The presentation of the iPhone 3G S caused mixed reactions. With the game rumors and other speculation, many expected a revolution and were disappointed. The iPhone 3G S is yet another update featuring a touchscreen revolution that’s for sure. However, we must not underestimate Apple updates that result in concepts or innovative business models. The case of firmawre 2.0 and the advent of the App Store included by all mobile platforms is the strongest evidence. Especially, besides the new firmware 3.0 available for all iPhone, it is the contribution of a more robust hardware that is the strength and value of the iPhone 3G S
A much more powerful iPhone
If the new iPhone 3G looks S remains unchanged with its white or black coating, one can already note that the touch screen takes advantage of limiting treatment oleophobicity fingerprints. A good point for touch that cleans more easily now.
To support the reference speed, the new iPhone 3G is seen O blessed with a new hardware is both more powerful and resource-efficient. The ARM11 processor clocked at 412 MHz of the iPhone 3G gives way to an ARM Cortex-8 at 600 MHz.
Unlike the previous ARM 11, this next-generation processor can process two operations simultaneously. In addition, this processor is backed by 256 MB of RAM 128 MB cons for 3G.
The gain is obvious: the iPhone 3G S starts up faster, it is more lively, applications launch immediately and is small slowdowns observed with intensive applications disappeared (in Maps, for example, the passage between the map mode Street View). A real treat for techies excited!
Besides the processor, graphics chipset is also undergoing a makeover. We spend a PowerVR MBX Lite which provides a PowerVR SGX graphics performance up to 50%! Apple has just posted on this graphic evolution, however, when we know the potential video game of the iPhone, the new graphics chip is anything but trivial. In practice, this chip already ensures a much higher level of performance with current games and has not yet revealed the extent of its capabilities. The chip could eventually handle HD streams.
Autonomy Markedly
Without going into the controversy dating from the passage of the iPhone EDGE iPhone 3G, the black point of the iPhone remains autonomous. The first iPhone had a battery of 1400 mAh, while the 3G version was seen sporting a battery less swift than 1150 mAh. Nonsense made in Apple, the iPhone 3G was more greedy and was in the same time a less powerful battery!
With the iPhone 3G S, the California manufacturer backtracked by giving a battery of 1219 mAh more appropriate. This difference of 6% compared to the iPhone 3G does not of itself gain autonomy.
This is the hardware and torque processor / graphics chipset that are less greedy than before, and this, despite the improvement in power.
While Apple has talked up the autonomy of 20-30%, in fact, the iPhone 3G S manages to offer more than a day of intensive use (push email, web browsing, calls, music playback and video connection to a Wi-Fi hotspot, some games). You can even expect two to three days if your use is limited to spending a few calls, emails reveal your hand, occasionally listen to music or just surfing the web.
As usual, to get the longest running, you will need to load and unload a full first and then wait several cycles of full charge.
A precision anyway, the configuration is optimized to consume few resources and seems to “restrain” for most uses. For games, it’s the opposite and the hardware releases all its power.
The result is final, for games, 3G S has less load than his grandfather 3G and autonomy may drop to less than five hours in those conditions!
Because now navigation solutions are available (TomTom, Navigon), the same observation with GPS enabled, do not expect more than 10 hours of use.
Finally, remember that the brightness of an impact on your independence. During our test, we left with the automatic brightness to half its intensity.
An iPhone that hot?
After two weeks of use, we found that the iPhone 3G S tended to be heated. We had already encountered this problem on the previous generation where the use of GPS or Wi-Fi occasioned this “overheating”. In general, the GPS chips and Wi-Fi a lot of heat, but some user feedback would be the iPhone 3G S so hot it would be impossible to keep on hand! This issue deserves a topic in itself and we will propose soon a “crash test” where we will put a strain on the latest smartphone from Apple. In the meantime, you can always rest assured in stating that in any case after 10 hours of continuous use with GPS or Wi-Fi turned on, the iPhone off.
3G + and Buetooth released!
The iPhone 3G includes a module M to 7.2 Mbps HSDPA 3.6 Mbps cons for the previous generation. This is of theoretical values and in fact, to take advantage of such a flow must obviously be an area covered HSDPA 7.2 Mbps. If this happens, you will feel the difference. While the change is not as radical as the shift from an iPhone EDGE iPhone 3G but it is significant enough to mention.
The high throughput coupled to firmware 3.0 and its new version of Safari delivers faster Web experience.
With the OS 3.0, the iPhone can now be operated as a 3G modem. It must first subscribe to a specific option to enjoy it, but this mode can be handy on the move, especially since it is fairly simple to implement: to share the connection with their iPhone simply connect to your PC via cable or Bluetooth, the modem function has been integrated into the preference menu / network. With this mode the modem 3G HSDPA makes the most stirring. To benefit, you need the latest version of iTunes on your computer.
Bluetooth is now unchecked and able to accommodate your peripherals (headphones or headset) via his profile EDR, A2DP. Again, the device detection is done simply by careful cons Bluettooth cut out after use, it is energy …
The iPhone can shoot!
Besides the major new features available via the OS 3.0 (Spotlight, landscape mode for email, notes, sms, copy / paste, mms, Shake To Shuffle) function which has monopolized the attention is obviously the video mode.
Do you, an iPhone that film, a real revolution. Mockery is easy, but again, this function is very well implemented.
The interface is simple and seamless as to capture the videos and send them on sharing platforms such YouTube or MMS.
The downside to this ease of use is obviously the lack of control, especially when one compares the capture video of an iPhone 3G Nokia N97 to an S or even a touch input range.
The videos are made usable with VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 fps. If we are far from an HD player or even an N97, the result is generally smooth although concerns persist brightness. Above all, we can easily get videos without using iTunes, on a USB key (video. MOV).
In the absence of flash, auto focus 3 megapixel sensor delivers accurate shots just outside, but still passable indoors. The autofocus system (by clicking on the screen on the area to be developed) is quite reliable as well as running the macro mode up to 10 cm from the subject.
The iPhone is clearly not a camera phone, it starts directly at the competition in terms of picture and video capture.
An increase in storage, a compass mode and voice control
It has a tendency to forget, but the iPhone 3G 16 GB S offers more compared to 3G. This storage up delight mainly large consumers of multimedia because in most uses, 16 GB seems adequate.
The digital compass may seem gadget, but it is particularly handy in Maps indicating the magnetic north and the direction we are heading.
Like Android, we would have welcomed such a compass mode also works with Street View, maybe in the next update?
Voice control is also being introduced on iPhone 3G launch S allowing a title or call a contact in the setting. If this mode Voice Control is not an innovator, its use is functional: staying pressed the Home key, you run the Voice Control. The voice control application still some time to properly calibrate its voice, the first attempts are often unsuccessful.
Also note how VoiceOver which sets out the elements on the screen. An interesting possibility for the visually impaired, but annoy others … Widely improved, VoiceOver causes many delays and added overall ergonomics, to reserve exclusively for visually impaired or P4 of touch.
So, should we succumb to this new iPhone 3G S?
If you already have an iPhone 3G, the transition to a 3G S does not seem necessary. Firmware 3.0 available for iPhone EDGE, 3G and 3G S already providing its share of novelties. In contrast, the early adopter who still have the iPhone EDGE, or those who have never owned an iPhone, it may be time to move to 3G S …
More : upgrade to the basic functions for a smartphone (mms, video, voice recognition), increased speed, range, defining the sensor up, digital compass, memory capacity up.
Less : Audio quality telephony, changes in continuity without “major” novelty.
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