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Engadget posts details of iPhone 3G firmware

by Michael Rose Jun 7th 2008 at 1:15AM

We're all eagerly awaiting what must be the worst kept secret ever in mobile technology announcements next week, but up until now some of the detailed features of the iPhone 3G have been subject to speculation and debate. Earlier tonight, Engadget posted a preliminary firmware spec of the next iPhone; it includes tri-band HSDPA for near-global high speed data coverage, and an A-GPS unit for the location awareness we crave.

Interestingly, the internal build number on the firmware is quoted as "n82ap" (as compared to the original iPhone's "m68ap" designation). Remember back in February, when Erica noted an "N82" platform indicator in the iPhone's supported platform list? Isn't that special.

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We're all eagerly awaiting what must be the worst kept secret ever in mobile technology announcements next week, but up until now some of...
 

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Rego

"worst kept secret ever in mobile technology announcements"

Kind of a slap at Apple's ability to keep a secret

It seems to me that even assuming endgadget is correct- that the specifications of the 3g iphone have been kept secret from late 2007 until 6/6/2008 - 3 days before the expected announcement.

Given, that Apple and the iphone v2 have been under intense global scrutiny and speculation by bloggers, posters and analysts for those 5-7 months, and with thousands of people involved in designing, maufacturing and shipping the iphone- that Apple's ability to keep the specs secret for so long is quite impressive.

In addition since you seem to be stating that the endgadget specs are correct in all respects- you are thereby staking your reputation for accuracy (if you have one) on the outcome of the announcements on 6/9/08.

June 07 2008 at 3:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rego

"worst kept secret ever in mobile technology announcements"

Kind of a slap at Apple's ability to keep a secret

It seems to me that even assuming endgadget is correct- that the specifications of the 3g iphone have been kept secret from late 2007 until 6/6/2008 - 3 days before the expected announcement.

Given, that Apple and the iphone v2 have been under intense global scrutiny and speculation by bloggers, posters and analysts for those 5-7 months, and with thousands of people involved in designing, maufacturing and shipping the iphone- that Apple's ability to keep the specs secret for so long is quite impressive.

In addition since you seem to be stating that the endgadget specs are correct in all respects- you are thereby staking your reputation for accuracy (if you have one) on the outcome of the announcements on 6/9/08.

June 07 2008 at 3:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Rego's comment
Michael Rose

"worst kept secret" referring to the fact of the iPhone 3G announcement, not the detailed spec.

I'm not stating that the Engadget spec is correct in all respects, I'm reporting that they published one. If you read the Engadget post they qualified that what they have is (they believe) preliminary.

June 07 2008 at 3:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rego

I didn't think 3g was ever a secret.
Apparently neither does Mac Rumors who says in a recent article:

"The 3G iPhone

The 3G iPhone will be announced at WWDC 2008. There really can be no doubt. It's certainly been no secret that the iPhone will eventually adopt 3G technology. When Steve Jobs first introduced the iPhone in January 2007, he specifically said (video clip) that Apple plans on making "3G phones and all sorts of amazing things in the future"."

June 09 2008 at 3:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Martin Smith

I'm so dissapointed if this is true.. I was hoping for front facing video camera and iChat, that would have been a killer app to video chat friends on their macs..

I'll keep my fingers crossed this isnt correct, else I'm not gonna get a full house on my iphone requirements bingo card...

June 07 2008 at 8:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Martin Smith's comment
Chris

I hope it isn't added. Bt this mainly because I'm not a fan of cameras on cellphones.

My reasons for why i don't think it will be added, yet, are less biased.

1) The HSDPA chips in the iPhone only allows a max upload of 384kbps, so video chat would be poor. That is s theoretical maximum, you'd be lucky yo average half that in ideal conditions. It does not contain a HSUPA chip that would allow for much faster data rates. There are many reasons for this, but the simplest answer is that it is too new a technology, so it isn't feasible yet.

2) (At this point the normal response is to mention WiFi) While this is true, it does limit the video chat capabilities drastically, which is already hampered by it being more of a novelty than a useful service. It hink it would be used more as a "mirror" app for women applying makeup.

3) The 3G chip is the big deal this year. In Apple's usual way, they want to maximize sales. If they added A-GPS, HSDPA, video chat, higher Mp camera, and higher capacity Flash, plus v2.0 firmware they would have very little to add next year that could be considered "new"

Apple can't add 3G next year. They can add a faster, more efficient 3G chip, but that is hard to market. Hell, people now have no clue but know they should want for it.

June 07 2008 at 12:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan Trevisol

No forward facing camera in the spec. :-(

June 07 2008 at 8:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chrystel


very good news for all fans of the technology apple iphone, and this an good link for apple iphone code sercrets

http://www.messiphone.com/mobile-secret/iphone.html

June 07 2008 at 7:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Paul Lloyd Johnson

If the iPhone was the Jesus phone, is the iPhone 2 the God phone? Looks that way to me. LG and Samsung, oh not to mention Nokia (almost forgot) are gunna be in for a shock!

June 07 2008 at 5:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Paul Lloyd Johnson's comment
Dave

Nah, it's just the "second coming."

June 07 2008 at 8:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zimmie

Or it could be that someone remembered that and posted what people wanted to hear.

We'll find out on Monday.

June 07 2008 at 2:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

Interestingly, the specs don't include UMTS 900 - which both Optus and Vodafone in Australia are committed to rolling out nationally. Its also popular in Europe. Methinks this can't be a complete list.

June 07 2008 at 1:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Chris's comment
Chris

Not a mistake. Optus and Vodafone do use the 900MHz spectrum, but only for GSM (2G) standard, for the UMTS (3G) standard. They both use the 2100 (Operating Band I) for Tx and Rx.

900Mhz (Operating Band VIII) is an odd ball band, just like T-Mobile USA's 1700MHz (Operating Band IV). The tri-band it has chosen is the most logical choice.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Deployed_UMTS_networks


June 07 2008 at 5:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cmuska902

This is heavy.

June 07 2008 at 1:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to cmuska902's comment
Brandon

There's that word again; "heavy". Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the earth's gravitational pull?

June 07 2008 at 11:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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