When Jobs announced the $199 iPhone 3G a month ago, I knew he's not telling the whole truth. Then the iPhone market plummeted (for a short period of time). People were rushing to get rid of their "old" phone. The 3G version seems so nice, so attractive, on the paper, to the imprudent eyes.
Today is the official release date. After work I stopped by a ATT store to take a look. The phone looks almost identical, and because of the plastic back, doesn't feel as substantial (some corners have to be cut, remember). I don't care about 3G because I don't use the phone network for data. The only thing that remotely attracts me is the GPS function which would eliminate the need of carrying a separate GPS unit.
Here's what I found out: to use GPS, you pay $10 a month. What? What kind of GPS is that? It's a rip-off and a fake. When is the last time you have to subscribe to GPS service with your Garmin? How responsive and accurate do you expect the "GPS" by the cell towers?
Now the caveat: to buy the 3G iPhone, you have to sign both a voice and data plan. Let's take a family plan for example. $130, 700min (who is ATT kidding, by the way?), plus data ($30), now that's $160 monthly charge for the fancy phone. Factor in GPS, make it $170.
With my iPhone 1st gen, I unlock it and have T-mobile 1200min for merely $80. So for twice the money, you get 58% of the minutes, a sketchy GPS, and white elephant 3G data.
ATT is subsidizing the phone and shamelessly bundle it to contracts. It takes two to dance. If you look at Apple's track record, you'd be surprised how predictable they are.
I would hold on tightly to my iPhone 1st gen. Nice try, Apple.
- posted on 07/12/2008
I lost my faith when the 1st gen iphone cut price. The Macbook Pro has so many troubles when the kids play on it. My son's account somehow couldn't accept key "1". He has to type ascii code for "1". The apple guy told me the only solution is close the account and open another one. I believe there are many holes in their products. They're running too fast, too trendy.
But, when I visited my daughter's summer camp today, I found the kids did a project called "box-city". They uses recycled boxes to make city buildings. My daughter's group made a mini-mall with Safeway, Toy R US, and Apple Store. Kids know them.
A group of my co-worker sold their old iphones on ebay about one month ago. The price was not bad. - posted on 07/12/2008
Yep, that's a slap in the face, for being a loyal customer. It's funny that Apple listed the scientific calculator and Appstore as an upgrade, which have been readily available through the third-party installer. Apple is desperately trying to tighten the control and want their customers to be locked into a proprietary solution. I could have sold my "old" iphone on eBay for more than I paid, but at this point I am not sold on the 3G version.
My experience with their computer line isn't good mainly because of the fixed vertical refresh rate at 60Hz which gives me headaches. What's the point of buying a nice display that you can't stare at? "Display" only?
Apple products are cool. I wish they would adopt a different business approach.
kugua wrote: - Re: Apple, so predictable.posted on 07/12/2008
我看晕了,作为曾经的苹果粉,只有一个问题:to buy or not to buy? - Re: Apple, so predictable.posted on 07/12/2008
原来有这么多猫儿腻。I'm sold on mac when it comes to laptops (just think the alternatives), but not on any phones, i or not. A few months ago, I finally stopped subsidizing ATT by downgrading my cell phone service from monthly subscriptions to prepaids. - posted on 07/13/2008
I've been with ATT for almost 10 years. A couple months ago I finally cut the wire and closed all my ATT accounts, including web hosting and email. (我这是不是又跑题了)
Those prepaid, can you advance minutes in urgent/unforeseeable situations?
浮生 wrote:
原来有这么多猫儿腻。I'm sold on mac when it comes to laptops (just think the alternatives), but not on any phones, i or not. A few months ago, I finally stopped subsidizing ATT by downgrading my cell phone service from monthly subscriptions to prepaids. - posted on 07/13/2008
2008年7月11日,这个苹果iPhone 3G开卖的日子终于来了,香港地区终于开卖。iPhone 3G除了有3.5G和GPS定位新功能外,外形和设计上也与上一代有少许不同,同时亦采用最新版本的iPhone 2.0固件。继昨天我们为大家送上的一文之后,今天我们就一起来看看新旧版本的iPhone到底有什么不同!
