Apple Launches iPhone 3G S The Next Generation iPhone

Apple announced at its annual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) yesterday its latest iPhone, the Apple iPhone 3GS (with the 'S' standing for speed). The iPhone 3GS is the phone that we have all been hearing about lately, sometimes dubbed the 'third generation iphone', it's built for power and speed according to Apple.

The iPhone 3G S boasts a 3-megapixel digital camera with a "tap to focus" lens. It also supports full 30 frames per sec video recording and even has video editing capabilities.

Integrated voice controls in the iPhone 3GS allows for you to more safely access your device while on the road. You have the ability to instruct the phone to dial a phone number by the number or contact name. You can even tell it to select songs, pause, play, or go to the next track on the iPod. The possibilities are really end-less when it comes to voice-control application support.

"iPhone 3G S will be compatible with High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology, which offers theoretical peak download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, though actual speeds will vary as these capabilities become available," the company said. "AT&T plans to begin deploying HSPA 7.2 later this year, with completion expected in 2011."

With all of the new upgraded capabilities in the iPhone 3G S, does it have better battery life? You bet it does! While you won't see a increased battery life during 3G talk time it will remain 5 hours, you will see a huge increase with 2G talk time at 12 hours instead of 5 hours. That would actually make me want to turn off 3G when I wasn't using the Internet much. When using WiFi Internet, you'll see a 3 hour improvement getting 9 hour of battery time instead of six and with video playback you'll get 10 hours instead of 7 hours.

The new increased battery life with the faster CPU, makes me want to upgrade but things only get better.

iPhone 3G S offers incredible speed and performance, on average up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G, so you can render web pages quicker and launch applications faster. iPhone 3G S takes advantage of the OpenGL ES 2.0 standard for stunning high-quality 3D graphics, making mobile gaming and other graphic intense applications better than ever.

Another anticipated feature of the next generation iPhone 3G S is the new built-in digital compass for instant navigation. The Compass app shows you which way you are headed and rotates as you change direction. You can orient yourself to true north or magnetic north, and iPhones built-in GPS automatically displays the coordinates of your current location. The new built-in digital compass is also integrated within Maps, so it automatically orients any map to the direction you are facing.

The iPhone 3G S also comes with the much talked about, iPhone OS 3.0 software which brings more than 100 new features like, landscape keyboard on all native apps, cut and paste, a new voice memo app, MMS, and best of all the Find My iPhone feature.

Find My iPhone allows you to locate your lost iPhone on a map with the MobileMe service. Can't find it or if it's been stolen and irretrievable? You can use the Remote Wipe feature to erase all of the data and content on the iPhone remotely.

If you've been looking forward to the MMS feature of the iPhone OS 3.0 software, you'll have to wait a bit longer. Even though the OS supports it, AT&T doesn't yet support it on their network for the iPhone and said that it would be towards the end of the Summer before they would. That's a lack of planning IMO and yet another example as to why AT&T doesn't need the exclusivity of being the only iPhone provider in the U.S. They need some fierce competition.

In addition to MMS, data tethering is yet another supported iPhone OS 3.0 feature that.. you guessed it, AT&T doesn't yet support. That too will be coming at the end of the Summer, so they say.

Yet another iPhone 3.0 OS feature is the ability is to wirelessly download movies, TV, and audio programs as well as iTunes U so students can download learning materials on the go.

iPhone 3G S also features built-in Nike + iPod support making it an incredible workout companion. Users simply place the optional Nike + iPod sensor ($19) in their Nike + shoe to seamlessly connect with iPhone 3G S to track miles run or sync with the latest generation gym equipment.

iPhone 3G S Pricing and Availability
The iPhone 3G S will be available in the US on June 19th, 2009 for $199 with 16GB and $299 for the 32GB model. iPhone 3G S requires a new two year contract with AT&T for qualifying customers. iPhone OS 3.0 software will be available on June 17 as a free software update via iTunes 8.2 or later for all iPhone customers. iPod touch customers will be able to purchase a software update for $9.95 (US). Don't need all of the features of the iPhone 3GS? You can pick-up an iPhone 3G starting today, at just $99 for the 8GB model.

New MobileMe features for iPhone require iPhone OS 3.0. MobileMe is available for an annual subscription price of $99 (US).

The new $99 price tag on the original iPhone 3G, could steal away a lot of customers planning to upgrade to the Palm Pre. I think it's a great move and will definitely open the iPhone market to more potential customers.