iPhone Updates

Hello All,

Today was the first day of the Apple World Wide Developer Connection (WWDC) and there was a lot of news. There are all new laptops, a new operating system, and a new version of the Safari browser. This dear readers is all good news, but not the big news. The big news is two fold.

1. There is a new version of the iPhone operating system, 3.0, that is coming out on June 17th.
2. There is a new iPhone, the 3GS, coming out on June 19th.

Here is a quick rundown of the two biggest announcements.

The iPhone 3.0 operating system

• It is a free update for all iPhone users and $9.95 for all iPod Touch users
• Improved Safari web browser
• Copy and Paste
• Landscape mode in email, text, and notes
• Complete iPhone search
• Voice Memos
• Improved calendar app

You can find all the updates here.

The iPhone 3GS Update

• Same size and shape as the 3G phone
• Faster processor 2x or more, depending on the application
  
• Improved camera, 3 mega pixel, with video
• Faster 3G network support
• New 3D video support
• Improved battery life
• Voice control for many applications

The 8GB 3G is now $99, the 16GB 3G is $149. The new 3GS will come in 16GB and 32GB at $199 and $299.

The only bad news involves AT&T. If you are like me and got your 3G iPhone when they first came out last year, you will have to wait until December or so to get the upgrade prices. If you cannot wait that long you will have to pay an $18 upgrade fee and either $399 or $499, depending on the size of the phone you want. This is better than people with recent new contracts. They will be hit for $599 and $699, depending on the phone size.

Overall I am pretty excited about the new phone, but I am disappointed there is not a better upgrade path. If you can wait 6 months why would you not wait 6 more and see what Apple comes out with in June of 2010. AT&T would be better served to keep people like me on the hook for another two years then allow me to wait and see. This will without question piss off a lot of their customers, and that is not good for business. I am half way through my contract, why not lock me in for another two years. A lot can happen in a year with regard to technology. There could be a better phone out than the iPhone in another year, or at least close to as good and AT&Ts service leaves room for improvement. So maybe people wait for their contract to end and then they leave. That is a risk AT&T runs with this strategy. I know I switched solely for the iPhone, I would switch away if there were a better phone out there.

Later,

John

For more Apple coverage check out this, this, and this.