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WWDC 2009 Reality Check 2.0: iPhone 3G vs. 3G S

Jun. 9, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

But wait, there's more.

Apple has published a handy chart comparing the iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3G S. As you might expect, it does not clearly portray some key problems.

  • First, existing iPhone 3G customers cannot upgrade to a 3G S for $199 or $299. Those prices are for new customers only. You will pay $599 or $699. Yeah, really.
  • Amazingly, several software features Apple showed off yesterday will arbitrarily not be made available to other iPhone users. These include Voice Control and Compass. What??

Also...

Tethering, a feature of iPhone Software Update 3.0, will not be made available in the US. (Thanks AT&T.) If it happens later, it will be after AT&T adds a more expensive data plan.

MMS, another feature of iPhone Software Update 3.0, will also not be made available in the US.

The white iPhone 3G is being discontinued. If you want a white phone, you have to get a 3G S. (Not a huge deal, just pointing it out.)

By the way, was anyone else amused at the sly way Apple "countered" the Palm Pre's useful and easy-to-use multitasking capabilities? In the iPhone 3G S Guided Tour video, the commentator notes, "The first thing you'll notice is how quickly you can launch all your applications, return to the home screen, and then launch another one. Or jump between apps using embedded links." See! It's just like multitasking!

Ah well.

