iPods, iPhones, iPads

[sgcpc]

oh my..... u saying my fingers are too big.... how dare you!!! hahaha, :wacko:

 

anyway... i still think the easiest cellphone is Nokia, very strong too but very ugly tho! hahaha

[dj4celine]

Vodafone and Airtel to Bring iPhone to India

Techtree News Staff

 

No sooner has Steve Jobs unleashed the new 3G iPhone at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco than back home, not one but two carriers -- Bharti Airtel and Vodafone -- have announced, in conjunction with Apple, that they will be bringing the iconic device to India later this year. However, neither has specified the launch date or pricing of the 3G iPhone in India.

 

And now that the wraps are finally off of the much-hyped 3G iPhone, a quick recap of the stuff it's made of. iPhone II marries all of the features of iPhone with 3G networking to make the device "twice as fast" as the first-generation iPhone. iPhone II features built-in GPS for expanded location-based mobile services and iPhone 2.0 software with support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, and is capable of running hundreds of third-party applications already built with the recently-released iPhone SDK.

 

Vodafone and Apple will bring iPhone 3G first to Australia, Italy, New Zealand, and Portugal on July 11. In these markets, Vodafone will make available iPhone 3G on both prepaid and contract price plans that will include value data bundles. Vodafone will then, later this year, make iPhone 3G available in other markets including the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, South Africa, Turkey, and most importantly -- India. Details of specific launch dates and price plans will be made available in the respective countries by individual Vodafone operating companies. Vodafone customers in all of these markets including India can pre-register online and in retail stores in the next few days.

 

Meanwhile, Airtel customers who wish to receive more information on the Apple iPhone can send an SMS with keyword "iPhone" to 54321 (toll-free number). Airtel will announce details regarding pricing and availability at a later date, the company said.

 

Announcing the Apple-Vodafone partnership, Frank H R Vekamp, global CMO of Vodafone Group, said, "We are very excited to bring iPhone 3G to many of our customers across Europe and emerging markets this summer. Vodafone's extensive, high-speed, and reliable networks mean customers can enjoy a great Internet and communications experience on their iPhone 3G."

 

On a similar note, Manoj Kohli, president and chief executive officer of Bharti Airtel, said, "We are delighted with the opportunity to bring the innovative iPhone 3G to India. As India's leading telecom operator, Bharti Airtel has always stood for innovation and customer delight. With our reach across the country and iPhone's revolutionary features, we have a valuable proposition for our customers in India."

 

Meanwhile, Tim Cook, chief operating officer of Apple said in separate announcements that they are thrilled to work with both Vodafone and Bharti Airtel and can't wait to get this revolutionary product in the hands of even more people around the world.

 

Techtree had previously reported about the possibility of Apple going multi-carrier in India. Now that it's indeed official, we asked some people for their views on the same. "Vodaphone has an international tie-up with Apple for the iPhone in a lot of countries, so it is little wonder that they got roped in for India as well. This seems to be purely from a goodwill point of view. Bharti Airtel on the other hand has a huge reach in India, and they've been roped in as well by Apple. This is purely from the business point of view," said a hard-core techie we know. A Vodafone customer said, "I'm rather more interested in knowing when they are launching the iPhone in India and what will it cost". Meanwhile, an Airtel subscriber had this to say, "I'd like to see attractive schemes like special tariffs on voice-GPRS services along with better network services and support."

 

All said, both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone are established names in telecom; Bharti Airtel is known as India's leading integrated telecom services provider while Vodafone is known as the world's leading international mobile communications group. It will be interesting to see how the carriers' respective associations with Apple play out, to say the least.

 

Techtree

 

 

:clap:

 

I didn't want to buy the hacked iPhone even though it was really tempting... but I can get it

 

I'm gonna be spending a lot of moolah in the later half of this year... Celine concert, new computer, new apartment and now the iPhone :wacko:

 

Hope I win the lottery

[CelineAndRene]

OMG.. they need to come down

[sgcpc]

and apparently if you are in UK, you can upgrade your existing iphone to the 3g iphone for free, if you agree to a new 18 months contract.

 

Quote from O2 Website:

""Existing iPhone customers can upgrade early to the new 3G iPhone for free*

 

To thank you for being an iPhone fan, we're offering you an early upgrade to the brand new version when it launches on 11th July 2008. You won't have to wait until the end of your existing contract, all you'll need to do is agree to a new 18-month minimum term contract.""

 

 

another 18 months!!!!!! seriously!!

[Bellamy]

That's why it's free.

[CelineAndRene]

That's why it's free.

 

 

[piglot82]

I love my IPhone! I can't see myself paying another $200 plus an additional $10 per month for the 3G. I'll stick with what I have.

