iPhone Upgraded Already

Chardee MacDennis

www.tuaw.com wrote:

Talk about last minute upgrades: In a press release today, Apple has revealed a number of significant upgrades to both the iPhone's battery life and touch screen. Instead of what I believe was around 5 hours of video/talk and 16 hours of audio playback, Apple has updated the iPhone's battery life rating to the following numbers: up to 8 hours talk time, a whopping 250 hours of standby (over 10 days), 6 hours of internet use, 7 hours of video playback and 24 hours of audio playback. Of course, just like any other mobile phone, these numbers can vary depending on various factors like intermittent use and network configuration (whether features like Wi-Fi or the speakerphone are enabled, etc.).

In addition, Apple has changed the spec of the original 3.5" plastic surface of the iPhone to "optical-quality" glass, which should bring some smiles to those who were concerned about the durability of the phone's primary feature and user interface.

This is quite the update to drop on anxious customers less than two weeks from launch. I can only wonder what other tricks and unknown or upgraded features (PUSH email? HSPDA instead of EDGE?) Apple could be waiting to announce.

Update: Interestingly, this latest press release also mentions the iPhone's pricing - again at $499 and $599 for 4GB and 8GB, respectively - but makes no mention of contracts being involved with those prices. Since Apple dropped the "2-year activation required" language from their ads after originally airing them, this might offer more hope to those who aren't able to renew a contract just yet to get the discounts.

Interesting stuff - still even if an unlocked version was available is it crazy to go for one from the States? Is WiFi better than 3G in terms of mobility?

Dman001

I hope they release it on PAYG and then people should be able to get it unlocked so I could import one.

Cabaal

Not really a upgrade already since its not even been released, just a change of spec

Oirthir

Any word on what network is going to carry this in Europe?

Personally, i'm going to hold off until it's released over here, because i'd imagine they'll make a few tweaks for the EMEA market (pic messaging etc)

Chardee MacDennis

Oirthir wrote:

Any word on what network is going to carry this in Europe?

Personally, i'm going to hold off until it's released over here, because i'd imagine they'll make a few tweaks for the EMEA market (pic messaging etc)

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/15/apple_struggling_to_reach_iphone_deal_with_european_carriers.html

K.O.Kiki

Call_me_al wrote:

Interesting stuff - still even if an unlocked version was available is it crazy to go for one from the States? Is WiFi better than 3G in terms of mobility?

WiFi is worse than 3G afaik because it needs a base station.
Unless I'm mixing something up.
Very easy to do at 5am.

bennyx_o

Call_me_al wrote:

Interesting stuff - still even if an unlocked version was available is it crazy to go for one from the States? Is WiFi better than 3G in terms of mobility?

With WiFi you'd need to be in a hotspot to gain internet access, but with 3G it would work once you're in 3G coverage. WiFi would use more battery, too. You could get higher speeds on WiFi I suppose.

Chardee MacDennis

maybe i didnt ask the quesiton properly! but does the functionality of WiFi cancel out its limited access over the wide access of 3g with limited function and higher costs

Archytas

Call_me_al wrote:

maybe i didnt ask the quesiton properly! but does the functionality of WiFi cancel out its limited access over the wide access of 3g with limited function and higher costs

Nope - for me anyway. The network specs don't take Europe into consideration at all - With only Orange offering an EDGE network.

That said - How many people use 3G like I do? Other's may well be just fine with a phone/mp3/pda combination like this.

uncle_sam_ie

Call_me_al wrote:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/15/apple_struggling_to_reach_iphone_deal_with_european_carriers.html

I saw this when it came out last week and am really surprise it's not being talked about more.It seems Apple are in a catch 22. They will never get the deal they got with AT&T on this side of the pond with carrier. The market over here is vastly different then in the US. So , what do they do? Sell it unlocked without any carrier? Would anyone really want spend €900 ( this is what there're quoting without the AT&T plan)on an iPhone. They could sell them cheaper, but that would mean cheap unlocked iPhones taunting the US market. AT&T and Apple won't like that. They could just not sell it here, but that would just be crazy. I don't know what will happen. I just hope they don't get too greedy with the whole thing.

J.S. Pill

I must say I'm really impressed by these new features. I'll bet there are some you didn't even know existed: Check it out

Oirthir

It could be wrong, but I heard from a friend in the comms industry that under Competition Law (Irish or EU) that manufacturers are required to offer handsets sim-free.

Maybe apple will offer it for mad money sim-free, but won't guarantee all the features will work. (Visual Voicemail, i'm looking at you)

Chardee MacDennis

uncle_sam_ie wrote:

Would anyone really want spend €900 ( this is what there're quoting without the AT&T plan)on an iPhone.

AT&T have not subsidized the price under agreement with Apple, apparently

pete4130

Of course people will pay €900 for it here....sure don't they pay €500+ for designer handbags......

spidermonkey

pete4130 wrote:

Of course people will pay €900 for it here....sure don't they pay €500+ for designer handbags......

ya a lad i used to go to college with, his fella bought him a €1500 louis vitton man(hand)bag, i know the name because he never shut up about it!
crazy money, i wonder if i started putting my name on stuff would people pay me loads for it??