In an effort to show devs just how many fat wads of cash they can make working on the iPhone platform, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) set up this impressive display at WWDC which shows a colour-organized grid of iPhone apps that blip whenever someone downloads them. Those ones that ping over and over again would be your beer, lighter, and/or fart apps, although it’s probably not really “live from the App Store” as captioned, and those repeats are just catching up from lag. By my count, you’ve got about 25 by 45 apps per screen, across 20 screens, which works out to roughly 22,500 apps represented here – a number we think that was surpassed in March, but still a sample big enough to really wow passersby.
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 (NSDQ: AAPL)’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
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?
iPhone tethering got the green light at WWDC today, but with a big fat disclaimer: “subject to carrier approval”. They showed some of the carriers who would be supporting the feature, such as Rogers (NYSE: RCI), butAT&T was not on the list. This is a huge blow to the iPhone’s biggest market, but it seems likely that tethering functionality will come in due time (namely once AT&T (NYSE: T) manages to build up their network to support such a boost in demand).
iPhone tethering has been a long time coming for the iPhone, and the wait seems to have been worth it (almost). The iPhone OS 3.0 will support iPhone tethering over both wired USB or Bluetooth, which means you can get your iPhone-tethered data-fix at your convenience.
Again, look for AT&T to support iPhone tethering once the No. 2 US wireless carrier has finished upgrading its 3G network to handle all the extra data-traffic that an iPhone-tethering solution is likely to generate. At least we have the Verizon MiFi 2200 to hold us over…
WorldMate Live, one of my favourite travel applications for BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM), has made the jump to iPhone just in time for WWDC. WorldMate Live lets you check flight statuses, manage iteneraries, search for new flights, convert currency, and plenty of more handy utilities. Their promo video takes a great jab at the masses of useless applications out there for iPhone, and how WorldMate sticks out from the rest. A version for Symbian just came out of testing earlier this year, and their Windows Mobile app has been available for long before that. Free and premium version are available, just go to WorldMate Live to check out the differences, or hit up iTunes to check it out now.
This is a concept, a mockup, a fake. But it sure does look pretty!
As much as we’d like our headlines to read without question marks, everything we’re seeing and hearing about the new iPhone is still just speculation. Come tomorrow morning, at Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s WWDC 2009 keynote, we’ll know which rumors panned out and which rumors sank like a rock. Until then, rumors are all we have to go on.
The latest rumblings along the iPhone grapevine have Apple getting ready to introduce their next-generation iPhone as the iPhone3GS. No, that’s not a typo. Daring Fireball is predicting the next iPhone’s model name will be the iPhone 3GS – more of an upgraded “step up” from the current iPhone 3G than a radically iPhone.
John Gruber predicts that the new iPhone 3GS will double-up on processor speed, RAM and on-board storage. The iPhone 3GS will be offered at $199 and $299 price-points for the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS, respectively. The lower-priced iPhone, according to Gruber, will end up being the current 8GB iPhone 3G – priced at just $99. We may even see the new iPhone price go live on Monday (but that would kill all hopes for an iPhone Nano).
The iPhone 3GS – it’s only a matter of hours before we know for sure. Keep checking back with IntoMobile as we bring you live coverage of the WWDC keynote tomorrow morning at 10AM PST (Pacific Standard Time).
