Recently, of course, there was the Apple event of the year when the company opened its World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco amidst copious rumours about new product announcements especially centring the iPhone. As expected, Apple revealed the iPhone 3G S, which is basically the iPhone 3.25G.
Before and since then I have been completely obsessing over this thing, which isn’t going to revolutionise my life but is still very exciting for this Apple and gadget lover. Plus, I’ve been waiting to get one again since I sold my first generation one and especially since arriving in Japan almost a year ago.
My top reasons for excitement are:
- The free Japanese-English dictionary apps designed for English speakers.
- Consolidating my iPod and phone into one device that also significantly decreases the need to carry my laptop and direct synchronisation with the contacts and calendars on my computer.
- Boundless and full web site Internet access regardless of where I’m located as long as there’s mobile phone service, and wireless service compatibility in many more countries.
The iPhone 3G S looks from the outside precisely the same as the previous model, but the S is for Speed, and that’s speed in processing and downloads. It has:
- Twice as fast downloads 7.2 Mbps, thanks to newer wireless tech.
- A zippier interface thanks to faster processors for launching and using applications and loading web pages.
- Video recording and editing capabilities with a better camera, a digital compass for maps and turn-by-turn navigation, voice control, larger data storage capacity, and more.
I have been counting down the days to the June 26 release date (in Japan), jealous for all those getting theirs in the States a week earlier. I’m really hoping that the Fukuoka store will have their set on time and that it won’t be sold out by the time I arrive that evening, which I optimistically doubt. Unfortunately they don’t seem to be taking pre-orders in Japan.
This new iPhone isn’t much different from the last, and it’s not really a new generation. The next generation one should arrive next year or the year after, with my bets going to the latter — And it won’t have a significant cosmetic change until then.
This is contingent on next-generation mobile phone technology being deployed in the United States. Right now (summer 2009) AT&T Mobility uses HSDPA and HSUPA (3G). Next year (summer 2010) its network should be upgraded to HSPA+ (3.5G). The year after in summer 2011 it should be running the next generation (4G) of wireless technology called Long-Term Evolution (LTE).
Verizon will use this same technology as early as February 2010, offering that company a chance to grab exclusivity or a great opportunity for Apple to take the iPhone to multiple carriers in the United States.
So, this is the past, present, and future of the iPhone as I see it:
- iPhone in 2007. (2G on GSM EDGE)
- iPhone 3G in 2008. (3G on HSDPA/UMTS)
- iPhone 3G S in 2009. (iPhone 3.25G on HSDPA/UMTS)
- iPhone 3G HD in 2010. (iPhone 3.5G on HSPA+)
- iPhone 4G in 2011. (iPhone 4G on LTE)
Here are my predictions for the 2010 iPhone:
- Named iPhone HD.
- 3.5G tech using HSPA+.
- The currently notably still absent front-facing or rotatable camera.
- Video conferencing over WiFi via a new iChat for iPhone app.
- High-definition (HD) video recording and more editing options.
These I wouldn’t be too surprised about:
- Smaller form factor, same screen size.
- iPhone 3G S 16GB for the $99 price point.
- 32GB and 64GB models.
- LED display.
- iWork document editing.
- 4G mobile technology using LTE and a new look (probably 2011)
These I would really doubt:
- iPhone nano.
- Apple’s own wireless carrier.
- World apocalypse in 2012.
- Home activation (like the original iPhone).
If I’m not mistaken, 4G LTE technology will provide data transfer speeds about 5.5 times faster in download, 4 times faster in upload. That will make a big difference in sending high definition videos taken on your iPhone to YouTube. The 3.5G HSPA+ tech would make a difference too, being about twice as fast as current technology.
Update: Moments after posting this monument to my geekiness, Apple Store Fukuoka called me back to set up and schedule its first pre-order for the iPhone 3G S. I guess it pays to have called them the same day it was announced, back on the 8th.
Update 2: Grr. I called the Apple Store back to say that no, I do in fact want to transfer my number. Then they told me how to do so, and then they told me that since I can’t come in to the store before release day to take care of contracting in advance, I can’t actually have a pre-order. However, they say it’s not likely to sell out, so I should be able to get one. Still, GRR!!!
Apparently Japan has a system for transferring mobile phone numbers and so far it seems pretty streamlined. I have one side of it set up and ready to go after a five minute call to my current service provider’s English line. My contract with them will expire automatically when I use the transfer reservation number to open new service with Softbank, which means there won’t be the big headache I imagined there to be if I was required to go into a store to cancel service. Score!
