Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 9, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
iPhone 3G S comes with iPhone OS 3.0 and more than 100 new features, including Cut, Copy and Paste; MMS (*); Spotlight Search; a landscape keyboard; and much more. Users have access to more than 50,000 applications from the revolutionary App Store, the world’s largest applications store, where customers have already downloaded more than one billion programs. iPhone 3G S doubles storage capacity with 16 GB and 32 GB models.
“iPhone 3G S is the fastest and most powerful iPhone yet, and we believe people will love new features such as the autofocus camera, video recording and voice control,” says Philip Schiller, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing.
Its speed and performance average twice those of iPhone 3G, making web pages load and applications launch faster. It supports OpenGL ES 2.0 for impressive high-resolution 3D graphics, improving mobile games and other graphics-intensive programs. Longer battery life permits more video, music, internet browsing and application use. It also supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA for faster network connections (**).
The new 3-megapixel autofocus camera captures photographs and video and makes moments easier to capture, edit and share. It adjusts focus, exposure, colour and contrast automatically and includes automatic macro focus. Tap to Focus lets users touch an object or area on the display to adjust focus and exposure. Video clips can be recorded, trimmed directly on the phone, emailed or sent by MMS, and published to MobileMe or YouTube.
Voice Control provides hands-free operation of iPhone and iPod functions. Spoken instructions through the built-in or headset microphone dial names or numbers. Music can be selected by artist, album or playlist; “Play more songs like this” activates Genius. Users can pause music, play the next track, enable shuffle or ask what is playing.
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iPhone 3G S includes a built-in digital compass for immediate orientation (***). The Compass app shows direction and rotates as the user changes course, supporting true or magnetic north, while GPS displays current coordinates. