TehNrd

On Monday Apple released the next iteration of the iPhone and I have to say my response can be summed up as, “eh”.

2x Speed:
A faster CPU and more RAM is a nice addition but definitely not worth the cost for current 3G owners. Faster loading web pages would be nice but at the same time I think to myself, “I can access any website in the world no matter where I am”. The fact that I can do this with my phone is still pretty cool and faster is nice but the core functionality is the same.

Video recording:
My 5 year old Samsung flip phone that cost me $29 had this… 5 years ago.

Voice control:
Is nice but I would probably never use it. Mainly because the current iPhone UI is so streamlined I can access anything I need to pretty quick. And honestly the only place that I may use this would be in my car but it is so loud (18 year old Integra with a shot suspension) I have my doubts it could clearly understand me. I also feel sort of stupid talking at a phone, ya that sounds weird, but until it has a nice female British accent, can ask my how my day is going, and can carry a conversation I’ll stick with manual inputs.

Digital Compass:
This, with out a doubt, has the most potential. It will definitely help with navigation but I think this type of technology together with GPS and the potential for ground breaking mobile applications. I plan to have separate post going into more detail.

I think for all iPhone users the most excitement will come from the new iPhone OS 3.0. Finally, from a software standpoint, this will give very little to gripe about once it is released as it address many of the open issue since the original iPhone was released. Including:

Landscape keyboard for email and web. Yes!
Copy and paste. Rarely actually needed it but will be nice.
Download movies and TV Shows. Cool, will rarely use it.
Tethering. Cool, but we all know AT&T will charge too much.
MMS. Now my Mom won’t ask why my “fancy little phone” doesn’t get the text images she sends me.