手感较上一代佳
iPhone 3G采用了塑料机壳设计,在还没接触过真机以前,我们有点担心手感会否比上一代更差;幸好,亲身试过后,拿在手上的感觉更「实在」,不会像上一代这么容易滑落。虽然Steve Jobs在发表会上说iPhone 3G比前一代更薄,但实际上机身的厚度反而厚了一点点,而且底部较圆滑。
●用了塑料机背,手感其实提升不少,至少比较不容易滑手。
●从正面你分得出来哪一款是iPhone 3G吗?(左:iPhone 3G)
●我们实测的iPhone 3G是黑色版,背面与旧版相比大不同。
耳机接口的改良
另外,有用过上一代iPhone的人都知道,虽然它的耳机接口为3.5mm,但由于接口凹陷,必须用专为iPhone而设的耳机才行。但苹果这次终于改善了这个问题,新的iPhone 3G已没有此问题,能够插上一般的耳机。
●iPhone 3G(上)改善了旧版3.5mm耳机口凹陷的问题。
●iPhone 3G因为背盖呈现圆弧状,侧边看起来比较薄。
3G速度跟得上Wi-Fi
iPhone 3G其中一项备受关注的功能,就是它的3G速度有多快。我们利用3香港3.6Mbps HSDPA网络,并用DSLreports网站的速度测试,结果显示iPhone 3G的下载速度为400 kbit/sec,而当使用PCCW Wi-Fi热点下载时,速度则为184 kbit/sec,3G速度较快一些。如果拿其与iPhone第一代比较,那就更加明显,iPhone 2G下载速度只为42 kbit/sec左右。也许你会认为怎么我们测试的联机速率那么低,那是因为我们希望模拟在室外的环境使用,若你在家中用iPhone 3G,配合高速家用宽带与Wi-Fi,那么iPhone 3G的无线网络当然又会比较快。
●从图中可看到三者的分别,以3G最快(中间),左是Wi-Fi,右是EDGE。
喇叭够大声
不少人都怕电话的铃声不够大,听不到有电话打入而错失重要来电。iPhone 3G的喇叭明显较旧版响亮得多。在看短片时,若使用内置扬声器,会发觉声音较大。至于插上耳机后,新旧版的音质的分别则不太明显。但如果你是iPhone 3G新玩家,可以告诉你,iPhone 3G的扬声器,比起诺基亚、索尼爱立信及三星新款音乐手机都要小声,音质也比较差一点。
●iPhone 3G(上)的扬声器,虽然比旧版大声,但跟SE、Nokia等手机相比,也是好小声。
屏幕偏黄
可能未必每个人都发现到这个分别,但当新旧两部iPhone放在一起时,就会看到iPhone 3G的显示色彩略为偏黄,暗部表现不俗,至于旧版iPhone颜色显示较为鲜艳一点,看起来较舒服。
●iPhone 3G(左)VS.iPhone2G(右)。
●iPhone2G(上)VS.iPhone 3G(下)。
中文界面有点慢
iPhone 3G在香港发售的正式行货,将提供繁体中文等多个语言界面选择。然而在实际测试过程中,iPhone 3G虽有简繁中文界面,但不像使用英文界面时的反应那么爽快。在关机的速度上,iPhone 3G需时近10秒,但iPhone 2G则需时5秒内便可。还好在开机速度上,没有太大分别。
●具备中文界面,但系统反应较慢。
手写+拼音输入法
在iPhone 2G的1.1.4版本中,我们可以安装一些非官方程式,加装不同的中文输入法。目前在iPhone 3G上,预设了拼音和手写输入法。而手写输入法更只能在限定区域中写字,加上无论写对与否,都要选字,用惯上一代iPhone外挂输入法的使用者,可能会不习惯。
但另一方面,手写的灵敏度很不错,辨识率很高,也有智能词语功能,好用度也十足。至于拼音输入法,则用回预设QWERTY键盘。当然,其他的输入法可以在iPhone 2G上可自行安装,但现在iPhone 3G中没有installer,因此也无法了解是否能兼容旧版的输入法。
●只有拼音和手写输入法,比过往能使用非官方速成较不便。
YouTube短片随身看