Discuss this Article 209

danieldecker
on Jun 9, 2009
@Mike again, picking nits. Give. It. Up. Just come to terms with being wrong and move on, you'll feel much better.
panache1023
on Jun 9, 2009
This is exactly why people give up trying to show MikeGalos where he is wrong. Because no matter how often you point to the evidence, he says, "no, that's not right because"... and just keeps it going and going. Based on MikeGalos logic... Microsoft shouldn't call the .NET Compact Framework .NET...I mean, can you take a .NET Framework application and just run it on the .NET Compact Framework? It's the same thing with trying to say that Mac OS X is the same as "OS X" or "iPhone OS"...even if they use the same kernel, or a subset of said kernel.
lotsamystuff
on Jun 9, 2009
"Their keynote charts are always massaged to show bizarre things that Apple wants you to infer when the real data wouldn't make their point." Just like your arguments, Mikey, which lead us to infer that Apple is a massive failure when in fact the exact opposite is true. Your bizarro world is just...well, bizarre. "@Mike quit picking nits. You are coming across as childish and petty. You can't accept a world where you can think, for one second, that Apple might not be trying to obfuscate something. Grow up dude." ***applause, applause**** I'm thinking Mikeygalos must be a lot of fun at family picnics. Probably argues about people calling Miracle Whip "Mayonnaise" in the potato salad or some stupid damn thing.
lotsamystuff
on Jun 9, 2009
"@Mike again, picking nits. " They keep falling out of his beard.
danieldecker
on Jun 9, 2009
@dmcall Oh really? I'm a current iPhone 3G user. Got it day one. I can purchase an iPhone 3G[s] on day one of it's release for $499, not the $699 Paul claims. So. It is a customer dependent price and each user should check with AT&T to see which price they qualify for. You are right about not being able to jump from one subsidized phone to another without paying a penalty If you do so before the terms of the original contract are up. Good job, you get a gold star.
ModernDislocation
on Jun 9, 2009
@dmccall "ModernDislocation is not right about pricing. Existing customers have not finished paying the subsidy on their $200 phones, so they don't get to jump over to another subsidized phone before completing the payment of their existing phone." Huh? I never claimed they could jump to a new subsidized phone. I said the price for upgrade was 499 and 599 and not the 599 and 699 that Paul quoted. Paul's pricing is for a phone with no contract not for people mid-contract. And that is correct and is can be found on the AT&T site. http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iphone-info.jsp
mherm88
on Jun 9, 2009
I know a few people that had early upgrade last year, got their 3G and are not able to upgrade at the 199 and 299 prices.
lotsamystuff
on Jun 9, 2009
"You are right about not being able to jump from one subsidized phone to another without paying a penalty If you do so before the terms of the original contract are up." Exactly. Just like every other phone with every other carrier on the planet.
shark47
on Jun 9, 2009
"This is a chart of OS X users in the first five full years of Mac OS X, 2002 to 2007. Great steady growth, adoption. Mac OS X. This isn't shipments but actual active users. Up to 25 million, but something incredible has happened over the last two years. To show you that I need to change the scale of the graph a bit. (Keynote: magic move) And this is what happened with iPhone, with iPod Touch we have tripled the number of active users of OS X across these products." I guess Windows Mobile phones are doing extremely well, considering that Windows has a 1 bn. user base. Mike is right. The OS in iPhone is very, very different from the OS used in Macs. It's like Microsoft including Windows CE point of sale systems to determine the Windows user base. Very, very misleading.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
"This is exactly why people give up trying to show MikeGalos where he is wrong." Actually, the reason is that I'm not willing to be bullied into pretenting some person is correct just because they're loud. Show actual facts and I'm happy to back down. Keep repeating opinions as fact or repeating things that aren't true and the repetition doesn't make you right in my book. Sorry if bullying usually works for you and you've gotten used to it. Deal with it not working here.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
Shark Just an FYI: Most new Point of Sale systems now use Windows Embedded and not Windows CE. And now the WEPOS 1.x systems are moving up a generation to POSReady systems. See: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/products/readyproducts/po... for more details.
tayme
on Jun 9, 2009
One other reality check that is that the iPhone is currently the de facto standard when it comes to multi-purpose mobile phones (for those that don't know what "de facto" means, it is a Latin phrase meaning "concerning the fact" or "in practice"). Like it or not, that is the case. Would I buy an iPhone? No...but, I would consider an iPod Touch if Apple offered a subscription service. Does that mean that Apple is wrong with thier model? Not at all...there are many that use and enjoy it. So be it. As for the argument regarding the OS X vs iPhone OS, mikegalos is just pulling out a petty argument because for some reason, he feels threatened by Apple's recent successes. He wants to paint them as an evil empire, when in reality, they are much like Microsoft...a company that started small and grew into what it is today. A company that is in certain markets TO MAKE MONEY. The Apple fanatics need to understand that as well...Apple is really not looking out for your best interests...it is the stockholders' interests that they truely care about...just like Microsoft. Bill Gates has shown what it really means to be a philanthropist by what he started before his retirement from the company and what he continues today! --tayme
