iPhone 3G S: What you need to know

If the calendar is about to flip over to summer, it must be time for Apple to roll out another smartphone. Just as summer 2007 saw the release of the original iPhone and last summer brought us the iPhone 3G, this year, we’ve got a new model to obsess over—the iPhone 3G S.

And we won’t have long to wait before this new phone winds up in our hot little hands. Apple announced the iPhone 3G S during Monday’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote; it plans to release the iPhone 3G S next Friday, June 19.

Can’t wait until then to find out all you can about the iPhone 3G S? We’ve perused Apple’s product pages, talked to company executives, and made some educated guesses about what you can expect from this latest addition to the iPhone family.

How is this iPhone different from the iPhone 3G?

Well, there’s an “Sâ€

Actually, as far as Apple is concerned, the S is more than just a humble naming convention. “The ‘S’ simply stands for speed,” Apple senior vice president for worldwide product market Phil Schiller told the WWDC keynote audience, and as far as the company is concerned, that’s the main selling point for the iPhone 3G S.

According to Apple, this is the fastest iPhone yet—up to two times faster and more responsive than the iPhone 3G. Specifically, Apple says that apps will launch faster and that it will take less time to jump between apps, say, by clicking a link in an e-mail to open a Web page in the mobile Safari browser. Speaking of browsing, Web pages should render faster on the iPhone 3G S, too.

How much faster? During the keynote, Schiller quoted a few numbers—loading a game was 2.4 times faster on the iPhone 3G S than on the iPhone 3G. Viewing attachments was 3.6 times faster. Loading the NYTimes.com Web page was 2.9 times faster. And so on. Of course, we’ll have to wait until the new phone ships to verify these numbers or confirm if the improved performance is that noticeable.

How did Apple boost performance?

The company isn’t really saying—it tends to be rather tight-lipped when it comes to the iPhone’s innards. But we’re reasonably confident that the iPhone 3G S sports a faster processor than its predecessor and that its operating system has access to more RAM. There could be changes to the display circuitry, too, which would account for Apple’s claims that the iPhone 3G S offers a better gaming experience.

According to T-Mobile in the Netherlands, which appears to have accidentally posted the specs for the iPhone 3G S, the latest version of the phone includes 256MB RAM, up from 128MB on the iPhone 3G, and a 600MHz processor. That would be an improvement from the 412MHz version found in the iPhone 3G.

You said “a better gaming experience”—how so?

The graphics should be more responsive. “A faster better, quicker, snappier experience,” is how senior director of worldwide iPhone product marketing Bob Borchers put it to us. For starters, Apple says the new iPhone supports Open GL ES 2.0, the latest 3-D graphics API for mobile devices. But the graphics hardware itself also appears to be significantly improved. The graphics processor is reportedly the Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX, a powerful mobile chip that takes advantage of Open GL ES 2.0 to provide advanced shading and rendering capabilities. The result is an iPhone that, according to some developers, will rival dedicated gaming handhelds.

OK, so what else is different?

Just looking at the surface, not all that much. In fact, we’re wiling to bet that if we set an iPhone 3G S next to an iPhone 3G, you’d be hard-pressed to tell which is which—at least until you flipped the phones over. Then, you might notice that the “fine-print” writing on the back of the phone—you know, the part that lists the phone’s capacity and tells you that it’s designed in California and assembled in China—is now color-matched to the silver Apple logo. The screen is covered with a new oil-resistant, or oleophobic, coating, making it easier to wipe off fingerprints. We watched an Apple executive take an iPhone 3G S and wipe it off with his shirt sleeve, something that wasn’t too effective in removing smudges with earlier models.

Then again, physical changes usually aren’t the focus of these iPhone updates. Apple puts its effort into upgrading the software features offered in new phones.

What are the new features in the iPhone 3G S that aren’t in the iPhone 3G?

