iPhone 3G S vs iPhone 3G: To upgrade or not

If you have patiently waited and resisted from getting an iPhone, your patience has been awarded.  As you know, the iPhone 3G S was released today, and it has almost everything a standard phone should have - copy and paste, video recording, MMS, and voice dialing.  It even has a digital compass to beef up your map and navigation experience.  If you have considered getting an iPhone, the latest version is definitely the one to get.  

BUT, what about the existing iPhone 3G owners?  Should we upgrade?

Other than the increased size and improved process so you can hold more stuff and have a smooth experience, here are the primary differences between the 3G S and 3G.

A better camera: 

An improvement from 2 megapixels to 3 megapixels.  It also now has the ability to autofocus.  So here are somethings to ask yourself:

• Do you take a lot of pictures?  If you take a lot of pictures with the existing iPhone, this is one reason to get the new iPhone.  
  
• Do you take a lot of pictures UP CLOSE?  A better cameras mean you can also snap business cards and magazine articles.  (We'll have to wait until someone tries and see how good it is)  Seems like it might enhance business and productivity workflows.  Another reason to get it.
  

Built-in video camera with editing:

Frankly, feel this is a nice to have to me.  However, I never really tried recording video with a portable device.  This could be kind of cool.  You can capture all these short moments, and easily edit them together on the computer with iMovie.

Hmm... I'd say this is not a big reason to get the new iPhone unless you already have the habit of recording short videos with your existing phones.

Voice Control

The Apple implementation of the Voice Control is definitely nice.  If you drive or find yourself in a lot of situations where you can't take out your phone and tap on it, this could be a big reason.

Since I use the train, this is not a big reason for me.

Compass

If you used Google Maps and you're fine with it, the compass is not a big reason for you.  For me, I still got lost with GPS and Maps.  The compass will probably make Maps much usable for me.  Another reason for the new iPhone.  (I don't like where this is going...)

Nike+ iPod

If you run with your phone, here's another reason.  I think the iPhone is too big for running.  I'd still prefer a Shuffle or Nano.

And my verdict...

So with in the 5 features above, 2 features are reasons for me to get the new iPhone.  In other words I would buy the new iPhone 3G S so I could:

• take prettier pictures
  
• take snap shots of business cards and magazine articles
  
• not get lost as often

Hmm... not very sure if I can justify this purchase.  Really like the compass though.   I shall have to wait to see.

If the above aren't reasons for you, then I'd recommend waiting as well.  Within a week, your iPhone 3G will come packed with new features again!  

Let me here what you think and thanks for reading!

Source: Apple

What new features will existing iPhone 3G owners get?

New features

• cut copy and paste
• horizontal keyboards in Apple's apps (i.e. Mail)
• MMS (coming soon in summer from AT&T)
• search across your iPhone
• Internet tethering (for certain carriers only)
• push notifications

Apps related

• Notes syncing with computer
• Voice memo app

Music 

• stereo Bluetooth
• shake to shuffle

iTunes

• buy and rent movies, buy TV shows, music videos, and audiobooks from the phone

MobileMe features

• MobileMe: iDisk app - access your iDisk files (finally!!!)
• MobileMe: Find your iPhone - You can find the location of your iPhone on Me.com. You can have it play a sound so you can locate it. If you lost your iPhone and someone has it, you can send a message to the iPhone to tell them to return it.
• MobileMe: Remote wipe - wipe the iPhone clean remotely. Hope I'll never have to use it, but it's nice to know that it's there.

Highlights of Apple WWDC 2009 Keynote

iPhone 3GS

• faster (2 times, to be exact)
• 3 megapixel camera, with auto focus
• built-in digital compass - an application would be maps which would reorient itself according to your direction.  Useful if you're bad with maps like me.
• video recording and editing
• voice control - use voice to call and control your music (say an artist name to play their music)
• Nike+ iPod app (looks like the app that's on the latest iPod touches)

For iPhone and iPod touch owners - 3.0 features

• old iPhone 3G is now $99 in US in 8GB model
• cut copy and paste
• horizontal keyboards in Apple's apps (i.e. Mail)
• MMS
• search across your iPhone
• Internet tethering
• voice memos
• stereo Bluetooth
• buy and rent movies, buy TV shows, music videos, and audiobooks from the phone
• shake to shuffle
• Notes syncing with the computer
• MobileMe: iDisk app - access your iDisk files (finally!!!)
• MobileMe: Find your iPhone - You can find the location of your iPhone on Me.com.  You can have it play a sound so you can locate it.  If you lost your iPhone and someone has it, you can send a message to the iPhone to tell them to return it.
• MobileMe: Remote wipe - wipe the iPhone clean remotely.  Hope I'll never have to use it, but it's nice to know that it's there.

