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Apple Announces iPhone 3GS – 3 Megapixel Camera, Magnetometer, Video Recording, Voice Control and More

By: , IntoMobile
Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 1:39 PM

It looks just like your old iPhone, only it’s more awesome. WWDC’s biggest announcement has been made, and it’s for the next generation iPhone, dubbed the iPhone 3GS. (Hint: the S stands for sexy.. or maybe just speed).

Apple’s announcement today of the iPhone 3GS effectively relegates the iconic iPhone 3G (8GB) to lower-tier status as a $99 entry-level iPhone. What makes the new iPhone 3GS the new hotness worthy of replacing the iPhone 3G?

Let us count the ways:

  • The iPhone 3GS boasts an upgraded 3.0-megapixel camera with autofocus (tap-to-focus)
  • We’re finally able to record true-blue video at 30 FPS – videos can be editing on the iPhone 3GS, with support for one-touch video uploading to YouTube
  • The new iPhone 3GS features Voice control – control playlists and make phone calls with your voice
  • A digital compass allows for more accurate position data and turn-by-turn GPS
  • Much faster processor and 256MB RAM allows for at least 2x times speed increases when running native iPhone apps
  • iPhone 3GS comes pre-loaded with OS 3.0 goodies like cut and paste, universal search, stocks, and voice memos
  • MMS via AT&T later this summer
  • Tethering via everybody else but AT&T
  • Nike+ integration
  • Battery life improved: 9 hours of WiFi use, 10 hours of video watching, 30 hours of audio listening, 12 hours of 2G talk time

You can get the full spec rundown over here. To ditch antiquated stock mark the new iPhone dawn, Apple has slashed the price of the iPhone 3G to $99 and $149.

The iPhone 3GS, however, will be available June 19th for $299 for the 32GB model, and $199 for 16GB model, both available on preorder from AT&T starting tonight. Canada, France, Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland should also have the iPhone 3GS available for June 19th. All in all, it looks like a solid incremental upgrade for the iPhone, if nothing mind-blowingly new. 

Those who are still rocking the original iPhone will be feeling the squeeze to upgrade to the 3GS, but even then, the operating system upgrade to version 3.0 will probably be enough to sate most users.  What do you guys think of the new iPhone? Is a smoother experience and a new camera worth the money? Does video recording, turn-by-turn GPS navigation and improved battery life make the iPhone 3GS worthy of the $199 price-tag?

About The Author

Simon Sage

Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.

  • Colby

    Will iPhone 3G users be able to upgrade to the 3G S for free?

  • tkemp

    wow, well i guess, if thats what u consider a better phone, it looks just like the first one to me, now that touch pro 2, what a difference now thats a phone change, not just a simple old OS change, but if the apple is for u, go ahead and get it, i’m waiting on that touch pro 2, is anyone else on the same page as me.

  • ktwbc1

    -Will iPhone 3G users be able to upgrade to the 3G S for free?-

    Yes (and I think $29 upgrade for iTouch users). Obviously any new features that require the new hardware (i.e. compass, autofocus camera) won’t work, and the speed increases are all hardware, but other software features such as the copy/paste, background push notification, etc should all be available.

  • Nick

    Can’t wait for the Touch Pro2 to arrive in US. Never touch the iPhone. It could not even do the business of what the Balckjack I, II and my current Epix could. The world just learned of mobile apps with the iPhone when I have had apps since the iPaq in 1990.

    Welcome to the ’90s iPhone-ee.

  • Mike

    I had an iPaq too and the apps were CRAP!

  • Kent Jeeffrey

    WHY doesn’t 3.0 include video, voice control, and a compass for the 3G? I know third-party apps for video are available. At least that should be provided by Apple as a stand-alone, free app.

  • wrong

    Ktwbc1… thats wrong!
    apple is just selfish and wil not include the voice control, compas and autofocus camera!
    they just want to make money…
    that is why they made a new iphone !

    believe me, i know !

    I have an iphone 3g and i know what you can do and not do on an iphone 3g….

    the only difference between an iphone 3g and iphone 3gs is that the iphone 3gs has a better camera and that it is 2x faster than the iphone 3g ..

    If you want apple to made a new upgrade with all the apps and new things……..
    Copy and paste if you want all the apps that 3gs has in a new upgrade made by apple..
    copy and paste around the web to apple se the message and do something about it…
    or you can send support message with this message to apple……

    one word to apple!
    Selfish, selfish, selfish, selfish, selfish, selfish!!!!!!!

  • Help me copy and paste please!

    copy and paste around the web if you want apple to make an upgrade with all the new apps!
    2 words: Apple, Selfish..