[PCWorld]

Post your comments for iPhone 3G S? Who cares? here

[ushere]

not me for one!
you can only take so much hype before it gets depressing and the iphone has been so over-hyped and exposed that only fanboi's and sprukers have anything to say about it nowadays....

[ronwr]

I couldn't disagree more. Apple took the necessary next steps with the hardware platform. The overlooked new and worthy hardware feature is the newer HSDPA chip capable of faster network speeds! Then, there's the auto-focus camera (which arguable is a little late to market).
I think the limiting factor for the platform is the carrier at this point! Apple created a mini computer that is also capable of being a phone, where other handset manufacturers tend to still try to create a phone first, and add in additional features after.
And, duh... if your point is that the software is good, but limiting... then you must not have been around Apple Software very long. They tend to control the platform to control the experience. This is where they will continue to shine in the market. The Android phones will become the Linux stepchilds of the world (you wouldn't guess it from that statement, but I'm a huge Linux fan) and will never reach the non-geek cred that the iPhone will achieve...
Sorry, but I think this is a bad article, which largely mis-represents the this latest release. I replaced my first gen phone yesterday with a new 3G S, and I am very happy!

[JakeB]

I agree with you, ronwr, it's the CONVERGENCE of hardware and software that makes Apple devices such a satisfying consumer experience. What people like ushere don't understand is that behind the marketing (which Microsoft et al never use!) lies solid implementation.

[justsayin]

Re: "What's important now is software. And networks."
You use the term "network" to refer to two different things in the article: first to the brand of a network, AT&T vs Sprint in the case of iPhone vs Pre; the second time you use Network to refer the ability of a device to access a cellular network, which is the differentiator for Kindle.
Both these points, though, actually show how irrelevant the network (the physical installation) has become. iPhone, Pre and Kindle are great examples of how platform companies have devalued and commoditized the network. The gate keepers of these networks, the very same AT&Ts and Sprints have been successfully circumnavigated by Apple and the likes missing out on a large chunk of change in the process. It's pretty amazing stuff! The telcos had better get their act together if they want to remain relevant in the future.
So, yes, the software is important, but in this case it's the platform that is key, not the network.

[limaxray]

While I certainly agree software is a very important part of the user experience, I think this article simply shows the author's lack of understanding of what the 3G S brings and why it is a big deal. Basically all I hear is 'I don't understand the differences in the hardware, but the software sounds great!'
Anyway, the big thing here is the upgrade to the ARM Cortex A8 CPU with a NEON co-processor and the PowerVR SGX GPU supporting OpenGL 2.0 ES. This is a huge upgrade in the device's capabilities and will equate to better software. You may not see it now, but it won't be long before you start seeing software that is '3G S only'. I'm talking about things like 3D gaming, enhanced multimedia support, etc. Knowing Apple, I wouldn't be surprised is 3.0 is the last major update that the two previous iPhones see.

[rega451]

Excuse me for being board with the "iPhone" related discussions....Yesterday, 05/20/2009 (Pacific Time), it appeared to me that "iPhone" was the dominant issue. Is there something about this I don't understand? If so, please help me understand it. If not,are there any other computer related issues to discuss?
Please!

[rega451]

Excuese me...Board should be Bored.
Thanks

[rega451]

Darn!!!! "Excuese" Should be "Excuse"...Who knows, someday I may learn to type! (LOL).
Tank Ya Smell Cheekr!

[kenjstarr]

Sorry but you are wrong. Some of the upgrades in the iPhone would not be very good if the RAM and processor had not been upgraded.
Just like in Windows Vista. 1gb was worthless and 2gb is ok.
Hardware can be everything.

[HarveyDanger]

Count me in the "who cares" demographic. I haven't cared about smart phones (especially the iPhone) since... ever.

