Does this morning feel like Christmas morning to anybody else? Did anyone else have trouble falling asleep last night waiting for Jobs to announce the second coming of the Jesus phone?
The worst kept secret in technology — Apple's 3G iPhone — was announced this morning while we slept (well, most of us). The ever-slimming Apple CEO Steve Jobs made the announcement to open this year's Apple Worldwide Developers Conference and detailed some of the goodies we can expect to find gift-wrapped in the glossy plastic shell. He also announced that the new iPhone will be available in a bunch of countries including Australia on July 11.
3G data speeds and GPS location services are the stand-out improvements, and with the current trends in mobile devices, they are "no-brainers" according to Jobs. Everyone hoping for truly mind-bending changes like nifty new motion-sensitive navigation or holographic video-calling will have to wait until the new Star Trek movie to see that type of tech in action.
A few key specs remain the same, despite rumours of them having been adjusted. The iPhone still features a flash-less 2-megapixel camera, but in combination with the GPS chip the iPhone can now geo-tag your photos. The 3.5mm headphone jack now sits flush against the handset making it possible to use any common headset with the phone.
The biggest surprise, and the most welcomed for some, is Apple's new iPhone pricing. In fact, the only part of this announcement which rings of "Jesus phone version 2" is the loaves-and-fishes price point of US$199 for the 8GB model, and US$299 for the 16GB heavyweight which also comes in white.
For the white sheet scanners amongst you, detailed specs for the second-gen iPhone are as follows:
- 115.5x62.1x12.3mm
- 133 grams
- UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100MHz)
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz)
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
- 3.5-inch Multi-Touch display (480x320)
- Assisted GPS
- 2-megapixel camera with geo-tagging
- 3.5mm headphone input port
- Battery life: 5 hours (3G), 300 hours standby, 24 hours audio playback
There is a few notable absences from this list, particularly a front-facing camera for video-calling and A2DP stereo Bluetooth for pairing Bluetooth stereo headphones to the phone.
Australian pricing is yet to be announced, but both Australian carriers Vodafone and Optus have indicated that the iPhone will be available on prepaid plans. Eager beavers wanting to express their interest can do so on either the Vodafone or Optus websites.
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col
10/06/2008 09:20 AM
Bad luck to those who couldnt wait for the 2nd version , your stuck with the old one now , we are lucky here as late adopters we get the better deal and most of the bugs fixed,hopefully.
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Doug
10/06/2008 09:52 AM
I registered on that link with Optus. There is no link back to Optus and no link to it from Optus and when I registered the return email was from the domain www.wealthpoint.com.au. I think I can expect to receive Viagra emails in my inbox now :(
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daniels.aus
10/06/2008 09:54 AM
I'm locked into a contract with 3 waaaaahh i don't wanna unlock one and then have it stuff up on me.
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Ella Morton
10/06/2008 10:58 AM
Hi Doug, The Optus registration link was provided in an official Apple press release today, so it's an Apple-approved URL.
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Ryan
10/06/2008 12:45 PM
Does anyone know if you will be able to use the iPhone as a 3G Modem for your laptop ? Or should that be added to a list of features that are missing (which seems to be a fairly large list)
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mainframe
10/06/2008 12:49 PM
just did the $100 optus deposit dealy....wooo!!! a month to wait until i have my very own jesusphone :D
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warren_s
10/06/2008 01:28 PM
one has to wonder how Optus can refer to the future 98% coverage of their 3G network in a press release about the iPhone, when they are achieving that with 900MHz HSDPA outside of metro areas. Because you know what's missing from the iPhone? 900MHz HSDPA support according to the Apple site. Sure Optus might be aiming for 98% 3G coverage in 2009, but in areas that only have 900MHz, your iPhone is going to be just another iPod.
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chris
10/06/2008 03:25 PM
hey listen col - you know you always wanted one (as I stroke my 1st gen baby) in effect there's not that much in this 3G version that makes me think it would have been better to wait. I find that EDGE is plenty fast enough to access my email and weather, that's about all I want to do with a small screen device. And the first gen version has a "locate me" function which works fine, GPS will be better, but not hugely.
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TimHAwkes
10/06/2008 05:40 PM
Hold on its 199au because i watched the video at 199 wordwide cnettv.com
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MitchjBrock
10/06/2008 06:29 PM
I akways wanted one, jest didn't wont too pay the high price for the first one. I told every one I know to wait for a while and the price will go way down. I bet your glad you waited.
