really prefer this to be a native setting.
- Bluetooth flexibility — Right now, all you can use Bluetooth on the iPhone for are headset voice calls, and that's it. This is sufficient for most people, sure, but we would like for Apple and AT&T to open up the Bluetooth profiles for the iPhone. This means we would like stereo Bluetooth and A2DP for streaming music wirelessly, Bluetooth tethering so we can use the iPhone as a modem, and finally we would like to have Bluetooth file-transfer protocol so we can transfer files to and from the iPhone.
These are just a few omissions we could think of. Did the iPhone 3G meet your expectations, or would you rather it have a few more features? Let us know in the comments!
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
Lazymonkey44
10/06/2008 08:19 AM
Maybe some of this will be fixed buy developers making applications that tell it do do these things?
Report offensive content
dan_rox77
10/06/2008 09:08 AM
@Lazymonkey44, that's what I was thinking - and I sure hope so. Also, what about video calling? Yes, a lot of people Down Under don't use it much, but it should be included since some people actually do use it. Also, when you mention "3G", one of the first things that comes to mind is Video Calls....I wonder if anyone will make apps to take advantage of the camera bit more..
Report offensive content
cheekymonkey
10/06/2008 09:13 AM
I use Bluetooth every day to transfer files, and No MMS thats kinda sad because Wi Fi around Australia is very expensive for most not to mention a pretty sad network that needs to get with the times, Video recording is another thing that we all need you never know when Paris is around?
Report offensive content
Jeremy Roche
10/06/2008 10:00 AM
Would have liked to see a higher res camera. 2-megapixel cams have been out for years.
Report offensive content
yellowshirts
10/06/2008 10:04 AM
ahahahah ayayyayayaayyayaya homg yay :D screw mms i dont use it it has html email
Report offensive content
Ryan
10/06/2008 12:47 PM
I know you won't be able to use Bluetooth to use the phone as a modem, but will you be able to use a usb cable?
Report offensive content
Jacton
10/06/2008 05:00 PM
Does it have the ability to forward text messages? The first one didn't.
Report offensive content
gaiabloke
10/06/2008 07:10 PM
I'm still uninspired by the Job's jigger! I shall have to fess-up to being a Sony Ericsson stalwart, therefore I'm patiently wating for the X1 .... A truly fantastic device.
Report offensive content
brennanc
10/06/2008 07:27 PM
I am shocked to learn that the bluetooth is so limited on the iPhone! I use it everyday to share music, pictures and other files with my friends. Surely you can do this with the iPhone and i have just misinterpreted the article.
Report offensive content
bleach1st
10/06/2008 08:07 PM
wow scary... i thought they would have all been just givens in a mobile these days... no MMS or video recording..? Yve gotta be kidding, right? That crazy... I better look at the tech specs a bit closer before I decide to hand over the cash... :/
Report offensive content
david_sthlm
10/06/2008 09:33 PM
I am extremely disappointed. Living in Sweden, I have been waiting for a 3G version here all year. (never mind we have Turbo3G here at 2x 3G speeds) I expected Apple to deliver an Iphone which would remain competitive for at least the first year of a two year subscription agreement. A 2.0MP camera without video wasn't a competitive feature last year and is a deal breaker for me now. MMS, Bluetooth and "profiles" features lacking, plus with memory being equaled or bested by other more flexible platformed brands, I will go back to waiting until I enter my next wireless agreement plan. I'm not waiting on Apple for my next phone, but on any phone with a complete set of features for the next two years of a wireless plan.
Report offensive content
Borys Pawliw
10/06/2008 10:10 PM
One great thing to have would have been a removable battery, another is a full QWERTY keypad, as in the HTC Raphael. But considering the price, this hardly matters. 10 million units shipped by years end sounded a little out there...now, it seems that number is not so much doable as pessimistic...
Report offensive content
xX-hazz-Xx
11/06/2008 07:52 PM
omg wth as if there is no bluetooth, i want to buy it but if it has no bluetooth then well............... maybe not, and that means no file sharing with other iPhone and phones.
Report offensive content
Slam
12/06/2008 08:40 AM
For Apple, all of these shortcomings in a standard build iPhone are just "3rd Party opportunities". If it really is worth it then someone will just build it and if there is money in it Apple might even help them! lol
Report offensive content
Wolfcat
12/06/2008 11:34 AM
There are no third party solutions for the bluetooth problem.. it is a hardware limitation.
Report offensive content
Neonlight
13/06/2008 06:39 PM
Doesn't look all that impressive when you look at other 3G phonse out there with Bluetooth file transfer, >2 Mpixels Camera, MMS, Battery that can be replaced yourself. You are only getting it for the battery life and big touch screen.
Report offensive content
gary
15/06/2008 12:07 AM
And video chat function, this is the most attactive feature for me.
Report offensive content
xX-hazz-Xx
15/06/2008 10:32 PM
i read on this article IT HAS BLUETOOTH!!!!!!!!!!!! AND ON THE APPLE SITE ON A SCREEN SHOT IN THE CORNER OF THE IPHONE IT HAS A BLUETOOTH ICON
Report offensive content
dougy
16/06/2008 09:31 PM
Anything that makes telephone calls and integrates flawlessly with itunes AND outlook will make all other phones look stupid. Period. Didn't anyone realise that you will soon be able to download any song/video clip, or full length movie on the iphone..and watch it on a screen that seems like HD? Sell your TV and get an iphone - its all about the content...tv sucks, every single song and movie ever made doesn't suck....simple right?
Report offensive content
Andrew
18/06/2008 04:42 PM
The new iPhone is lacking so many features. Picture messaging, video recording, not video calls, only 2mp camera, no cammera flash & the bluetooth is near useless... what was Apple thinking!!!! such a big let down, but knowing Apple there will be a new model out for x-mas
Report offensive content
Ten
18/06/2008 06:14 PM
im confused about the bluetooth on the new iphones?? will i say...be able to bluetooth a picture i just took with my iphone to a different phone??? and will i b able to do the same kind of thing with my computer???
Report offensive content
mickewans
24/06/2008 02:50 PM
Its also missing flash, so a large proportion of Websites and video files can not be viewed. However there is reason to the Iphones missing features... MONEY... Apple have effectively through controle of file upload, bluetooth, no flash, and no MMS closed the app to content providers for ringtones, music, games and videos getting onto their phone, instead for all your content (unless you crack it) you will need to go to the itunes, appstore and pay on apples terms. This must be a very scary situation for telstra and 3 who are very content hvy in their business model, and ohhhh look are not selling the iphone on their plans. Its also a scary prospect for the likes of Jamster, Dada and Mobileactive who on sell ringtone and game content and cant sell to the iphone users of tomorrow.
Report offensive content
MooCowMedia
11/07/2008 05:51 PM
I was already to buy Iphone today, and then found out that it doesn't support mms..I need that for my business. So it looks like i will be waiting for the new Blackberry, due out soon
Report offensive content
BEEFSTA
14/07/2008 05:47 PM
I was almost going to switch from Nokia's and Sony's now, I won't even consider it, NO MMS - thats Outrageous, crap camera, no video camera, Ahh NO VIDEO CALLING AND CONFERENCING, I need that for work, People give this phone a miss and wait for the W960i, N96 or C905
Report offensive content
Remo Caione
27/08/2008 01:03 PM
How do you forward a text message?
Report offensive content