Lindy
on Jun 9, 2009
"First, existing iPhone 3G customers cannot upgrade to a 3G S for $199 or $299. Those prices are for new customers only. You will pay $599 or $699. Yeah, really. " Same for any phone at ATT, if your in the middle of a contract no upgrade pricing. Probably the same for Verizon and Sprint. Paul were you thinking the 3.0 update would inject hardware into your old phone so you could use such things as the compass? Pure genius brother. www.winsuperhack.com
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
tayme Actually, Windows Mobile is the de facto standard for multi-purpose mobile phones. As an example, even Apple uses what are essentially Windows Mobile devices for their in-store mobile POS system. To catch up in that market, Apple would either have to manufacture or let others manufacture devices in more form factors than a capacitance touch candybar. For example there is no iPhone available that's ruggedized or MilSpec or NSA certified secure or designed for hazardous environments or environments that require gloves or hazmat suits since those don't work with capacitance touch screens. On top of that, they don't have a compatible embedded OS for OEMs that want to make the same controller or multi-function device for use in both a hand-held and console version or in an environment where any form of touch is a bad choice or, for that matter, a totally unusable one. They do well in selling to the upscale consumer status market. When you get beyond that niche, iPhone is a non-starter.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
Just a couple of examples The General Dynamics Sectera Edge - The only NSA certfied secure "smart phone" http://www.gdc4s.com/content/detail.cfm?item=32640fd9-0213-4330-a742-551... The Motorola FR 68 and FR 6000 which are rated to survive 300 and 500 falls from 1.5' onto concrete respectively (The FR 6000 is also certified for dust and liquid sealing): http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS3089236997.html and http://www.stonenarcher.com/Motorola/EnterpriseMobility/FR/
Ocean
on Jun 9, 2009
As I mentioned yesterday (now taken from PC Magazine): >>Business Skills: Make no mistake, Apple is more interested in the enterprise than ever. The additions of tethering and cut-and-paste capabilities to the iPhone OS 3.0 are designed to satisfy business users. Now Microsoft Exchange support is being built right into OS X. This announcement received one of the biggest rounds of applause during the keynote and for good reason. When the new OS ships, Macs will be able to integrate seamlessly with Exchange-based offices. Again, this is not necessarily the most exciting announcement, but one that could have the biggest long-term impact on users and Apple. <<
Ocean
on Jun 9, 2009
>>They do well in selling to the upscale consumer status market. When you get beyond that niche, iPhone is a non-starter.<< Lets put it another way: * Apple targeted a portion of the mobile phone market, concentrated their efforts, and as a result, have obliterated the competition there. * As well as they're doing there, I don't think they're worried about being all things to all the rest.
tayme
on Jun 9, 2009
"As an example, even Apple uses what are essentially Windows Mobile devices for their in-store mobile POS system. " Not in the Apple Store where I live. I was recently in there and their "Genius" appointment booking and sales were done on either an iPhone or iPod...not sure which it was. Maybe you are referring to the backend system....which very well may be Windows powered, I am not sure. Since all new multi-purpose mobile phones are now compared to the iPhone, in my book...that makes it the de facto standard. Look at the Pre release...and the Samsung Omnia, and HTC Touch, and the G1. The feature sets were all compared to iPhone's. --tayme
tayme
on Jun 9, 2009
"The General Dynamics Sectera Edge..." I don't remember seeing anything comparing the features of any other phone to that one in order to make a sell in the consumer market. Yes, I know...I didn't say Consumer Multi-Purpose Mobile Phone...my mistake. --tayme
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
"The additions of tethering and cut-and-paste capabilities to the iPhone OS 3.0 are designed to satisfy business users." OK. That may go down as the silly statement of the discussion (beard comments excluded). Cut-and-paste is a business feature? It's sad what's happened to the once important PC Magazine.
panache1023
on Jun 9, 2009
MikeGalos, Continually being shown where and why you are wrong is not called bullying.
Ocean
on Jun 9, 2009
C'Mon Mike, either debate or don't. Don't nitpick one little detail to derail an argument you can't win.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
tayme "Not in the Apple Store where I live. " Then you're in a test market store. Apple's been using the Windows Mobile based EasyPay system since 2005 and announced about six weeks ago that they'll be transitioning to a new home grown system sometime after iPhone OS 3.0 ships.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
