Apple iPhone 2.0, $199 8GB, $299 16GB

[DivideBYZero]

No where near as radical or game-changing as most thought.

 

[UNCjigga]

So basically the only reason *NOT* to buy this is AT&T's crappy 3G network coverage. If you live in Europe and pricing agreements are similarly arranged with carriers (which should be the case--as generally Europe has the cheapest devices/best subsidies around) you're much better off.

I only wish they'd update the iPod touch with integrated GPS, but I doubt that's going to happen!

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
No where near as radical or game-changing as most thought.

Umm, how so? What were YOU expecting? It's an iPhone with 3G--the game changing was already done last year. This minor update pretty much lines up spec-for-spec with what all the rumors have been saying.

The only things missing from what was rumored are:

1) front-facing webcam (not a big deal)
2) fuel-cell or solar power (wild speculation to begin with)
3) smaller form-factor version (not a big deal)

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
No where near as radical or game-changing as most thought.

I disagree, they added 3g and GPS and dropped the price in HALF.

 

[phonefreak]

I am seriously considering getting one of these, but I think I will wait and see the first reviews that come out. I wish apple didnt tell everyone about these things and then release them like a month later.

 

[vexingv]

i think the new price is the most compelling feature, if it can considered a feature. $200 really makes the iphone affordable and will effect how future smartphones are priced and what features are offered.

i still would like to hold off for Android, but no hardware has been announced and $200 is quite affordable.

some question maybe some ppl can answer:

1. 1. if I already have an ATT plan (expires 12/08, but i'd rather not be chained down) does getting activating an iphone automatically force me to renew my contract?
   
   2. would i have to jailbreak it to opt out of a new contract?
   
   3. is the $20 data plan a requirement (i've read that you can cancel once its on your plan)? i think $20/month on top of voice is a bit too much...
   
   4. does A-GPS need a data plan for use? and how accurate is A-GPS? any text-to-speech option?

 

[aphex]

Unfortunately, most of your questions are unknowns at this point. If the price is indeed subsidized by AT&T, it may be different then last time.

 

[BassBomb]

Damn son, I should drive down to Buffalo and get the 16GB, blows the ipod touch out of the water now in pricing

Not sure when Rogers is going to sell it up here

 

[NFS4]

I want one bad, however, I wanted at LEAST a 32GB model so I could ditch my 32GB iPod touch (it's about 23GB full right now). Then there's the $200 early termination fee I'd have to pay to leave Alltel plus higher monthly bills.

Even so, after selling my old phone, the iPod touch and even paying the early termination fee, I still might come out about even on costs -- but I'd still only have 16GB.

 

[Michael]

For me the keys are:

UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

So USA/,Europe and Asia 3G bands are covered plus it is quad-band GSM. The 3G is very important if you travel to Japan and Korea. Same for the quad band. My job requires frequent travel to Asia and occassional travel to Europe so I like all the frequencies covered.

The second is push mail for Exchange.

I'm already an AT&T customer and will be getting the 16GB version when it comes out.

I have a P990i (bought when I was living in Singapore) and I can tell you the video chat 3G feature just is not used so no forward camera is not a big deal (I know people want to use iChat with it, but for a phone not needed). Same with MMS. That really isn't used al lthat much and you can just send an email with the picture attached.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

Michael

 

[NFS4]

Can anyone explain to me the reasoning for the recessed headphone jack on the original iPhone -- and even if it was necessary, why did they change it back to flush (other than rightful bitching by EVERYONE) this time around?

 

[vexingv]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Can anyone explain to me the reasoning for the recessed headphone jack on the original iPhone -- and even if it was necessary, why did they change it back to flush (other than rightful bitching by EVERYONE) this time around?

They wanted to limit you to Apple sanctioned accessories (or provide the Apple accessory economy a product to sell); ie. take more money out of your wallet.

 

[vexingv]

Originally posted by: BZeto
Integrated GPS! It really looks too good to be true.

no one has spoken about the issue that it is Assisted-GPS. can this truly supplant a dedicated (eg. Tomtom, Garmin) unit? and will one be required to have a wireless data plan to use this function?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vexingv

Originally posted by: NFS4
Can anyone explain to me the reasoning for the recessed headphone jack on the original iPhone -- and even if it was necessary, why did they change it back to flush (other than rightful bitching by EVERYONE) this time around?

They wanted to limit you to Apple sanctioned accessories (or provide the Apple accessory economy a product to sell); ie. take more money out of your wallet.

But why change it now -- especially now that the price is lower...

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
No where near as radical or game-changing as most thought.

Umm, how so? What were YOU expecting? It's an iPhone with 3G--the game changing was already done last year. This minor update pretty much lines up spec-for-spec with what all the rumors have been saying.

The only things missing from what was rumored are:

1) front-facing webcam (not a big deal)
2) fuel-cell or solar power (wild speculation to begin with)
3) smaller form-factor version (not a big deal)

I think you answered your own question.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
No where near as radical or game-changing as most thought.

I disagree, they added 3g and GPS and dropped the price in HALF.

Yeah, thanks I didn't miss that, but tons upon tons of devices have that and more. Big deal.

 

[vexingv]

newsflash: iphone wireless internet plan now to be $30

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: phonefreak
I am seriously considering getting one of these, but I think I will wait and see the first reviews that come out. I wish apple didnt tell everyone about these things and then release them like a month later.

Here is the first hands on

http://gizmodo.com/5014732/3g-iphone-first-hands-on

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
No where near as radical or game-changing as most thought.

I disagree, they added 3g and GPS and dropped the price in HALF.

Yeah, thanks I didn't miss that, but tons upon tons of devices have that and more. Big deal.

really? a giant price cut and substantial improvements to the internet and stuff seem pretty big to me

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: maziwanka

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
No where near as radical or game-changing as most thought.

I disagree, they added 3g and GPS and dropped the price in HALF.

Yeah, thanks I didn't miss that, but tons upon tons of devices have that and more. Big deal.

really? a giant price cut and substantial improvements to the internet and stuff seem pretty big to me

It's just another 3G device.

 

[BD2003]

Man, I am so sold. I was waiting for proper GPS, and even though it seems like the mapping software might not be up to snuff, I have read that tomtom is already ready to rock.

The lower pricing is just icing on the cake. With this one device, I can replace my ipod, my gps and my cell phone, and that will more than cover the cost of the phone itself.

SWEET!

All thats needed now is a proper car dock that can power it and output that audio...hopefully in landscape.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I'll buy one if I can get their lowest minutes plan, free att-to-att, and unlimited data for $60/month or less. Otherwise, I'll stick with Sprint and my Q.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
I'll buy one if I can get their lowest minutes plan, free att-to-att, and unlimited data for $60/month or less. Otherwise, I'll stick with Sprint and my Q.

It's gonna start at $70/mo

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

It's just another 3G device.

I'm not sure what you expected then? Or really what your point is?

Everything was pretty close in line with the rumors over the past few months, I didn't see anything rumored that would mistakenly leave people to believe it would be radically different. Why change a good thing? Just make it better and cheaper, I'm happy as I believe most people on the fence were as well.

 

[mshan]

Keynote is online now.