Review: iPhone 3G

Existing iPhone owners will probably find more excitement in the 2.0 software update than in this latest model. But those who were cautious and waited before buying the original iPhone have seen their patience rewarded by the features introduced in the iPhone 3G.

iPhone 3G review

It's hard to think of any other device that's enjoyed the level of exposure and hype that Apple found in the launch of the first iPhone. Who could forget it? Everyone got to be a gadget nerd for a day; even those completely disinterested in technology seemed to come down with iPhone fever. But the original device was still far from perfect: its limited capabilities (especially in the 3G department), high price of entry, and the small number of countries in which it was available kept many potential buyers sidelined. Until now -- or so Apple hopes. The wireless industry is a notoriously tough nut to crack, and it's become pretty clear that the first iPhone wasn't about total domination so much as priming the market and making a good first impression with some very dissatisfied cellphone users. With the iPhone 3G, though, Apple's playing for keeps. Not only is this iPhone's Exchange enterprise support aiming straight for the heart of the business market, but the long-awaited 3rd party application support and App Store means it's no longer just a device, but a viable computing platform. And its 3G network compatibility finally makes the iPhone welcome the world over, especially after Cupertino decided to ditch its non-traditional carrier partnerships in favor of dropping the handset price dramatically. $200? We're still a little stunned. So now that Apple finally stands poised for an all out war on cellphone-makers everywhere, will the iPhone 3G stand up to the competition -- and higher expectations than ever? Read on for our full review. Gallery: iPhone 3G review - hardwareContinue reading iPhone 3G reviewPermalink | Email this | Comments

The iPhone 3G: What you need to know

The iPhone 3G is on everybody’s mind, so we’re here to answer some of the burning questions about the next version of Apple’s popular smartphone.

Will higher data plan costs hurt iPhone 3G sales?

Service plan rates for the iPhone 3G are higher than existing iPhone plans, and that’s causing some people to reconsider whether they’ll buy a new phone when it’s released next week. A pair of Macworld editors share their points of view.

Moving to iPhone 3G: a guide for current and non-current AT&T customers

AT&T is attempting to alleviate some of the confusion surrounding the upgrade paths to iPhone 3G with a series of video guides focused on getting customers "iReady" before the 8:00 a.m. launch on July 11th. The three videos covered in this report are...

AMD smells a comeback with ATI All-in-Wonder HD

And you thought Microsoft bringing back the SideWinder was gnarly. Announced today, AMD is resurrecting the long-standing AIW line with its first-ever high-definition variant: the $199 ATI All-in-Wonder HD. The PCI Express 2.0 card attempts to handle both PC gaming and HDTV duties by boasting specs like DirectX 10.1 support, a 725MHz engine clock, 600MHz memory clock and MPEG2 / VC-1 / H.264 video decoder acceleration. You'll also find Vista and AMD LIVE! certification badges to go along with the dual-link DVI port, HDMI jack (which supports 5.1 Dolby Digital transmission) and optional component video connectivity. As expected, users can capture live programs (as well as pause / rewind) in SD or HD over-the-air, and there's even support for ClearQAM. For those looking to take their clips elsewhere, the bundled Avivo software converts it for viewing on some of today's most popular handhelds (yes, including the iPod). Look for models from Diamond Multimedia and VisionTek to hit retailers in North America late next month. Full release after the jump. Gallery: AMD smells a comeback with ATI All-in-Wonder HD Continue reading AMD smells a comeback with ATI All-in-Wonder HDPermalink | Email this | Comments