MacBook Pro Line

• 13 inch - The existing aluminum 13 inch MacBooks are now in the MacBook Pro Line.  Built-in battery.  More vivid display.  Up to 8GB of memory.  Backlit keyboard and 800 FireWire.  Starts at $1199
  
• 15 inch upgraded - More vivid display, built-in battery like it's 17 inch brother and SD card slot are the most noticeable features.  
  
• 17 inch upgraded - better specs
  

MacBook Line

The white MacBook is back in the spotlight in the MacBook line at $999.  With the MacBook Pro 13 inch at $1199, seems like MacBook Pro is a better buy.  Personally, the price difference is too little.  For $200 bucks more, seems like you get a lot of stuff over the $999 MacBook.   Wouldn't it be great if they price this at $799? Or even $899 would be nice.

Snow Leopard (Next OS for Mac)

• Takes up 6GB lesser than Leopard  
  
• New Expose features (in particular, integration with the Dock) - As an avid user of Expose, looking forward to this one.
  
• support for Microsoft Exchange
  
• $29 dollar upgrade for Leopard users!!! $29!!! That's incredible!
  
• Available September

Other

• Safari 4 is released today
  

Video of Apple WWDC 2009 Keynote Address

Watch the iPhone 3GS, new MacBook Pros, and Snow Loepard at Apple's website here.  Enjoy!  

2009 WWDC predictions - new iPhone, cheaper iPhone, no camera iPod touch, no tablet

With the WWDC happening within the next 24 hours, I decided to give a shot at predicting the announcments.  Also be sure to check out the last minute rumor updates from Gizmodo.  Besides an in depth look and a official release date for Snow Leopard, here are my iPhone, tablet, iPod touch predictions.

New iPhone

Features:

• faster processors, and more storage - in particular, a 32GB model
  
  
• a slightly improved camera - In additional to a better camera,  I'm hoping they'll tag a front video chat cameras.  Not only can you make video calls, you'd be able to video chat on via other applications.  
  
  
• magnetometer - this would make Google Maps even better!
  
  
• buy and download iTunes TV and movies straight from iPod
  
  
• new Apple app for MobileMe so you can FINALLY access files on your iDisk
  
  
• record and edit videos

A cheaper iPhone

• Roughly about the same size.  Screen size is the same because if it was different, apps would have to be changed.
  
  
• No camera and no GPS.  Imagine an iPod touch + phone.  
  

No tablet

Think it's going to be saved for a future event when Steve Jobs is back.

iPod touch 

• No new iPod touch model with cameras - Don't think the current price will have a camera.  Adding a camera will increase the price substantially.  
  
  
• Peripherals enabling iPod touch to become a camera - Since the iPhone 3.0 software allows for add ons through the dock connector, I'm boldly predicting there will be an camera accessory for the touch.  You simply hook the accessory to the iPod touch, and it will instantly turn your touch into an camera as well. 
  

That's all for my predictions.  We'll find out soon enough.  

Google Wave makes email so yesterday

Google Wave is one of those things that can't really be described and explained in words.  You have to see it for yourself.  

This thing is amazing.  The ability to have all your communications all in one place.  That's neat.  So imagine blog comments, emails, chat messages all in one place, and can be managed coherently.  

And you have Google Voice unifying your phones.  Imagine what Google Wave and Voice can together... It sounds cool, but also sounds scary when Google has all the data...

For those that don't know what Google Voice is, you can find out here.  Their home page describes it as "Google Voice is a service that gives you one number for all your phones, voicemail that is easy as email, and many enhanced calling features like call blocking and screening, voicemail transcripts, call conferencing, international calls, and more."

Interesting times we're living in alright...

What?! Mario was Popeye? Princess Peach was Olive?

That's right, according to the book - "Philosophy of Nintendo", Nintendo was going to release an arcade game based on Popeye in the 1980s before their home console was out.  

However, they ran into copyright problems, and could not use Popeye.  Instead they asked Miyamoto-san to design something.  And Mario was created to replace Popeye and Princess Peach to substitute the damsel in distress, Olive.  Instead of Pluto, Donkey Kong was created.  

And by the way, Mario was named after an employee in the US offices because they looked similar.  

And that would be the Nintendo trivia of they day =)

Thanks for reading!

Source: Philosophy of Nintendo - page 98-99