So, verdict on the 3GS?

Tom Dunne

For various RL reasons, I still haven't got me a 3GS yet.

So, those of you that did get it, what's the verdict now you have had it to play around with it for a few weeks?

Do you think it is worth it? Especially those of you that upgraded from the 3G version.

abouttobebanned

I upgraded from the 3G - here are the inital thoughts -

Fast - apps etc opening very quickly.
Eating Battery...not getting long out of battery...but there's just so damn much to do and play with...
New camera with subject focus is very good, and of course the video camera is great as well.
Compass will probably never be used.

The iphone is the best gadget in the world at the minute, the "s" version just polishes the edges a little bit - but our need to have the best things possible means that we can't have the 3G iphone if we think there's a slightly better version of it outthere somewhere.

Bandara

abouttobebanned wrote: »

I upgraded from the 3G - here are the inital thoughts -

Fast - apps etc opening very quickly.
Eating Battery...not getting long out of battery...but there's just so damn much to do and play with...
New camera with subject focus is very good, and of course the video camera is great as well.
Compass will probably never be used.

The iphone is the best gadget in the world at the minute, the "s" version just polishes the edges a little bit - but our need to have the best things possible means that we can't have the 3G iphone if we think there's a slightly better version of it outthere somewhere.

totally agree on the battery, in fact I'm finding the battery life so shockingly bad that if i keep needing to charge it every 3/4 of a day that I'm gettig rid of it.

I changed over from using blackberrys for 4 years and the iphone is the business, really kicks their asses, but as a very heavy user I was getting 2 days out of the blackberry and yesterday for example I got from 7am until it died at 8pm last night, and was not playing videos/music/games etc.

Its not good enough imo

Victor_M

Hammertime, it sounds like you really use it a lot, I would suggest getting one of the new Parrot hands free kits that are a hands free kit, integrates the iPod into you car stereo and (most importantly) charges the device while you are in the car.

Either that or a desktop charger, or if you don't spend any time in the car or at a desk and are on your feet all day a Mophie juice pack

If you have only recently got it the novelty of playing with the features does tend to screw up the battery life for the first 6-12 months (I'm still waiting for the novelty to wear off 10 months in:pac:)

You could try turning off WiFi and Bluetooth if you don't use them, or 3G if you are in a wifi zone all day (3G is the biggest consumer of iPhone juice) and reduce the screen brightness a little.

booyah1024

i upgraded from a iphone 2G to an iphone 3G S.

one thing that really pissed me off with the 2G was the slowness of apps, i text a lot, possibly sending/receiving over 150 messages a day also my calendar is full to the brim of work meetings. on the 2G it would take about 5-10 seconds to open the calendar or messages app. now with the 3G S, it's like getting a slap in the face opening an app. it's just lightning fast in comparison.

battery life is a bit pants really, but that being said i'm using it constantly. i'm in a city i don't know my way around fully yet so GPS and google maps comes in so handy, the compass is really useful when paired with google maps, bit useless to me as a standalone app but would be beneficial to hillwalkers.

the 3 megapixel camera isn't great in comparison to my DSLR but tbh i don't care about cameras on phones, as long as they can take a quick snap to help me remind me of something i.e. opening hours of a store or a bus timetable then i'm happy.

push notifications are great imo. work flawlessly with beejive IM 3.xx. constantly signed into MSN/ICQ/Gtalk/facebook etc etc. is brilliant.

3G browsing is a charm to use, i can properly browse proper sites like boards.ie in full mode not the mobile site with ease whilst on the train. i know 3G will differ to you's as i'm on AT&T in the states where as O2 in ireland.

the biggest change for me though is going from 8gig's to 32gig's. i use to hate having to choose just 8gig's out of my 500gig's of music. now with 32 gig's i have a bigger leeway.

one thing that sucks is that AT&T pulled support for MMS at the last minute, there's no word on when it will be supported though.

overall i'm happy with the upgrade to the 3G S, sure they could have added some more but sure they have to hold back some stuff otherwise they'd be out of business.

Kashkai

I only got my iPhone 3G last February and so am just 5 months into my 18 month O2 contract. Can I upgrade, how much would it cost and is it worth it.

I thought my 8GB phone would last me a couple of years before an upgrade was due but I've almost filled the 8GB and I'm a little p1ssed that my phone was replaced by an upgraded model so soon.

Its my favourite gadget though and never leaves my side. Now if only I can remember where I left the wife?:D

Dades

Upgraded for 199euro and gave my 3 month old (was replaced in April) 3G to the missis.

Loving the 3GS for the camera stuff. I've a 10 month old nipper whose whole life in my camera roll. Now I've spent the weekend mucking about with the video app.

