My thoughts on the iPhone 3G
How do you one-up a revolutionary mobile device? You don’t. At least for now when other manufacturers are trying to catch up to Apple’s iPhone. The first generation iPhone was revolutionary due to its incredible integration of different applications. For example, using the Google Maps application, one can find directions to a restaurant and with one touch, could either call the establishment or bring up its web site. The multi-touch capabilities were also revolutionary compared to other mobile devices.
Other revolutionary concepts of the iPhone:
- Multi-touch interface - zoom in and out on webpages and images
- Accelerometer - Auto-detect in landscape or portrait mode for integrated camera and web browsing
- Safari browser - First (nearly) full-featured web browser on a mobile device
- Smart virtual keyboard - Its ability to learn a person’s typing is uncanny and its “trust in the Force” mentality is a nice nod to Star Wars fans
- Minimal hardware buttons - Features and applications can be modified and installed through software updates, which can be tied to virtual buttons/icons
While the first generation iPhone was revolutionary, the second generation, the iPhone 3G, is not. It merely builds upon the original device. This is not to say I don’t like the new version, I really do, but anyone who has the first version is just as well off as owners of the 3G one.
The only major new change of the iPhone 3G that I really like is the curved plastic back. While I initially thought the change to plastic was a step back, it’s actually really good. The curved mold feels more natural in the hand while the plastic makes the iPhone less slippery and lighter. Many people may like the flushed headphone jack but it doesn’t look as sleek as the first device. I’m also biased because the headphones I had bought actually fit in the first generation’s jack out-of-the-box. The new 3G speed is wonderful but eats through the battery like crazy. Not a problem in the office or at home due to easy power connection, but out and about folks might have concerns and of course, what’s supposed to help such folks out (e.g. no Wi-Fi) actually hurt them more. Until turn-by-turn vocal directions can be integrated, the GPS isn’t all that special. It’s nifty to look at the dot move on the map as you move, but doesn’t provide much practical application… yet. I haven’t explored geo-tagging images, so that might be interesting.
The most major update to the iPhone is via the 2.0 firmware, which nearly puts the first generation iPhones on par with this later version. If you’re new to the iPhone craze, a 3G is a good choice. However, if you can get a really good deal on a first gen, I’d suggest going that route, especially if you’re not an AT&T customer that’s eligible for a device upgrade.