[Bellamy]

Billed as offering twice the original iPhone's speed at half the price, Apple's iPhone 3G ($199/8GB, $299/16GB) will actually be a more expensive device to operate in the United States than its predecessor, thanks to a 50% or greater increase in monthly data service charges. Sold initially in three versions — a glossy black $199 model with 8GB of memory, an identical $299 version with 16GB of memory, and a glossy white 16GB model — iPhone 3G is now made from plastic rather than metal, returning to the scratch and smear-ready clear-coated materials that used to typify full-sized iPods.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/e...ne-3g-8gb-16gb/

 

http://www.ilounge.com/assets/images/features_iphone3gshell/3.jpg

[stevethefan]

Typical clever marketing. I was not considering getting an I-Phone because of the original cost when they came out, but when I heard the new one would be $199 I was starting to get more interested in it UNTIL they mentioned the extra data costs you end up spending which I believe ends up being MORE expensive then having the original phone with the orignal plan. But the 3G part of it is definitely nice.

[I Surrender]

would love one but just got a new contract last march with a new Sony Ericsson K850i which I am quite pleased with. with my next renewal i will def go for an iphone.

[Bellamy]

http://www.iphonegold.org/pictures/iphone-timeline-1.jpg

[Bellamy]

I'm curious when the new Iphone will become available in Belgium... Hopefully very soon since I need a new cell phone and with the 3G option the Iphone is a nice phone to have...

I heard 16GB is 635 Euros(966USD), 8GB version is 525 Euros(825USD) in Belgium. The most expensive in the world.

[Bellamy]

iPhone 3G Disassembly

http://live.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iPhone3G

 

The battery is actually smaller than the first gen, 1150mah VS 1350mah. Some users report iPhone 3G battery woudl die in one hour if use 3G, GPS... together.

[Stardust]

16GB without signing a contract with AT&T.

 

 

where can i buy this one without contract in NY , and how much does it cost?

[Bellamy]

16GB without signing a contract with AT&T.

 

 

where can i buy this one without contract in NY , and how much does it cost?

from AT&T, but not now.

How much will I pay for iPhone 3G?

If you are upgrade eligible and your account is in good standing, you will pay $199 for 8GB (black) and $299 for 16GB (black or white). Two-year contract required.

 

You have the option to purchase an early upgrade priced at $399 for 8GB (black) or $499 for 16GB (black or white). Two-year contract required. Coming soon, AT&T will offer a no-commitment option of $599 for 8GB and $699 for 16GB.

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-ser...sp#0faqSection1

[Stardust]

ok thank you , well much much better price than in Europe of course. i have freinds in US who can buy it for me there , but why they still does not say when excatly unlocked version will be released?

[Bellamy]

iPhone versus iPhone 3G Calling Test Results:

 

With the iPhone on its standard network and the iPhone 3G on the 3G network, we made sets of two telephone calls simultaneously, keeping the iPhone and iPhone 3G in use at the same time, and asked a discerning caller to tell us how we sounded, while listening for how the caller sounded as well. We tested the iPhones this way in handset, speakerphone, and Bluetooth modes. Our caller said that the overall sound signatures of the two phones were the same; neither one possessed heavier bass, treble, or midrange emphasis.

 

In handset mode: With the iPhone being used as a handset, without earphones, speakerphone, or Bluetooth engaged, our caller described us as sounding virtually identical between the two phones. On our side, at similar volume levels, the iPhone 3G call had a slight, unimportant edge on clarity.

 

In speakerphone mode: On our simultaneous call, our caller told us that we sounded noticeably better on the iPhone than on the iPhone 3G. By contrast, our caller sounded somewhat louder at the iPhone 3G’s maximum speaker volume than on the iPhone. Contrary to comments made by Apple’s handpicked reviewers, we did not find the difference between old and new iPhone speaker levels in calling mode to be extreme. We suspect that this may be because Apple changed the original iPhone’s speaker at some point during production, diminishing its performance, as we have read scattered reports from readers that their iPhone speakerphone levels were too low, and saw no improvement when Apple released a firmware update claiming to improve speaker performance. A production change might explain this difference.

 

In Bluetooth mode: We paired the exact same Bluetooth headset, the multi-point, Bluetooth 2.0-capable BlueAnt Z9i, simultaneously with both the iPhone and iPhone 3G. This headset has the ability to switch between multiple Bluetooth devices on the fly, so we used it to compare wireless sound quality between both phones on the same phone call. Our caller told us that, unlike the iPhone in handset and speakerphone modes, the iPhone 3G sounded “noticeably” better than the original iPhone in Bluetooth mode, with superior clarity.

