In case you hadn’t heard, Apple has made official the iPhone 3G. Here, I will break down the details so you know exactly what’s up. First up, the shape and size is not significantly changed from the original model, though the back is curvier. It comes in 8GB and 16GB models. The 16GB model is also offered in black and white versions. The different colors also indicate that the back is now plastic instead of metal, as Apple found that the signal is slightly retarded through the metal. Everything else is pretty much the same.

Now for the big changes. Instead of just EDGE the iPhone 3G supports UMTS/HSDPA. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth remain, though the hardware was likely firmware updated and gets updated drivers. Apple also added an Assisted GPS unit for full GPS instead of none. The biggest change, however, will be the addition of iPhone OS 2.0. The new iPhone 3G will be available on July 11th and cost US$199 for the 8GB model and US$299 for the 16GB model.

written by Tyler Regas

This won’t take long, but there is one thing I’d like to say first. I’m disappointed, and not because of anything Apple has or has not done. Mostly because there’s so much damned energy in the speculation involved, that now that its here and its real it just doesn’t taste as good as promised. I’m very pleased to hear about MobileMe and the iPhone3G, but I was hoping there was more. Of course, were Jobs to give us more, he’d run out of kewl before the year was through. So, here are the three very cool things he announced.

• More features for iPhone 2.0 software, which will be available in early July. Feh. Too long to wait.
• MobileMe will rock Outlook to its core, despite them hiring the same guy who designed the Windows ME logo.
• The new 3G hardware looks nice. Very nice, as does the price. 8GB for US$199, 16GB for US$299. The 16GB unit will also be available in white.

written by Tyler Regas

Here’s how its going to work. I’m not there and I’m not going to copy anyone else’s liveblog entries. You can check out Gizmodo’s and Engadget’s liveblogs for the latest entries, blow by blow. When its over and I’ve had time to digest it and watch the video when it goes up later today, I will post a comprehensive, detail oriented, explosive exposé on everything Jobsian, down to the color of his clothes (duh: black!).

written by Tyler Regas

Today is one of those days where it feels really, really good to be a journalist covering the mobile computing market. Today is one of those days, that if things work out the way Mr. Jobs envisions them, which suggests that there can be a future and that science fiction is getting a lot closer to fact. Today’s Town Hall meeting at the Apple campus in Cupertino, CA was more than just a press release for Apple’s software development kit (SDK) for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it was an affirmation of the wakeup call Apple is delivering to the rest of the mobile computing industry on an almost daily basis.

First up, the iPhone now holds a 28% marketshare of the smartphone market. RIM holds the largest segment at 41%. The cost of these devices is what keeps them out of the average user’s hands, though, so the iPhone hasn’t made much headway into the standard handset market. However, Jobs claims that iPhone traffic accounts for a ridiculous 71% of mobile device web usage. Bwah! That’s mind boggling, though I Jobs didn’t mention the metric used to make that determination (though I’m sure it was a market research firm). Read on for a lot more. Believe me, its worth it. Continue reading »

written by Tyler Regas

Nothing all that interesting, just incremental upgrades. Of note, the new MacBook and MacBook Pro models get new multi-touch trackpads, the ability to use up to 4GBs of RAM, more LED backlights to go around, bigger drives, and 2.4-, 2.5-, and 2.6GHz Penryn-based processors. Incidentally, Apple is also now taking orders on the 2GB iPod Shuffle.

written by Tyler Regas

If you’ve been waiting for this one, wait no longer. Head on over to your Software Update tool and download it now. This update includes various fixes and improvements. The big players in 10.5.2, however, are hot ones. First, the Menubar no longer has to be transparent. Second, you can now have your hierarchical Dock folders back. Third, there’s now a Time Machine icon for the Menubar. Nifty!

written by Tyler Regas

In case you were wondering where the keynote was being held, Apple don’t do that no more. Without any fanfare or excitement at all, the iPhone has a new 16GB model now. Its going for US$499, which is no small number (if you want a larger number, check out our Nokia N95 8GB review from earlier today). The iPod Touch now offers a 32GB model which is priced the same. The old 8GB model of iPhone and 8GB and 16GB models of the Touch are still available as well. Now, if anyone would like to send me one, new or used (but working), I’d be glad to give it a home. You see, Apple doesn’t like the smaller sites to review their stuff. Doesn’t stop me, but not being able to buy everything they offer kinda limits our range!

written by Tyler Regas

Well, AT&T has finally done it, and not a minute too soon. AT&T is now offering enterprise specific plans for the iPhone. Combine this news with the confirmation that IBM is working on Lotus/Domino connectivity for “Apple products” (wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know what I mean?) and the nearing release of an official Apple SDK for the iPhone and you have a sparkling golden triangle of truth. I’m not going to quote the plan details here, primarily because they don’t make sense to me, but it seems like its a decent deal.

written by Tyler Regas

Sure, I’m cheap. These are from the Apple site, but hey. I’ve got nothing better to do right now other than geek out on the latest Apple gadge. Here’s a tease. More on the next page.

Continue reading »

written by Tyler Regas