The iPhone 3G S has a few features that you won’t find in previous models. Just as the iPhone 3G added the ability to figure out your location via GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, the iPhone 3G S lets you know which direction you’re pointing in via a built-in compass. The iPhone 3G could figure out which direction you were moving in by tracking you via GPS, but the iPhone 3G S will know your orientation even when you’re still. This is useful for maps and GPS applications (and Boy Scouts, presumably). Who knows what clever iPhone app developers will come up with to take advantage of knowing when your iPhone is spinning and when it’s still.

In addition to a new built-in Compass app, compass features are integrated into the Maps app. In Maps, tap the current location button to display where you are on the map—that’s a feature you’d find with the original iPhone, the iPhone 3G, and even the iPod touch. But tap the location button again, and the map will re-orient itself to the direction you’re facing. Turn east, and Maps will rotate to that direction. It should make navigation much easier.

This iPhone also supports voice control. You can now dial the phone by holding down the Home button for a couple of seconds and then commanding your iPhone to dial Joe Blow (or any other contact in the iPhone’s Contacts list). You can also speak a phone number instead of a name, and Voice Control will dial that, too.

In addition, you can ask your iPhone 3G S to play music—specific songs or playlists, for example. Say “Play ‘Know Your Enemy,’” and the iPhone 3G S, after repeating your command back to you, will begin playing Green Day’s latest single. You ask the phone what song is playing, and it will tell you the title and artist; you can also invoke the phone’s Genius feature by saying “Play more songs like this,” to play songs similar to the one you’re currently listening to. Voice Control supports 21 languages.

Apple has also included Nike+ functionality in the iPhone 3G S. This means that—as with the second-generation iPod touch—you don’t need to attach a Nike+ dock-connector dongle to your iPhone to use it with a Nike+ sensor in your running shoes; the receiver is built into the phone (and the Nike+ app is pre-installed).

Those worried about security will be happy—perhaps even excited—to learn that the new iPhone also includes hardware-based encryption of all data on the iPhone. Combined with the new wipe-it-clean option of Find My iPhone and encrypted iPhone backups in iTunes, this means that unless you leave your iPhone unlocked without a password, your data is safe from all but the most skilled thieves.

I’ve heard that the camera is better in the iPhone 3G S. Is that true?

Yes, the iPhone 3G S’s built-in camera is definitely better than what you found on previous iPhone models. It’s got three megapixels of resolution, up from two megapixels in previous models. And this camera has the ability to auto-focus. Apple also says that the quality of the images it takes are generally better than the previous model, including vibrant colors and better low-light performance, and that the camera can shoot much faster than the one on previous iPhones. If you’ve used the camera on the existing iPhones, you know that’s setting the bar pretty low.

A cool new software feature in the Camera app is “tap to focus,” which lets you select what the camera focuses on. By default, the camera focuses on whatever object is in the center of the display, but if you’d like to focus elsewhere—say, an object in the background—just tap on the object on your iPhone’s display. The camera not only changes the focus but also adjusts the exposure and white balance, as well. The camera also includes an auto-macro mode, allowing you to get very close to the objects you’re shooting—a major failing of previous iPhone cameras.

So can this iPhone finally shoot video?

Yes, the iPhone 3G S’s camera can do one other thing you couldn’t do on an iPhone 3G or original iPhone—shoot movies. To be specific, that’s 30fps VGA video, which you can shoot in either portrait or widescreen orientation. You use the same Camera app, which on the iPhone 3G S features a simple Still/Movie switch. In Movie mode, you start recording by tapping on a red record button that’s in the exact same spot as the button that snaps still images; tap the button again to stop recording. Video is saved in the iPhone’s camera roll, alongside your photos. The video-recording mode provides the same auto-focus, -exposure, and -white balance features you get when shooting stills. And yes, when you shoot video you also capture audio through the iPhone’s microphone.

Once you’ve shot your video, you have the option to trim the beginning and end of a clip by tapping on the video to summon on-screen controls and then dragging the start and stop points with your finger. Preview your edit by tapping Play; if you like what you see, tapping the trim button saves the changes. You can then share your clips with the world via e-mail, MMS (when AT&T supports it), a MobileMe Gallery, or direct upload to YouTube.

How much does the iPhone 3G S cost?