panache "Continually being shown where and why you are wrong is not called bullying." And when did you do that? (Forget "continually", when did you actually post a factual correction to a factual error in one of my posts?)
panache1023
on Jun 9, 2009
All I had to do was point to the comments that multiple other posters were posting. Just because you don't want to admit you are wrong, and are repeatedly shown where and why you are wrong, is not bullying. Maybe you should just stroke your beard and say, "it's OK MikeGalos, you can be wrong sometimes, especially when it comes to anything to do with computers"
panache1023
on Jun 9, 2009
And just to make sure it is seen here... MikeGalos was arrogantly trying to claim that Apple is charging $29 to upgrade to SnowLeopard and compared it to Vista SP1 moving to Vista SP2... here was my response, which no doubt he will ignore MikeGalos, Here's a comparison for you Mac OS X 10.5 -> Mac OS X 10.6 - $29 Windows NT 6.0 -> Windows NT 6.1 - ??? how much? Until MS says $29 or less, it's time to take your beard and shut up.
chuckb84
on Jun 9, 2009
"Actually, to the Windows Mobile comments, I would add this. Apple had a chart listing the number of apps per phone. Conspicuously missing, of course, was Windows Mobile, which has over 20,000 apps and would thus be number two in that market." Oh, I forgot Apple is supposed to advertise their competitors products! Who knew! Of course in the much-discussed Windows 7 version differences table, or "feature list" as Mike prefers, Microsoft failed to list Mac OS X! I'm shocked, just shocked at that conspicuous omission. The nerve! Mac OS X is number two in that market! Seriously, don't companies try to portray their own products in the best possible light? This is a surprise to anyone? Somehow it's just terrible when Apple does it? But fine when Microsoft does the same thing? Just the daily hypocrisy dose here on the winuberalles blog.
Lindy
on Jun 9, 2009
Wife just tried to pre-order a 16gig. She does not qualify until 7-25, and she currently has a razor. She could pay the high price and get one, SO ITS NOT just current iPhone users. Oh and at ATT they are aready back ordered.
gorath
on Jun 9, 2009
I'm pretty sure the iphone and ipod don't use OSX. if they did, wouldn't the OSX SDKs and APIs work on them?
Ocean
on Jun 9, 2009
Cut and paste: >>I can’t understand why there isn’t more of an uproar about this must-have option in such a versatile device. I’m tired of typing in long web addresses from notes, address book notes, and iCal note fields... I’m tired of typing in redundant information into notes or iCal entries. I’m tired of hand copying text from web sites into other applications. Heck, try typing, from memory at best, long WEP keys for protected wireless networks! Tired, tired, tired!<<
lotsamystuff
on Jun 9, 2009
"They do well in selling to the upscale consumer status market. When you get beyond that niche, iPhone is a non-starter." Jealousy is such an ugly thing. Much like mikegalos himself.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
panache Actually, I did respond to your pointless post in the othe thread. (Oh, and did you think adding the beard comment made your point somehow more valid? More fact based?) So, where is the "factual correction" in you wanting the upgrad price between two products that exist only in your imagination? As I said earlier and you still haven't actually answered: when did you actually post a factual correction to a factual error in one of my posts?
panache1023
on Jun 9, 2009
MikeGalos, The beard comments are just funny, that's all. But again...are you saying that Windows NT 6.0 is not a real thing just because it's marketed as Vista? Are you saying Windows NT 6.1 is not real since it's marketed as Windows 7? Obviously you can't address the POINT of the matter... That you criticize Apple for charging $29 for a point release, but no one hears a word from you about MS charging for a POINT release. Now that I cleared up the (obvious) point for you, you can stop stroking your beard as a way to help you relax, and start stroking your beard as a way to help you think.
panache1023
on Jun 9, 2009
MikeGalos, I don't have to point out where you are wrong that at the keynote yesterday that the OS used on the iPhone was referred to and counted as Mac OS X when other posters have already done so. See their posts to find out why you are wrong.
WebGuy3000
on Jun 9, 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_OS
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
panache Actually you seem to be ducking the "point of the matter" by substituting a mix of product and kernel versions as though they were a set of real products. Now, are you saying: Microsoft should charge $29 or less for any version upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7? Is that what you meant to say? Are you also trying to say "since the kernel number is only a point release it isn't a full OS upgrade"? Are you also trying to say then that all OS X upgrades (that usually cost $129) should be $29 or less since they're also, by your definition, point releases? If not, you need a new definition. If so, you must think Apple's been ripping people off for 10.1->10.2->10.3->10.4->10.5->10.6 And what about that 10.0->10.1 upgrade that was a free bug fix? Should Apple users send a check to Apple? You see, it gets more complicated when you express even your opinions (and these are your opinions and no way are "factual error" corrections) in a way that actually has meaning. Again: when did you actually post a factual correction to a factual error in one of my posts?