The extra speed is a noticeable bonus and the voice control is a bit of giggle. It's not too hot on recognising Irish names though.

booyah1024

Dades wrote: »

The extra speed is a noticeable bonus and the voice control is a bit of giggle. It's not too hot on recognising Irish names though.

i found the voice control actually quite good.

it pronouced the band sucioperro - sooch eeeh ohhh pear oh - 100% spot on.

an english colleague tried voice control on his iphone 3G S and no matter what he says it keeps calling his dentist.

Purple Gorilla

I upgraded from the 2G and I'd say that it's a brilliant upgrade if you're coming from the 2G but not really worth it if you're on a 3G. If you're on a 3G, I'd wait till next year to upgrade.

Owen

I had a 2g on Vodafone, and moved to 3gs on o2. Like other users, the speed of the phone is astounding. Even bootup takes a few seconds rather than the minute it took before.

For me, opening up the SMS app on the 2g would take an age due to the volume of texts I use - but the 3gs has no issue with that. Likewise, the notes/calendar apps on the 2g were like treacle, no such issue with the 3gs.

I'm finding the battery life similar to the 2g - probably because the 3g network eats a little battery life - but I get a day out of it, so no issues really for me there. The speakers are much louder, and there's no stupidity that the 2g would have when you'd go to answer a call by dragging the slider, the slider might freeze and the phone would stay ringing. Thanfully, everything is so more positive on the phone.

dmcg90

Had an n95 which was clunky to say the least, main thing I used on it was the camera and texting. Then that broke so I have been on a rubbish low end nokia (you know the €49 ones) for about 8 months... have to say after getting my 3gs last week thats forgotten.

The speed of it is just staggering, im getting about 2 days from the battery with occasional calls, texts and 3g browsing. Happy enough with the battery but not liking the way after a full charge it dropped 10%battery overnight.

Mr Bloat

I'd echo what the others are saying regarding the speed of the device. I came from the 3G to it and the boost is speed is fantastic. I don't have the battery issues others are having, but that's probably because I was used to the 3G having chronic battery life , at the moment I'm getting 12 hours of decent use and 24 hours of light use from it.
Well worth the upgrade, imo.

strecker

Hated the 3g but quite like the 3g s with os3. Copy/paste was essential for me, so that's good. Battery life's slightly improved. But I have no 3g where I mostly am, so that's switched off, as is wifi/bt.
Surprised by good vid recording quality!

If I may add: purplera1n jailbreak was soooo easy and flawless I thought sth was wrong LOL But no: easy jailbreak and unlock. Winternoard works fine; just a few cydia apps not os 3 ready.

King Ian

I upgraded from an old 1st-Gen jallopy.

The speed of the 3GS excellent. No freezing up waiting for the SMS to open. Apps open in a flash.

Battery life is very disappointing. Was looking forward to a longer life-span, but if anything it's slightly less than my 1st-Gen

Copying and pasting (courtesy of the 3.0 software) is a Godsend.

Compass is a bit bizarre! Not sure how it works, but I have noticed it to be glaringly incorrect more than once (not that I use it to find my way to work or anything....)

Victor_M

King Ian wrote: »

I upgraded from an old 1st-Gen jallopy.

The speed of the 3GS excellent. No freezing up waiting for the SMS to open. Apps open in a flash.

Battery life is very disappointing. Was looking forward to a longer life-span, but if anything it's slightly less than my 1st-Gen

Copying and pasting (courtesy of the 3.0 software) is a Godsend.

Compass is a bit bizarre! Not sure how it works, but I have noticed it to be glaringly incorrect more than once (not that I use it to find my way to work or anything....)

I've read that you need to zero it by swinging in a figure of 8 motion to reset it back to true north

Dades

One thing I forgot to mention which I'm liking a lot - volume control on the Apple headphones (on the mic/track changer clicker). Really handy instead of digging the phone out of your pocket all the time.

They only work with the 3GS (apparently) though I find that odd.

Mr Bloat

Victor_M wrote: »

I've read that you need to zero it by swinging in a figure of 8 motion to reset it back to true north

That's right, although I felt like a right gom when I did it outside recently. Kinda forgot where I was a did a big Harry Potteresque flourish in a figure 8 to reset the compass. All I was short was shouting "Wingardium Leviosa" to complete the picture!

JoeA3

I find the compass very prone to "interference", I often get that warning to do the figure-of-8 thing to reset it, particularly the few times I used it in the car. Perhaps the car speakers interferring with it?? It's annoying cos when it does work it is useful in conjunction with maps.