YouTube提供高低两种画质给iPhone用户下载观看。之前iPhone一代在观看YouTube时,需要在EDGE下才能欣赏;而iPhone 3G则基本上只要有3G便能欣赏,可是其画质仍然是选择下载较低画质,看到的片段仍然会有马赛克,要在使用Wi-Fi时,才会下载最高画质。
●YouTube中有大量中文Video内容,应能满足用户。
Safari一按即看YouTube
新旧iPhone的Safari浏览器同样不支持Flash,在旧版Safari浏览时,只会显示问号的小图标。但在iPhone 3G的2.0版本上,Safari在浏览带有YouTube影片的网页时,便会如下图般显示播放按钮,用户只要一点选,便会启动YouTube程序。
●iPhone 3G(左图)Safari可播放网页上的YouTube短片。而旧版iPhone无法播放。
MS Exchange Mail实测
iPhone 3G其中一项重点强打的功能,就是Push mail技术,可支持Microsoft Exchange。设好Exchange的服务器后,行程、电邮或联络人一有任何更改时,都会立即同步到手机。实际测试中的速度算是很快,服务器的记事一有改动,于5秒内iPhone 3G上已看到变更。如果你的公司没有Exchange服务器,别担心,苹果也提供MobileMe服务。只要登入网址,就可以放上行程、电邮或联络人数据,同样在有任何变更时,会自动与iPhone 3G同步。此外,一些用户都会把行程记事分类,以便更加清晰。iPhone 3G所采用的iPhone2.0,已能通过颜色显示相关的群组分类。而在电邮及联络人中,也能显示群组分类,使用时就更加清晰。
●当有任何行事历邀请,可于5秒内看到变更。
电邮与Safari浏览器储存影像
用旧版iPhone时,预设是不能储存浏览器中的图片,而在阅读email时亦有同样情况。但在iPhone 3G的2.0版下,你可以按住图片,便会弹出如下图的选项,储存后就会放到内存中,随时也能在图片中浏览。
●Safari浏览器,终于支持储存图片,很方便呢。
实时删除或搬移email
在email界面中,用户要一次删除多封邮件,除了一封一封删除之外,别无他法;但在iPhone 3G中,当按下编辑后,就会如图显示,你可点选想删除的邮件,一按即删除,又或可选择搬移至其它数据文件夹,十分轻松容易。
●iPhone 3G(右)/iPhone一代(左)。
彻底清除资料不留痕迹
iPhone 3G的2.0版本的系统设定,也和过往有很大的分别。设定上的选项位置已有颇大变更,或许需要一些时间习惯。而早前颇令人关注的隐私问题,iPhone新版也下了功夫。用户可以输入密码关闭部分功能,适合家长给小朋友使用。另外,进入设定,再按一般并选择最底的重置清除所有内容和设定,过往只要数十秒便可,没有完全清理设定,有机会被人还原。现在测试中,需要2小时才能完整清理,里面数据一件不留。
●冠C,只要你记得把iPhone 3G清理,不会再有珍贵相片流出的事件发生喔。
需用iTunes7.7启动
iPhone 3G需要用最新版本的iTunes7.7启动,你可在官方网站下载。iTunes7.7中,多了不同的分页供用户选择,插入iPhone 3G后可看到,最左边会多了一个Applications,可同步已购买和安装的iPhone程序。而在Info下,也可找到有新加入的MobileMe设定,若已设定了Exchange同步的话,下方就会如图显示,这时就无法与Outlook同步了。
与iTunes7.7同步
小结
苹果iPhone二代虽说整体而言相对一代在功能上是没有很大的进步,但是真正拿来做一下仔细的对比,我们还是可以发现不少细节上改进的地方的。iPhone 3G在软件上下了很多的功夫,显得更加人性化。今天的iPhone新旧两代的对比我们就算到这里.
- Re: Apple, so predictable.posted on 07/13/2008
moab wrote:
Those prepaid, can you advance minutes in urgent/unforeseeable situations?