[kenjstarr]

Just like buying a camera it depends what you use it for

[DTNick]

I agree insofar as the biggest improvements are in iPhone OS 3.0, not in the 3G S. But the 3G S in my experience toying with it over the past few days is so much faster than the original iPhone and the 3g that it isn't even funny. x_X

[StalePancake]

I think it boils down to an acceptable experience. Yes, hardware is important and so is software. If software cannot run well due to hardware issues, then you have a software problem as well as a hardware problem.
My best friend has an iPhone and really likes it a lot. I own a blackberry and I like it a lot. My friend uses the iPhone a lot of web based tasks where as I use my blackberry for email mostly. If someone were to ask me what is the number one application I depend on with my blackberry, I'd respond that email is number one for me. My friend would not answer the same.
It's the same for Windows by the way. I like the software on Windows. and so I tend to buy machines that run the software I need. If I have a demanding app, I buy a computer that has enough power to run that application well. But if I have far less demanding needs, then I buy a more simple machine that is up to that task.
Who will buy the iPhone 3Gs? That's fairly straight-forward I think. Those that want to run the software they have more quickly or with greater battery life.
I plan on buying a blackberry Tour on Verizon once it is offered. There are a couple applications I like on the blackberry that could stand a speed-boost. So once again, the software I need, and better hardware to run it on.
If anything the author is stating the obvious. I thought the Pre remark was perfect. People will appreciate the Palm Pre's ability to multi-task. But until those Pre apps start to show up, it will be slow to sell. Great software is the key. It's always been the key. Palm created a great platform, and it is on a good network. Now they need great software.
All that being said, I don't think iTunes is a killer app. A lot of people still love their blackberries. And it has no iTunes. And it barely has an app-store. It has a fair amount of quality software, and those who need it seem to know where to go to get it.
You can buy a blackberry on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and so many other networks. It's good to have choices like that. I think AT&T is the worst of the cellular networks. And that degrades the software. It makes the email slow to download where I live. My email experience on the blackberry is so much better. And since that's most of what I care about, the blackberry on Verizon wins.
As a side note, I have owned an iPhone and a Touch. Not using either one these days. They hype is what got me to buy these devices. But hype doesn't last forever. As they say the honeymoon eventually has to end and then reality sets in. The reality is that the blackberry works well.
Still, none of the above really affects the iPhone too much. I think it is mostly a consumer device, trying to be accepted as an enterprise device. While the software is nice to look at it, it's not really enterprise ready. ActiveSync is not going to be as good as the blackberry network operations and enterprise server combo. Not at least until Microsoft changes the underpinnings of ActiveSync. For me, ActiveSync is a four-letter word. So is AT&T.

[BGG001]

Well, me personally, I want Windows Mobile for Office integration so I can use it at school like a laptop...So in my case, "software" is most important in my decision, but it's not like I'm not going to look at hardware either.

[StalePancake]

BGG001 said:

Well, me personally, I want Windows Mobile for Office integration so I can use it at school like a laptop...So in my case, "software" is most important in my decision, but it's not like I'm not going to look at hardware either.

I had bought into WinMo 6.1 on the MotoQ for the very same reason. And then ran right back to the blackberry, which has Docs2Go. I actually like Docs2Go better than Microsoft's own PocketOffice apps. But I never liked trying to use these apps on SmartPhones. There is an excel application for the blackberry called GridMagic which is the best excel like application for a smartphone in my opinion. I don't even bother with that.

After years of trying, a netbook finally became my tool of choice for mobile office computing. Mine is installed with XP, Office 2007 Standard, and various other tools. I think smartphones are great, but I have found they just are not great for word and excel. Sometimes you just need a small computer. Get yourself a netbook and some form of broadband for it. A lot of netbooks have an all-day battery now.

I find the best apps for my blackberry are things like calendar reminders, emails, todos, IM, SMS, and of course, being a phone. Beyond that I start to look at my netbook.

[aarchitect]

Count me as one of the one million people who purchased one in the past three days, and who do care. What we don't care about it hearing why you use something else. Comment about it on that great windows mobile article. Oh, that's right, there isn't one.

[a10t2]

rega451: The iPhone is (arguably) the top of the line iPod, the iPod is a bona fide cultural phenomenon, and cultural phenomena are by definition news. So a new iPhone is going to get media coverage, just like any other cultural phenomenon. I couldn't care less about Paris Hilton, but I know all about her.

[kenjstarr]

Is t it the chipset that allows voice control?
Isn't the new earphones part of it?
Hardware must be important.