You’ve probably already heard and read a ton of comments and reviews on this new phone available from Apple with service from AT&T Wireless, but I’d like to add my voice to that bunch. If you don’t know what the iPhone is, click here to learn more. In a nutshell, the iPhone is an absolute all-in-one entertainment/enterprise computer phone with an impressive array of features (including an amazing finger-touch interface) barely matched, if at all, by any other current phone. The ‘iPhone 3G’ is the next-gen upgrade to the original iPhone released in 2007.
For the most part, I absolutely love this device. I was somewhat interested in the original iPhone but the new model finally tipped the scale for me and even caused me to switch from Verizon to AT&T. If you’ve been reading my posts for a while you already know how much I dislike Apple, Inc. as a company (due to some of their controlling practices), but with this device I think they actually did something semi-right!
The upgraded model was released in July 2008 featuring “3G” data/internet speed among other various changes and improvements, including a dramatically reduced price (with 2-year contract). The increased data speed allows for faster downloads and internet loading in areas with coverage. When 3G is not available, the AT&T’s 2G ’Edge’ network takes over for acceptable speed. Other upgrades with the 3G model include a new-style black or white backplate (in addition to some other cosmetic changes), slightly improved call quality, enhanced GPS hardware, the addition of the 2.0 firmware (adding some cool features even to the original iPhone), and more.
With the iPhone 3G I literally have the world in my pocket. The device features Safari, a Mac-based full internet browser that integrates wonderfully well with the touch and zoom interface. Many other native tools are included such as a a full featured iPod Touch, world clock, YouTube search/viewer, scientific calculator, integrated webmail access, calendar, Google Maps/GPS, stocks, weather, camera/photos, SMS texting with messages shown in conversation format, and countless others. The ‘App Store’ is also included which features on-the-go access to thousands of both free and priced applications by third-party developers, which can be reviewed by users beforehand and seamlessly installed/uninstalled at will. The potential of this phone is virtually limitless.
The phone does have its setbacks, however, as it cannot currently do picture/video messaging, voice dialing, or record video, but these can (and in some cases already have been) fixed by downloadable applications. Some users may elect to ‘unlock’ the phone, which allows for usage of the phone on other SIM-card based phone carriers such as T-Mobile and usage of unnofficial programs, some of which have already added the above features, but unlocking it will void the phone’s 1-year warranty (though this doesn’t seem to bother the majority of unlockers).
There really is nothing cooler than being on a road trip (with someone else driving, of course!) and being able to listen to my favorite songs while at the very same time checking my e-mail, stocks, Facebook profile, answering calls, and even writing blog posts… all with my fingertips! If you have already been thinking of getting an iPhone, now is the time to cross the bridge and upgrade with the new 3G model. The original one is basically the same though, so if you can find one of those cheaper on eBay or elsewhere, it is a good choice as well.
Finally the world is getting a real taste of all-in-one tech sweetness!
Posted by N. Palmer 
