blog
07/09/2008
iphone 3g launches tomorrow + app store
Posted by Rick Rey
iphone 3g

Apple fanboys get on your knees and slap that Steve Jobs tattoo on your upper thigh! Tomorrow we'll see the release of the iPhone 3G, a modest update to the original iPhone with faster internet, built-in GPS, and a cheaper price tag thanks to a $200 subsidy courtesy of AT&T.

I have to be honest. I'm mostly ambivalent about the release tomorrow, partly because of the forced in-store activation and partly because the new features aren't that tempting for someone who already owned the O.G. iPhone. The GPS sounds cool on paper, but the word on the street is the built-in GPS antenna is too small to support reliable turn-by-turn navigation. Whether or not I pick one up depends on how easily I can finagle a unit for use off AT&T's network. Hehe I wrote "finagle a unit."

app store
I really think Apple blew it in regards to the whole forced activation thing. Have you seen the laundry list of items you need to bring to the Apple store when buying the new iPhone? Whoa. So much for moving towards a less restrictive mobile phone market. I understand wanting to offer the phone at a cheaper price, and AT&T wasn't going to give up a $200 subsidy without some guarantees. But how about a 1st gen iPhone trade-in program instead? Or just offer the thing without the subsidy for $200 more!


On a brighter note, the iTunes App Store looks very promising. There are a lot of developers who have been working their ass off since the SDK was released a few months ago in preparation for the store launch. Literally 100's of titles will be available at launch, and I'm sure the library will continue to grow fast. Sadly though, I also expect the underground hacking/jailbreak scene will die down a bit in favor of the supported (and warrantied) iTunes app installer.

I know I sound a bit grizzled about this whole mess, but the truth is I really, really like the iPhone (despite a few flaws like its speakerphone and lack of copy/paste). I'll probably get one.

tags: apple, iphone, rant