[Bellamy]

iPhone versus iPhone 3G: Physical Differences

 

We would normally be reluctant to use the word “nauseating” in a discussion of Apple products, but the way that our iPhone 3G looked right out of the box—covered in the fingerprints and smudges of the AT&T employee who opened the box and activated it—was just that disgusting. These are photos of how the iPhone 3G looked straight out of the box when we went to photograph it; we had wanted to purchase a white one to avoid these sorts of issues in our photography, but Apple apparently didn’t ship anywhere near enough white units, so we were stuck with a black one.

http://www.ilounge.com/assets/images/reviews_apple/iphone3g/11.jpg

With the original iPhone, Apple’s matte finished plastic and metal rear shells may have picked up scuffs, dings, and minor discolorations, but they didn’t show fingerprints and smudges unless you literally ate fried chicken with your fingers before touching the device. iPhone 3G may well be Apple’s most easily smudged device to date, outdoing the original iPod nano and iPod video in ease of glazing. We fully expect to have to towel it off before every round of pictures we take, and as previously noted, protective film or cases are most certainly in its future. It’s obvious why Apple was so afraid to let people photograph it after its WWDC unveiling.

http://www.ilounge.com/assets/images/reviews_apple/iphone3g/12.jpg

The only good news, sort of, is that the included cleaning cloth can bring the device closer to cleanliness—assuming you carry it around. Unfortunately, our chrome Apple logo was already permanently scratched by the time we opened the package ourselves; expect the same thing to happen if your phone, like ours, is left on a hard surface during an in-store activation process.

http://www.ilounge.com/assets/images/reviews_apple/iphone3g/15.jpg

[Bellamy]

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/iphone3g_071108141515/17186.png

 

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/iphone3g_071108141515/17185.png

 

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/iphone3g_071108141515/17184.png

 

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/iphone3g_071108141515/17183.png

[CellyDee87]

I just went to go get the iphone apparently every store in Melbourne is sold out, shipments are coming in on a daily basis, it's popularity here has gone above and beyond everybody's thoughts, they can't keep up with the demand. I should only have to wait a week they said

[Bellamy]

Upgrade my iPhone to 2.0 version and unlocked. It's good so far. Added Chinese hand writing recognize, native Chinese support including mails. get app from the APP store, remote iTunes on PC by iPhone is nice. So I have everything like iPhone 3G now except the 3G data speed and GPS.

[CellyDee87]

Omg I'm still waiting for this stupid phone

[Bellamy]

Wow, Shazam app on iPhone is brilliant. Whenever there's some music playing and you can't recognize the song, you can let it listen for 10 seconds, it'll tell you what it is. It's very accurate, and even recognize Celine's French songs from D'ells, D'eux, Des Moits Qui Sonnet... I'm very impressed by this app. You must play the original music, not sing to it though. It only works to recognize an original record. I think it would be quite useful when you're listening to radio or hear a new song at bar.

[Bellamy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTZRzftZ6vA

[amyja89]

Cool!

[CelineRox]

That's very cool to see....speaking of the iphone.....I get mine on Sunday

[whineupemily]

That's very cool to see....speaking of the iphone.....I get mine on Sunday

Your gonna loveeee it!

And thats super cool! I wonder what the future holds for Apple .. i can only imagine .. oh man

[Bellamy]

iTunes goes DRM-free with variable pricing, OTA downloads for iPhone

 

Apple today announced that it has signed agreements with all the major music labels to offer their music in a DRM-free format on the iTunes Store. Like prior iTunes Plus tracks, all music will now be sold in DRM-free, 256kbps AAC format. Starting today, eight million songs are available; all ten million songs are expected to be available DRM-free by the end of the quarter. iTunes will offer customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. Beginning in April, and based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs will now be priced at one of three price points—$0.69, $0.99, and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99. Finally, users are now able to download music from the iTunes Store on their iPhone 3G over the 3G network, removing the need for a Wi-Fi connection.

 

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points—69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29—with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29.”

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comm...or-iphone/16020

[Bellamy]

Today I went to my uncle's house. I played my iPhone beside the window, cause I want better signal for internet. I didn't knew there is no window screen on the window. My iPhone slipped out from my hand, and directly dropped out from 23rd floor. I quickly went downstairs and tried to dail it. It's still ringing. So it's still working. Then I found out it's not dropped to the ground but to the balcony of the 3 floors building next to ours. So I found the estate manager, asked him to pick my phone from the balcony. It's all dark at 10PM. So I just dial my phone, he found it without the skin. And the iPhone is still working fine, everything including the screen and buttons are fine. Just 2 bumps and a few little scratches on the back. What a miracle!!!!!!!!!!!

[Edwin]

that is some great craftsmanship! The LCD didn't even crack ?! What does it look like now please.