Apple released the much awaited iPhone 3.0 OS update on Wednesday -- two days ahead of public availability of the faster iPhone 3G S in 16 and 32GB models. Is it time for first-generation Edge iPhone users to upgrade their hardware or can they suffice with the OS update? Here are my impressions after updating a 16GB Edge iPhone 2G.
Some software features require newer hardware. For example, digital Compass, Voice Control, video and autofocus camera are only available on the 3G S. The 3G is able to utilize various GPS options required by some third-party apps and has faster Internet access than its Edge predecessor. Turn-by-turn GPS driving add-ons from TomTom is a noteworthy product. Other than that, the 3.0 OS update offers the same features to all.
- Cut, Copy & Paste
- Messages (SMS & MMS)
- Spotlight Search
- Landscape Keyboard
- Voice Memos
- Up to 11 Screens for 176 Apps (unlimited hidden apps accessible with Spotlight)
After updating the Edge iPhone, one new app icon is evident on the home screen -- Voice Memos. It looks great and will quickly replace my often buggy YouNote Lite. While I'm at it, might as well delete the Wide Email app since it's sole feature is now a part of the OS. I expect a few other redundant apps may be removed. Another subtle but welcomed feature is that the new icon does not ripple through the icon placement of other pages. Instead, the last app icon on the home screen is placed on a new blank screen immediately following the home screen.
MobileMe users get Find My iPhone with all iPhones. "Push" services must be enabled as well as the Find My iPhone preference on the phone. From the MobileMe website, the iPhone location is depicted on a map within a circle. With GPS, the circle is smaller. On the tested Edge iPhone, the circle radius is three blocks with the center across the street from the actual location. Accuracy depends upon available triangulation. A message with an optional distinctive 2-minute sound can be sent to lost iPhones. A person finding it can read the message but cannot respond or stop the ring. Another message without the "Play a sound for 2 minutes with this message" checkbox deselected can silence it.
iDisk app is another MobleMe product that should be available in the App Store on Friday when the iPhone 3G S ships. It promises to provide an interface for viewing and sharing files that have been previously stored from your computer to iDisk. Recently viewed files are cached for quick access when there's no Internet connection.
Spotlight Search on the iPhone is one swipe to the left of the home screen (or one tap of the main button when home screen is displayed; tap again to toggle back to home screen). Apps, mail, notes and contacts are separately categorized. Within Contacts, first and last name, company and nicknames are queried. Departments, titles, notes and other fields are ignored. It's nice that email messages on an IMAP server are also searched since the iPhone only cashes a few at a time.
Cut, Copy and Paste deserve honorable mention along with Landscape Keyboard for email and notes. They work so seamlessly it feels as if they've always been there. Before the 3.0 update, phone numbers and URL's within email messages became clickable links. Now the capability has been extended to Notes and Calendar. Shake-to-undo text entry is a creative use of the built-in accelerometer.
Voice Control, as demonstrated at WWDC, controls more than speed dialing. Users can select songs or playlist. Pre-3G S iPhone users will depend upon third-party applications like Say Who.
The other noteworthy consideration for would-be upgraders is the price of the service contract. The AT&T monthly service charge increased 50 percent when the first 3G came out. There is no rate increase from 3G to 3G S. However, some 3G users with subsidized phones may need to wait several months before qualifying for a 3G S with a new 2-year agreement. Since the Edge iPhones were not subsidized, all first-generation iPhone users qualify for the lowest subsidized 3G S prices ($199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB).
Bottom line: It is helpful to remind oneself this is actually a phone. Comparing features and prices, the Edge iPhone with the 3.0 OS update is still a very capable bargain. I am happy to keep my existing phone with the