Apple iPhone 3G’s third sensor revealed – another proximity sensor
By Will Park on Friday, June 13th, 2008 at 1:27 PM PST In Announcements, Apple, iPhone, iPhone OS
That’s right. All the rumors and speculation sparked by iPhone 3G case manufacturers leaving extra room for a mysterious third sensor near the iPhone 3G’s earpiece have proven grossly inaccurate. Such is the rumor-game.
Rumors were pointing towards the third sensor as being a front-facing video-call camera, and there was even a skilled counterfeit of the iPhone 3G that circulated the interwebs showing a video-call in progress. Turns out, that was all a bunch of hooey. 
The third sensor on Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s iPhone 3G has been revealed, and it seems that it’s nothing more than an additional proximity sensor. The proximity sensor on the original iPhone was used to detect close-contact with a user’s face – serving to turn off the display to prevent an accidental key-press and help extend battery life. Apparently, the single proximity sensor on the iPhone wasn’t enough to ensure consistent face-detection, so Apple decided to add another proximity sensor.
In the end, the lack of a front-facing camera really isn’t all that disappointing. Especially considering video-calling’s lackluster popularity and dearth of users.
[Via: iLounge]
I see little value in video conferencing. It would be nice to have a video camera to capture movies. I just got my iPhone and I love it. Go Steve!
In addition to a video camera it would be nice if Apple added cut & paste, MMS, a replaceable battery, expandable memory, push email that actually works all the time, and fixes the dropped calls and lost 3G signals in major cities. Or Apple can just release another flashy add-on that distracts iPhanatics from the core deficiencies.
my iphone 3g sucks. I cant put off the phone after calling a friend as its screen goes black which doesn’t even come back even after pressing the home button. I have to press the switch off button to cut out the call to save my balance.
Tried restoring to factory level a week ago and still happens the same. There is no applications loaded apart from the default ones.
Any help on this.
You may have the same problem that I had if you are using a poorly designed case or if you are holding it while coverin prt off the face of teh phone. The top part of the phone has a proximity sensor near the ear speaker opening in the black area. If that is covered, while a call is in progress, your phone thinks its up against your head and turns off both the illumination and touch screen function of the screen prevent incidental touch between screen/face contact points. This due to the fact that the first modles had screens used to allow your cheek to activate functions inadvertently. I had to cut away the case where it covers the uper left side of the phone. An amazingly simple 30 second fix, problem solced.