The answer to that question is not as straightforward as you might think. The price Apple touts for the 16GB iPhone 3G S is $199; a 32GB model costs $299. And if you don’t already have an iPhone—or you aren’t otherwise an AT&T customer using a subsidized phone—that’s the price you’ll pay. If you are a current iPhone owner, though, the situation gets a little trickier because of your service contract with AT&T. How far along you are in your two-year contract—and what model iPhone you use—will determine exactly how much upgrading to an iPhone 3G S will cost you.

The basic rules in the U.S. appear to be: If you purchased the original iPhone, you’re immediately eligible for “new customer” pricing (otherwise known as Apple’s advertised $199 and $299 prices). If you purchased the iPhone 3G, AT&T subsidized the cost of that phone via the two-year contract you signed, so you don’t get the lowest price. However, if you purchased the iPhone 3G more than a year ago—and remember, it hasn’t quite been a year since the iPhone 3G’s debut—you should be eligible for AT&T’s “early upgrade” price on the 3G S: $299 and $399 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively. So if you bought the iPhone 3G on opening day (July 11, 2008), you’ll be able to buy the 3G S at a partial discount on July 11, 2009. (Note that this will require you to extend your AT&T contract until two years from the new purchase date.) If you purchased the iPhone 3G more recently, the prices are $399 and $499. Oh, and you’ll also have to pay an $18 “upgrade fee” regardless of which price you’re eligible for.

But wait, there’s more! It’s also possible to pay AT&T’s $175 early-termination fee to cancel your current contract and then start over with a new contract, paying a lower price for the iPhone 3G S along with a $39 activation fee; however, there’s no requirement for AT&T to treat you like a “new” customer, so this approach is risky. (Plus there’s a chance you could lose your phone number.)

That seems simple enough, right? Unfortunately, the real-world experiences of Macworld’s editors and readers indicate that the situation isn’t quite this straightforward. AT&T uses an internal formula based on numerous factors, including your tenure as a customer, your billing plan, and your bill-paying history, to determine which upgrade price you’re offered. We’ve seen all sorts of different prices when various members of our staff and their friends and relatives have punched in their phone numbers on Apple’s Web site. You won’t know what deal AT&T is offering you until you ask.

Can you explain the pricing of this phone? I got a subsidized phone last year, but am not eligible now. Can I cross-upgrade and give my 3G to my wife? If I’ve got an original iPhone, do I have to pay the higher upgrade price? What are AT&T’s 3G S rate plans? And do I need to upgrade at the AT&T Store, the Apple Store, on the web, or somewhere else? Help!

The pricing of the iPhone 3G S has engendered a lot of strong feelings, and understandably so. We will be devoting more coverage to this issue in the days ahead. The short version of the story is, when you buy a subsidized iPhone in the U.S., AT&T is actually paying part of the cost of that phone directly to Apple. AT&T gets that money back via your phone bill over the course of a two-year contract. If you want to get a new phone within the contract period, AT&T hasn’t had a chance to recoup its investment in your last phone, and things get complicated. We hope that AT&T will be working hard in the next week to better communicate what customers’ options are.

We assume that if you’ve got a family member who is eligible for a full upgrade, AT&T will find a way to let you transfer the remaining portion of your iPhone 3G contract commitment to that person and let you do a regular upgrade to the iPhone 3G S. Or swap SIM cards after the fact. Or something. Perhaps we’re too hopeful about AT&T, but given the massive amount of iPhone users on AT&T’s network, we think the company will realize that allowing iPhone fanatics to upgrade in as many different ways as possible will only help its business. We shall see.

The good news about the iPhone 3G S upgrades is that they seem to be much more widely available than in the past. You seem to be able to upgrade via either Apple or AT&T’s Web sites, or either company’s retail stores.

I’ve already got an iPhone. Should I upgrade to this one?

It depends on a variety of factors. If you have an iPhone 3G, you’re not going to get the special $199 and $299 prices that Apple is touting, at least not for a while. That makes the upgrade a lot less appealing. And getting an iPhone 3G S means committing to another two years of AT&T service in the U.S.