Lindy
on Jun 9, 2009
@mherm88 quoting neowin.net is like quoting MS marketing department.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
panache Actually, the other posters confirmed that Apple counted iPhone OS as Mac OS X which is a deceptive value. At best it could be counted as part of the "Apple OS X Family of Operating Systems" which is NOT how it was presented in yesterday's keynote. There the phrase was: "Mac OS X. This isn't shipments but actual active users." and while a case could be made for iPhone OS 3.0 being in the OS X family, it is clearly NOT "Mac OS X" as the use of "Mac" refers to Macintosh products. But, again, it's interesting that you can't find a case where you actually post a factual correction to a factual error in one of my posts.
hamiltonstallings
on Jun 9, 2009
"Wife just tried to pre-order a 16gig. She does not qualify until 7-25, and she currently has a razor." Lindy are you a dude? lol
panache1023
on Jun 9, 2009
MikeGalos, What's interesting is that you use a post of mine which proves your hypocrisy as if I was trying to post a "factual error correction" of yours. Then, you take an excerpt of a sentence from the keynote AGAIN and use it as proof your statements (which are in error) and say that your statements have been confirmed. Very weird. And here you are, the bearded wonder that claims when you are wrong you back down, yet...you know what, you're too pathetic to keep this going. Your hypocrisy is immeasurable, but rates only second to your inability to admit when you are wrong.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 9, 2009
Panache You claimed that you are " continually showing where and why [I am] wrong " but yet you can't find one case of anything factually wrong that you've corrected. As for the claims you can't seem to understand, I'll simplify it for you with some simple statements: iPhone OS 3.0 is not Mac OS X (True or False? I'd say this is true. Do you agree or disagree?) The keynote yesterday showed a growth chart described as actual users of Mac OS X (True or False? Again, I'd say this is true and showed the actual quote from the keynote - provided by a Mac advocate - that backs me up. Do you agree or disagree?) Since iPhone OS is not Mac OS X then including its users in a count of Mac OS X users is deceptive. (I'd agree - if you disagree please explain why) Now, that isn't that hard. All you have to do to show I'm wrong is show: How iPhone OS is actually Mac OS X or Show a transcript that shows the statement describing the chart is wrong or Explain why a chart of actual Mac OS X users should include people not using Mac OS X. Or, you can apologize. Your choice.
tayme
on Jun 9, 2009
@mikegalos - "Apple counted iPhone OS as Mac OS X" Since you were the first in this thread to say it and you continue to say that Apple said it...can you point me to a link where you got that "fact"? If you have already, somewhere earlier in this thread, I sincerely apologize. You saying it is not proof that anybody at Apple said it, by the way...much as you said that panache pointing to other's responses is not proof. --tayme
darkmax
on Jun 9, 2009
Woah.... sit boys, sit!
Ocean
on Jun 9, 2009
>>iPhone OS 3.0 is not Mac OS X (True or False? )<< True. Though why you worded it that way is a mystery. Iphone OS / = Mac OS X They're family, and Apples calls them the same thing (basically), but they run on different platforms so they are different. Windows Mobile / = Windows either.
shark47
on Jun 9, 2009
Oh dear God. In the end, Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all there to make money and if you believe otherwise, then God bless you. I think, thanks to the Justice Department's case, most people at least realize that about Microsoft.
danieldecker
on Jun 9, 2009
Mike refuses to acknowledge the distinction between "Mac OS X" a desktop operating system and "OS X" a collection of operating system foundation technologies that is at the core of "Mac OS X" and "iPhone OS X/iPhone OS 2.0-3.0" and "Darwin", the open source derivative. Therefore I will refuse acknowledge the difference between "Windows 2000" a desktop operating system and "NT 5.0" the underlying OS foundation. My refusal to acknowledge this distinction allows me to call "Windows 7" what it really is "NT 6.1" Wow, I can be wrong, and therefore be like Mike! Awesome!
shark47
on Jun 9, 2009
In the end, none of you is willing to let go. If mikegalos is an idiot, so are all of you.
adamb1000
on Jun 9, 2009
Heres proof that the iPhone runs a stripped version of OS X: http://web.archive.org/web/20071006005308/http://www.apple.com/iphone/fe... I quote from the page: "iPhone uses OS X, the world’s most advanced operating system. Which means you have access to the best-ever software on a handheld device, including rich HTML email, full-featured web browsing, and favorite applications including Address Book and Calendar. iPhone is also fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background. This software completely redefines what you can do with a mobile phone."
Ocean
on Jun 9, 2009
Nice Daniel. Nice.
tayme
on Jun 9, 2009
@sharky - Bravo!!! --tayme

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