Apple iPhone (3G)
10 June 2008
Written by Mike Meers
Apple have released details on the upgraded iPhone – complete with most of the rumoured features that have kept the mobile phone world buzzing for months.
The new iPhone 3G will fully support UMTS/HSDPA 850, 1900, and 2100MHz networks as well as GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900MHz networks. On top of that is local connectivity support for WiFi 802.11b/g networks and Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR support.
A built-in GPS chipset provides the iPhone 3G with navigation support to guide you from destination to destination, and will be used in conjunction with the 2mpx digital camera to provide geo-tagging for images. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the iPhone 3G’s camera has auto-focus, nor does there appear to be a forward-facing camera for 3G video calls.
The iPhone 3G’s full touch-screen display is a 163ppi 480 x 320 pixel LCD. The iPhone 3G, like its predecessor, is fully controlled via the touch-screen display and only has a few physical buttons. The display is capable of recognising multiple touches, one of the key features of the iPhone line. The handset runs a mobile version of Apple’s OS X operating system, named iPhone 2.0.
An accelerometer, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor are built-in to the iPhone 3G. These sensors communicate with the iPhone to conserve battery life and also re-align the user interface when the handset is rotated from landscape to portrait orientation.
In terms of memory the iPhone 3G comes in two variants: an 8GB or 16GB model. External memory is not supported.
At 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3mm, the iPhone 3G is only slightly bigger than the original – 1.1mm wider and 0.7mm thicker. It handset weighs 133 grams, which is actually 2 grams lighter than the original.
Multimedia is a key focus of the iPhone 3G, and the handset fully supports AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 1, 2 and 3), Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV audio formats. For video, the supported formats are: H.264, MPEG-4 and MOV. A range of different resolutions and frame rates are supported – check the specifications table below for more information.
The non removable rechargeable battery will provide the iPhone 3G with up to 5/10 hours (3G/2G) of talk time or up to 300 hours of standby time, up to 5/6 hours (3G/WiFi) of internet usage, up to 7 hours of video playback, or up to 24 hours of audio playback.
The iPhone 3G will be available through Optus and Vodafone on July 11th. It’s not yet known if the handset will be made available for purchase out-right or only on a contract.
Stay tuned for the comprehensive iPhone 3G review as soon as we can get our hands on one!
|
FYI .:. Apple iPhone (3G)
(ETA 11 July 2008) |
| Basic specifications
|
| Network system |
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz (quad-band)
3G: UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900/2100MHz |
| Form factor |
PDA |
| Size |
115 x 62.1 x 12.3mm |
| Weight |
133 grams |
| Display |
3.5” multi-touch LCD at 480 x 320 pixels (163ppi) |
| Battery type used |
Non-removable lithium-ion battery |
| Talk/usage time* |
2G: Up to 10 hours*
3G: Up to 5 hours*
Up to 5/6 hours Internet usage (3G/WiFi)*
Up to 7 hours video playback*
Up to 24 hours audio playback* |
| Standby time* |
2G/3G: Up to 300 hours* |
| Accompanying features
|
| Connectivity options |
Bluetooth 2.0, USB version 2.0 and WiFi 802.11b/g |
| Camera support |
2mpx digital camera |
| Data support |
EDGE, GPRS, HSDPA, and UMTS |
| Exchangeable covers |
None |
| Internet applications |
Safari browser with HTML rendering and full screen display |
| Memory |
| Internal
- |
| External
- |
|
| |
| Yes, 8GB or 16GB |
| Not supported |
|
| Messaging capabilities |
SMS/EMS, MMS, and e-mail messaging with predictive text |
| Ringing tones |
Polyphonic MIDI, MP3/AAC ringing tones^ |
| Synchronisation with PC |
Yes, Mac and PC (ActiveSync) |
| System for... |
| Add-on applications
- |
| Gaming
- |
| Phone
- |
|
| |
| iPhone 2.0 |
| iPhone 2.0 |
| iPhone 2.0 |
|
Extras supported
(not listed above) |
 Accelerometer, light and proximity sensors
Integrated a-GPS chipset with navigation support
Photo geotagging
Video support: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
|
* As per manufacturer's specifications (with supplied battery)
^ Final specifications to be confirmed
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