If you routinely make calls when driving, the iPhone 3G S’s Voice Command feature may keep you from driving your car into a tree, by allowing you to call while keeping your eyes on the road. For many people that will be the feature that sells the phone.

But there’s one vitally important thing you should keep in mind: Many of the features Apple touts in its iPhone 3G S guided tour—including copy and paste functionality, MMS support, the new Voice Memos app, and search capabilities—are part of the iPhone 3.0 software update, which is available to all iPhone owners for free starting this Wednesday, June 17, though not all features are available to owners of original EDGE iPhones, such as MMS. (iPod touch users will have to pay $10 to upgrade to 3.0.) So if those features are more appealing to you than the improved camera, new compass, and Voice Control feature, you’re probably better off sticking with your current phone.

The upgrade story from the original iPhone is a bit stronger. Owners of original iPhones will likely be able to upgrade at the lowest prices. You’ll gain GPS and access to the much faster 3G data network, as well as all the new iPhone 3G S features we detailed above. And the iPhone 3G S will offer you at least twice as much storage space as you’ve got now—and imagine how spacious it will feel if you go from a 4GB original iPhone to a 32GB iPhone 3G S!

So which new features are exclusive to iPhone 3G S?

Good question. From what we can tell, here’s a complete list of features that are found only on the iPhone 3G S; in other words, you won’t get them on your iPhone 3G by installing the iPhone Software 3.0 update:

* The faster processor, more RAM, and new video circuitry
* Improved battery life
* The improved camera hardware
* Video recording, trimming, and sharing
* The digital compass
* Voice Control
* Accessibility improvements
* Built-in Nike + iPod support
* HSPA7.2 compatibility
* Open GL ES 2.0
* Hardware encryption
* Environmental improvements

Will existing accessories and cases for the iPhone 3G fit the iPhone 3G S?

Given that the form factor hasn’t changed at all, cases should fit. It also appears that any dock-connector or headphone-jack accessory that works with the iPhone 3G will work with the iPhone 3G S. On the other hand, Apple has whipped out a surprise or two in the past related to new capabilities (as well as limitations) of the dock connector port, so we can’t swear all dock-connector accessories will work. But the most likely scenario is that all existing accessories will work with the iPhone 3G S.

And don’t forget that one of the cool new features of iPhone Software 3.0 is the capability for iPhone software to work directly with hardware accessories. All iPhones and iPod touches should gain this functionality through the 3.0 software, but since the hardware differs between the models, we don’t yet know if there will be hardware accessories that work with the 3G but not the 3G S. (We’re pretty sure there will be accessories that take advantage of new hardware features of the iPhone 3G S—such as the digital compass—and thus won’t work with other models.)

When will the AT&T network support the new high-speed 7.2 HSPA network that the iPhone 3G S supports?

According to Macworld contributor Glenn Fleishman’s story explaining 7.2Mbps networking, AT&T claims that the network will start appearing on cell towers “later this year.” However, the full upgrade of AT&T’s 3G network won’t be complete until 2011.

No other iPhone can do Voice Control. What allows the iPhone 3G S to pull it off?

We don’t know, but we’re guessing that the additional processor speed and RAM of the iPhone 3G S are what enables it to perform voice-recognition tasks, and that previous models just don’t have the power to do that reliably.

I love flash. Will this new phone run Flash? And does its camera have a flash?

Adobe would love for Flash to run on the iPhone, but Apple has demonstrated no interest. The iPhone still doesn’t run flash.

The iPhone 3G S’s camera does not have a built-in flash (just like the camera on previous iPhone models didn’t have one). Given the new access that app developers have to the dock connector, perhaps some clever developer will find a way to trigger an external flash unit attached via that port. We’ll see.

Hey! I bought an iPhone 3G on May 9. Can I turn it back in for an iPhone 3G S?

Yes, if you bought an iPhone 3G between May 9 and June 19 you can return it for a restocking fee and replace it with an iPhone 3G S.

How does the battery life compare to the iPhone 3G?