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admire
10/06/2008 06:35 PM
Impressive effort but still doesn't beat the htc latest competitors as far as I'm concerned. Until the iphone starts running windows mobile applications, I'll stick to htc.
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brennanc
10/06/2008 08:23 PM
Doug- I think you got an email from wealthpoint because at the bottom of the optus iphone webpage it says that it is Powered by WealthPoint's CustomerConnect for Optus. I was a little suspicious at first as well but i think its ok
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charlie4444
10/06/2008 08:23 PM
Admire, the whole reason many of us get the iPhone is to stay away from Windows programs. Windows mobile = no thank you!
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Insomnia Design
11/06/2008 09:42 AM
Steve Jobs has promised global price parity for the iPhone 2.0, so expect to see the iPhone selling in Aus for AUD$199 for the 8GB and AUD$299 for the 16GB!
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badapples
11/06/2008 04:13 PM
As it should be Insomnia Design. Until there is parity on the rest of Apples products, my wallet votes for PC only.
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sexy_shazam
11/06/2008 09:18 PM
if the touch can have a 32gb hdd why dont they make a 32gb iphone? after all a 32gb touch and iphone would be about the same size.
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Ziggy
11/06/2008 10:53 PM
Hey, I'd just like to clear up a tiny misconception everyone has. As apparent the general media has too. It's only $199 for the 8GB and $299 in the US because it's SUBSIDISED. There is no way to purchase one in North American without 24 month contract. This means for Apple it doesn't matter even if you jailbreak it after, as they're receiving the rest of the cost of the iPhone from the contract. In shorter terms, you can not purchase an iPhone for just $199 and do whatever, it's attatched to a 24 month contract. It may also be $199 and $299 here too but obviously you'd have to be taking a contract too, or the phone may cost $0 upfront but you'd have to pay $70 (as with current BlackBerry plans at Vodafone) monthly for 24 months. Prepaid options will definitely cost a lot more as you're not taking a contract and the cost of the iPhone may not made back from recharges. If you still think the iPhone 3G will definitely be $199 and $299, think about the current iPod touch prices which are at $400 for the 8GB model and $500 for the 16GB model. Who in their right mind would purchase an iPod touch over an iPhone?
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H-Bomb
15/06/2008 10:37 PM
Yes Steve Jobs said $199 worldwide so why is OPTUS and Vodafone being so secretive I will be going to the ACCC if they do not honour this price even if it is just a dollar conversion. Note watch the end of the WWDC 2008 Keynote you will hear Steve himself say $199
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MB
16/06/2008 01:42 PM
With all the great things its hard to believe you can't do simple things like use blue tooth to send a photo to another phone for example!
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erinsimons
16/06/2008 03:58 PM
H-bomb, why not go and buy it from Japan for 199 Yen then, that should be about $US 2! I don't think the ACCC will waste their time even replying to you. I can promise you it WON'T be $199 in Australia.
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Red_Deadly
19/06/2008 02:08 AM
Erinsimons he did say $199 dollars with dollar sign...which means 199 US globally pricing upon conversions to different currencies....True it won't be $199 cause of conversions. Erinsimons I don;t want to offend you but you are very well...stupid.
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FMK2106
29/06/2008 11:02 PM
Its not gonna be AUD199. its gonna be US199 converted to AUD price. which is about AUD210.
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Go Sydney FC
04/07/2008 11:30 AM
what kind of a top class phone cant do mms/bluetooth, and is flash-less with only a 2MP camera?!? until apple can match the standards of other phones and fix up their evergrowing list of "cant do this" then i reckon sony ericssons Walkman series is the way to go
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slooby
09/07/2008 02:46 PM
To buy outright from Optus expect to pay $729 for the 8GB model and $849 for 16GB. And forget them waiving any current contract fees owing, if you are in a contract, expect to have to pay them out to get an iPhone on a plan to keep your current phobe number. What a complete rip-off!!
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Johnoh
12/07/2008 02:14 AM
If anyone can clear my problem i'll be so greatful.... i'm with 3 and can i just use my current prepaid card in the iphone that i buy on no contract? will there be any problems with itunes and stuff that won't work?
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ryan mcdonald
11/10/2008 04:47 PM
iphones are ****
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