If you read my original iPhone review, then you know that I was pretty impressed with Apple‘s first generation cell phone. My first impressions were nothing short of stellar. The original iPhone wasn’t perfect, and I pointed out a few flaws in the first iteration. Since that review, Apple has addressed some of the flaws via software updates. Here are my original gripes along with Apple’s fix:

On the same note, one cannot add ring tones to the iPhone. This basic feature of just about every cell phone on the market strikes me as surprising that it’s missing. The fact that it’s not there at launch brings up serious questions as to what’s going on at Apple. Speculation continues on “what’s coming” but I’m not talking about what’s coming, I’m talking about what’s not there now.

Custom ringtones were added in firmware 1.1.2.

The iPhone also lacks customization. Aside from ring tones, you can’t customize the application standby screen. You are stuck with plain black. The only thing you can customize is the wallpaper which is only present when the phone is locked or making a call! Why include customization on screens that you’ll barely see. It’s a minor annoyance, but it’s a standard feature on many smart phones.

Apple added the ability to customize icons on the home screen, including arrangement and Mobile Safari shortcuts. This area still needs improvement.

The iPhone needs applications. The included applications are brilliant and work well for the most part, but Apple needs to embrace the developer community and create a real SDK. This is one of my biggest gripes at the moment because it could literally put the iPhone in the “unstoppable” category. The iPhone needs more applications and it needs them badly.

The iTunes App Store was introduced on July 11th.

I’m not going to dwell on the software too much, since the original iPhone is reaping the benefits of these improvements. I’m now going to look at the newest piece of hardware Apple has released, the iPhone 3G. I was blessed with two iPhone 3G’s by jim48116 by way of donation to Bwana.TV. Jim enjoyed my work so much, he felt compelled to honor us with this gift. Thanks Jim for your generosity! My wife and I have been using our iPhones for approximately 2 weeks which, I believe, is enough time to conduct a proper review. First, let’s talk about impressions.

First impressions

Gather around boys and girls, I have a story to tell you. While many owners of the iPhone 3G had terrible issues on launch day regarding activation, ours was a little bit more, unique. While standing in line at our local Apple store, we were greeted by an Apple rep who asked us a very important question: “Do you have any corporate discounts on your AT&T account? If you do, you’ll need to call AT&T and have it removed prior to activating an iPhone 3G”.

“We’re fine.”

I had a corporate discount many years ago, but I had it removed when I bought my first iPhone. A couple of hours later, we reached the front of the line, where we met another Apple rep with a snazzy mobile touchscreen device. We gave him our information and suddenly we heard: “Uh oh”. Uh oh?!?! Uh oh?!! There are no Uh ohs!!! He informed us that I did have a corporate discount on my account. I tried to plead with the guy that it was removed last year, but he told us he couldn’t proceed. My spirits were broken. I wanted to go home right then and there and lick my wounds. Fortunately, Yah blessed me with a loving wife who calmed me down and convinced me to go to a AT&T store and get it removed. Long story short, we got it removed, was able to go right to the front of the line, and pick up where we left off. We walked out with two brand new 16GB white iPhone 3Gs! Whew!

Out of the box, the iPhone 3G lives up to Apple’s high standards of packaging. I was sort of disappointed since Apple & AT&T implemented a new activation policy. While it’s just plastic wrapping, this unboxing (as seen in the video) was not as genuine as the previous. The iPhone is neatly wrapped inside the box and includes a standard AC adapter (smaller than previous gen), headphones, and stickers. The iPhone 3G did not include a docking unit. Surprising.

In the hand, the iPhone feels surprisingly sturdy. I expected the new plastic back to feel really flimsy, but I felt confident it could stand a little punishment. I’m still going to be getting a case since I believe if it experiences a genuine Bwana drop, it’s going to shatter like fragile glass. The curved edges of the iPhone 3G give it a more comfortable fit inside the palm of my head. I also found this new casing to be less slippery than the 1st generation iPhone.

The good

Everything I loved about the original iPhone, I love about the new iPhone. The little things mean a lot. This time around, I’m going to focus on the improvements the iPhone 3G brings to the franchise.

3G speeds – The most obvious improvement is the addition of 3G speeds. This means the iPhone can theoretically surf the web, view Youtube videos, pull up Google maps, stream music (via apps like Pandora and Tuner) at speeds that rival wifi at home. Check out this speed test I conducted while running errands:

Results of the iPhone 3G Speed test

That’s a lot faster than the previous EDGE speeds of the 1st generation iPhone.

GPS – The iPhone 3G includes a GPS chip which means you have very accurate global positioning capabilities. While this is useful for traditional apps like Google Maps, it is becoming extremely valuable for position aware social networks, such as Loopt. I believe this is where the value of GPS lies.

Surfing + Talking = win – With the introduction of 3G technology, you can now hold a phone conversation and use the data features of the iPhone. Stuck in a boring phone meeting? On hold? Having a one way conversation? Fret no more! You can browse the web whilst pretending to talk. A great feature of 3G tech.

Those are the major advantages of the iPhone 3G. There are a bunch of little improvements that aren’t worth writing about, but still help iPhone owners in day to day activities (a normal headphone jack is one that comes to mind).

The bad

As with any device, there are drawbacks to consider, and the iPhone is no exception. There have been many reports of software glitches in iPhone Software 2.0. Since these glitches seem to be apparent on both old and new iPhones, I’m going to focus on 3G specific issues.

Battery life – When using the 3G speeds, there is an obvious drawback of battery drain. While the iPhone 3G was rated the best of breed in terms of 3G battery life, it still stinks. I rarely use the 3G (only when I’m away from Wifi spots), but when I do, there is a significant battery hit.

Accessories – Both my wife and I noticed a drop in quality in the iPhone 3G’s accessories. The headset feels flimsy and is prone to glitches. We’ve had numerous reports from callers that we sound “low” or “like we’re in a tunnel”. The AC adapter has also been “streamlined” and it feels very cheap. I’m afraid to handle it as rough as I did the previous for fear it will fail me. Also, the lack of a docking station is a disappointment as well.

Hardware button quality – Both my wife and I also have come to the conclusion that the hardware buttons are not as “smooth” as the previous iteration. At first, I thought it was because they hadn’t been broken in, but I do not remember having problems with the volume controls not working on the first iPhone. It seems like you have to press them harder in order to get things done, and with plastic casing, it seems like a unwanted hazard.

Overall impressions

Overall, I’m happy with the iPhone 3G. I believe it presents an attractive upgrade for those who are interested in faster browsing speeds while on the go, GPS-based social networking, and improved technology during calls. I find myself using the iPhone 3G a little bit more than the previous iteration, mostly due to the wave of new applications from the iTunes App Store. Again, this benefit is not unique to the iPhone 3G and if you are interested in that, I would recommend looking up used iPhones on eBay. (Sorry, we’ve already sold ours for $300+ each)

I’d like to also mention the drawback of the carrier contract. Since the iPhone 3G is a worldwide release, I don’t want to dwell on the shackles of AT&T too much. As reported on the web, Canada has its hands full with Rogers as well. When considering the iPhone 3G, always factor in carrier costs, including data plan costs over the life of the contract, and cancellation fees. They are important.

Conclusion

Even with its reduced battery life and flimsy casing, I believe the iPhone 3G is an improvement over its predecessor. Given the choice, I would easily choose the iPhone 3G. As I stated in my previous review, look out Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, and LG: Apple is here and is improving.

Rating: 9/10

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Post written by Bwana