Apple says the battery life for the iPhone 3G S is longer than what you’d get from the iPhone 3G. Specifically, the company is promising nine hours of Internet access on Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video, 30 hours of audio playback, and 12 hours of 2G talk time. The five hours of 3G talk time on the new model is consistent with the estimated talk time of the previous iPhone 3G.

Can we stream live video?

Depends on what you mean. Can you stream video you’re taking on the iPhone 3G S? We don’t think so, though who knows what third-party apps might be able to accomplish? It’s not included in the camera’s basic functionality. The iPhone 3.0 does offer app developers access to streaming functionality, meaning you should be able to watch live video more readily on the iPhone in the future. But out of the box, no, live video isn’t part of the base iPhone 3G S experience.

Will the iPhone video recorder be on par with the Flip-type cameras?

It’s early days yet so we don’t know how the iPhone’s camera will work in low light. We do know, however, that it shoots standard-definition video only. Many (if not most) of the current generation of pocket camcorders shoot 720p high-definition video.

Does it support A2DP and AVRCP?

The iPhone 3G S—as well as the iPhone 3G with the iPhone Software 3.0—support A2DP, which lets you stream stereo audio over Bluetooth—for example, to headphones or speakers. It’s not yet clear if either model will support AVRCP, a feature of Bluetooth that lets you control audio and video devices over Bluetooth.

Is A2DP for all system audio, or app specific? In the Tom Tom app, can I still use a headset for hands-free?

We’re anxious to get our hands on the iPhone 3G S hardware to test this, but in the meantime, iLounge provides a summary of A2DP functionality based on the latest developer release of iPhone Software 3.0 and an iPhone 3G.

Will the iPhone 3GS charge via FireWire again? (Hey, FireWire is back on the MacBook Pro.)

Dare to dream, but almost certainly the answer is no. Apple switched to the USB-only method of charging in order to reduce the amount of circuitry on the interior of its devices. Accessories have been updated to use this new method. There’s probably no going back.

Can Voice Control on the 3G S be used with Bluetooth headsets?

Voice Control is triggered by either holding the Home button down or holding down the button on your iPhone headphones. When we asked Apple executives if other devices such as Bluetooth headphones and car kits would be able to access Voice Control, they suggested that the makers of those devices would find a way to trigger that same action. That’s not exactly a yes, but it’s an encouraging sign.

in a sentence, what does the S get me?

Speed, swagger, sleek, sexy, sense-of-direction, and sinematography. It’s possible that we made that last word up.

Will the compass and GPS work even when there is no cell signal?

Yes. As long as you’re on Earth and Earth still has its magnetic field, the compass will work, though if you’re standing near a giant magnet, you might get skewed results. And although the iPhone tries to use cellular signals to speed the acquisition of your location (a process called “assisted GPS”), if you’re out in the backcountry and you give your iPhone enough time to find all the satellites in the sky, it will be able to pinpoint your location. (It won’t, however, be able to display it on a map unless you’re using an app that includes pre-loaded maps. The good news is that there are a few of those now and a lot more on the way, including both turn-by-turn direction apps and apps more oriented toward hiking and mountain biking.)

I want to know if Apple will have a separate App Store for the 3GS apps, since they will have different features.

Apple hasn’t said anything about this. We’re guessing that two things will happen: Developers will write apps that simply behave differently on the different devices, and eventually the App Store will add some sort of compatibility filter that makes it clear that certain apps only work on certain devices.

How many minutes of video can the 32GB iPhone GS hold?

By our back-of-the-envelope calculations, about a zillion. Seriously, it will depend on how much media you’ve already got loaded on the device. But a lightly-loaded 32GB iPhone should be able to capture hours and hours of standard-definition video.

Will my old, deactivated iPhone 3G still work without AT&T service as an iPod touch?

Yes.

About that oleophobic coating: Will it prevent me from using protective films for the screen, or all-over treatments like InvisibleShield or BodyGuardz?

Great question, and one for which we don’t yet have an answer. Zagg, makers of the InvisibleShield protective coverings, told a Macworld reader that it’ll be testing its products with this new screen as soon as it get its hands on the iPhone 3G S.