Apple announces iPhone 3G; firmware 2.0
As was widely expected, Apple today announced the iPhone 3G and formally demonstrated the new features coming in the iPhone 2.0 firmware update. Both will be available beginning on 11 July 2008:iPhone 3G features:
- 3G data that is 2.8 times faster than EDGE
- Microsoft Exchange support
- Maps with GPS
- App Store for browsing and downloading applications
- The phone itself is thinner
- Black plastic rear panel
- Flush headphone jack
- Price drop: 8GB - US$199, 16GB -$299
- The 16GB model will also be available in white
- Shipping in 22 countries on July 11
iPhone firmware 2.0 features:
- Push email
- Push contacts
- Push calendar
- Auto-discovery
- Global address look-up
- Remote wipe
- WPA/WPA2 Enterprise wireless
- 802.1x authentication
- LEAP, PEAPv0, PEAPv1
- Contact search with live searching
- Full iWork document support
- Complete support for Office documents (Word, Excel, and now PowerPoint)
- Bulk delete & move for messages
- Ability to save received images
- New calculator with scientific mode when you rotate the iPhone
- Parental controls
- Temendous language support
- Asian language support, including character recognition
- iPhone 2.0 will be available in early July
- Free for original iPhone owners
- US$9.99 for iPod Touch owners
Much to the dismay of people that got excited about purportedly "leaked" photos over the weekend, the iPhone 3G doesn't have a forward-facing camera (for video chat) nor does it appear to have a dedicated iChat/IM application – although that could changes.
There are still several iPhone 3G-related questions that still remain unanswered. Like will there be an application for Safari password storage like a mobile keychain? Also, there was no mention of cut and paste in iPhone 2.0.
If you know the answer to any of the above questions, post them in the TalkBack below!