Prepaid is a good way to manage the spending, for people who don't really need that many air minutes. - posted on 07/18/2008
这次从美国带回去的手机,GSM和CDMA制式各一个,但入网时都遇到麻烦,于是干脆买了一个三星的新款心机,屏幕分辨率高,自带中文系统,一开机就瞧着倍儿亲切。电话打了一通,每每到最后,该落实碰头的时间地点了,对方总是说:我再发短信给你。几秒钟后信息就来了,一直放在内存里,比记在脑子里保险,到时候找地方肯定不会错。过了几天,再遇事与人定夺,人家也说:发个短信通知我吧。我一下子紧张,嘴里却不好说:英文的可以吗? 于是只好坦白。。。。呃,还不会发中文短信。哎呀呀,你还活在啥沧海桑田里,不会短信就少了生活中那一半的火焰呐,对方赶紧善意提醒。于是连夜突击了九个键书写几千汉字的绝活,草拟了模板,弄通了群发功能,第二天醒来连续收发几条“早上好”“晚上见”的信息,算真正感觉到回归祖国的大家庭了。
中国移动的三种话费方式,“全球通”适用商务旅行跑世界的,“动感地带”主要针对不挪窝的市民学生阶级,“神州行”比较适合我这次的计划,市内通话一分钟两毛,漫游一分钟六毛,短信一律一毛钱一条。几天后开始东奔西跑了,连续几次电话卡充值下来,我觉得短信是最价廉物美、准确省时的选择。再后来兄弟把他的小灵通给我随身带上,基本按市话收费,暂时免除了手机连续充值的顾虑。兄弟教小学,六月底正值期末考试,于是头一天我就代他回复了七八条学生发来的短信,其中多数是来问考试分数的。我回信的主要内容是:请耐心等候,或者还在批阅,或者明天告诉你。看来现在的学生,上网游戏的兴趣超越了获取书本知识,但对分数的追求还是孜孜不倦的,当然这要归功于短信的方便。
回美国以后,用三星手机很方便的入了网,ATT的店员还说,从欧洲亚洲带来的手机,总要高出几个档次。在北京的时候也听朋友说,仿iPhone 3G的“水货”很快就要出来了,虽说是地下工厂的“水货”,功能应该与原机不差,只是没有了服务合同等约束条约。几十年来的经验告诉我们,硬件的创新是最容易被复制的,苹果要守住暴利的霸主地位,就必须通过软性的服务条约来拴住顾客,但如果GPS也收十刀一个月,大家就掂量着去排队入网吧。 - Re: Apple, so predictable.posted on 07/18/2008
三星手机是samsung手机?入了网又是什么意思?用美国的cellphone service?只有ATT能用还是其它公司也可以,比如verizon?
老瓦 wrote:
这次从美国带回去的手机,GSM和CDMA制式各一个,但入网时都遇到麻烦,于是干脆买了一个三星的新款心机,屏幕分辨率高,自带中文系统,一开机就瞧着倍儿亲切。
回美国以后,用三星手机很方便的入了网,ATT的店员还说,从欧洲亚洲带来的手机,总要高出几个档次。 - posted on 07/18/2008
I have a Samsung phone and I subscribe to the GPS service from Verizon, and they cahrge me $10 too. A couple of things though: 1st, the GPS is not "fake." There is a GPS chip in those phones (our company is one of those providing the chips). It is located with satellites, not cell towers. 2ndly, at least Verizon now offers traffic info with the GPS service, which I think to use a Garmin device you also need to subscribe to one of those services that charges you a fee too.
The drawbacks are: it uses the airtime and the screen is too small.
moab wrote:
Here's what I found out: to use GPS, you pay $10 a month. What? What kind of GPS is that? It's a rip-off and a fake. When is the last time you have to subscribe to GPS service with your Garmin? How responsive and accurate do you expect the "GPS" by the cell towers?
- Re: Apple, so predictable.posted on 07/19/2008
Apple knows they can jack up their prices and get away with it because of their reputation of good quality. But a savvy customer knows better. I got two 30" monitors from Dell for $1200 each, while apple is selling theirs for $1800. - posted on 07/20/2008
moab wrote:
Those prepaid, can you advance minutes in urgent/unforeseeable situations?
才看到阿魔的问题。你一个月700分钟都不够,就不要考虑prepaid了。不可以advance,我之所以没有get rid of the cell altogether,还买了prepaid,就是为了临时的需要。$100 for 1000 minutes,一年有效,我都怀疑未见得用的完。
CDMA手机在国内不可以用,除非是international roaming,美国买的GSM手机至少要tri-band,最好是quad-band,才能换欧洲亚洲的SIM卡,另外一定要走前unlock the phone。老瓦说的入网应是指换当地SIM卡。Verizon, Sprint用CDMA,ATT和t-mobil用GSM。
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