3G iPhone: What it means - a look at the hardware
Apple's much awaited 3G-enabled iPhone hit the streets today. But what you might not have noticed from the liveblogs are the hardware changes on the device. Here's a concise list of what new features the 3G iPhone offers: Slimmer- Available in white/black
- No more recessed headphone jack
- All metal buttons
- 3G / GPS
- Comes in 8/16 GB models
- 5 hour talk time
- New USB wall charger
Assuming you can actually get your hands on one, here's what you will find in the box:
- iPhone 3G
- Stereo headset with mic
- USB power adapter
- Dock Connector to USB cable
- Documentation
- Cleaning/polishing cloth
- SIM ejector tool (also known as a 'paperclip')
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Nathan G said 3:50PM on 6-09-2008
Engadget says its thicker...
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/09/sizing-it-up-3g-iphone-vs-the-rest/
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TomWBrowning said 3:51PM on 6-09-2008
It's thicker, actually.
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eugene said 3:52PM on 6-09-2008
thinner at the edges ala air, but thicker in the middle fractionally
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Kyle said 3:52PM on 6-09-2008
Actually initial word, is that no dock is included just USB sync cable.
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Andrea said 3:55PM on 6-09-2008
no more dock??
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Billy K said 4:41PM on 6-09-2008
But you get a free paperclip.
awesometown said 3:57PM on 6-09-2008
all this and still no picture text messaging, video capabilities or flash. things my 4 year old lg could do.
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JD said 5:13PM on 6-09-2008
but did that phone make u want to hurl it at a wall? i kno my shine does! thats why its broken...
and wats this 'not true 3g' bullcrap! 3G has been around for ages, HSDPA is the evolution of 3G and much faster, 3.5 > 3G, fools! hsdpa wcdma 850MHz ftw!!!!!!!!!!
telstra can pump 7.2mbps down hsdpa 850. is the radio 'capped' or wat?
Ramin said 3:59PM on 6-09-2008
It's 0.7mm thicker, actually.
These blogs are getting worse everyday. They call fakes on ALL rumours which turn out real. And now the can't even get facts....pfft.
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Dan said 4:02PM on 6-09-2008
Didn't you hear? Thick is the new thin.
Valerie said 4:20PM on 6-09-2008
Fat is the new skinny, this is America.
winkyeah said 4:08PM on 6-09-2008
I agree about video...what's up with that?
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macbook pro user said 4:08PM on 6-09-2008
Anyone else notice the requirement for iTunes 7.7? Not unexpected, but still confirming that iTunes 8 isn't coming just yet.
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Tim said 4:09PM on 6-09-2008
Am I the only one who was kind of disappointed? I have a first generation iPhone and was salivating at upgrading to 3G and GPS, but the reality was rather... uninspiring. 2x faster than Edge is still pretty damn slow. They were bragging about 20 seconds to download a particular web site, which is still more like a modem than broadband. Maybe my expectations were too high, I dunno. But I can't believe everyone was crying about the lack of 3G when it's not even that much better. I was thinking 10x, not 2x.
And they claim it's the "best mobile map application ever"? Have they ever seen a Tom Tom? They pretty much did the minimum possible GPS implementation, just a dot on a map. It doesn't even rotate the map or tell you your velocity. And I didn't even see an altitude! Maybe it's there, but Apple is rarely shy about trumpeting features like that.
I would've also liked to know if they were going to make maps downloadable, which is critical to making a useful GPS device that can operate anywhere. The answer would appear to be "no".
I was ready to run out and get one, but I think I'll wait to see if they make the mapping more interesting. Underwhelming, Apple. Underwhelming. Ah well. Guess I'll spend the money on a separate GPS and keep my existing iPhone.
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Scott said 9:08PM on 6-09-2008
Everything you are wishing for regarding GPS and mapping will appear in several 3rd party apps. Just wait a month (or 2)! Get the new iPhone; you won't regret it.
Scott P.
tevetorbes said 5:51PM on 6-09-2008
"Am I the only one who was kind of disappointed?"
Nope- I am too, somewhat, for just about all the reasons you mentioned. I agree that I probably psyched myself up too much (maybe) because I was really surprised to hear about 3G or 3.5G or 3.14159265G or what-the-hell-ever you want to call it is a mere **TWO TIMES** faster than my current iPhone and the GPS is best described as bare-bones.
Oh well- maybe this means I can put that iPhone money towards a new iMac!
Scott said 6:35PM on 6-09-2008
I know I'll take my iphone with me when I leave my car in a parking lot. I'm not going to be wearing cargo pants every day in order to keep a TomTom in the pocket, so I think it would only be a matter of time before it'll be stolen from my parked car. Hiding it each time is a huge hassle especially when cables and mounts are involved.
And no, hiding it from view doesn't help when you have a windshield mount or other cables around. Thieves are surprisingly smart enough to look under your seat or in your glove box.
mike said 7:30PM on 6-09-2008
if your disappointment is solely on the lack of mind blowing GPS that'll walk and think and do everything in life for you... you might wanna just chill out cuz some developer in the app store is probably already working on it. in the meantime, maps will probably work more than great for directions and location tracking.
you can already use location services in maps to find where you want to go in a location anyway.
i guess an app that already holds your hand isn't enough if it can't transport you there...
the only thing the phone doesn't have that i'd really want is video conferencing. but i'm okay with that cuz driving while video conferencing is pretty dangerous and the fools on my roads would do it and kill us all.
okto said 4:14PM on 6-09-2008
Wait. it's not "true 3G" it's "3.5G"?
Last time I checked the rationality of numbers, 3.5 > 3.
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Ratking said 4:45PM on 6-09-2008
Probably should have been "True 3G" and "2.5G".
EDGE is normally referred to as in between 2G and 3G.