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Apple announces iPhone 3G S at WWDC, to launch June 19th

Posted by Katherine Hannaford on Mon 8 Jun 2009

Apple's updated the iPhone, keeping the same stylish design but improving the software drastically.

Today at WWDC Apple introduced a brand new iPhone, the iPhone 3G S. Mirroring the last model in aesthetics, it has the brand new OS 3.0 crammed full with over 100 new features.

 

The iPhone 3G S features a digital compass, to aid Google Maps usage, but it will be particularly interesting to see what developers build using this technology. There are many amazing apps available on the Android platform that use the compass technology, so we imagine the developers sitting in the audience at WWDC are already cooking up firm ideas.

 

The camera has been boosted from 2.0-megapixels to 3.2-megapixels, and now features auto focus. Trialling it just minutes ago, T3 was impressed with the auto focus function - tapping on an element in the photo, for instance a person, brings that element into focus, but tap away from that object - like the background - will make the person fuzzy and the background much sharper. It's mechanical rather than software based, so it's not possible for Apple to upgrade the currrent iPhone 3G with auto focus.

 

There's still no flash, however Apple has worked hard to increase quality in photo-taking during low-light situations. This is particularly evident when recording video, another new function available with the iPhone 3G S. Load the camera app, and slide the new toggle from photo to video, and then push the red 'record' button. Video will start recording instantly, at 640 x 480, 30fps, and 30fps.

 

Users can also edit videos, by scrubbing through the footage shot and selecting the frames. It's worth noting however that any deleted footage is lost forever.

 

The iPhone 3G S can now understand human voice, with Voice Control. Simply ask your iPhone 'what's playing now?' or 'play the Beatles', and it will perform that task, or answer your question. It understands many different phrases, and over 30 languages.

 

It's now twice as fast, with most functions performing better than in the last model. Apple wouldn't comment on the processor included, however the phone is two grams heavier than the last one. Users can also use the iPhone 3G S in place of a mobile broadband dongle, through tethering. O2 has confirmed that it will charge a tethering bolt-on fee of £14.68 a month for 3GB of data, and 10GB for £29.36 a month.

 

Available from June the 19th, it will come in 16GB and 32GB variants, with black and white colour options. Pricing hasn't been confirmed for the UK yet, but in the US the 16GB option will set customers back $199, and the 32GB will be $299. The current 3G model will be reduced to just $99. The BBC is claiming the 3G model will cost the UK market £61, with the 16GB 3G S coming in at £185, and the 32GB model at £274, however that's not yet confirmed by Apple.

 

Carphone Warehouse will be the exclusive independent retailer, with O2 the network within the UK.

 

Link: Apple iPhone 3G S

 

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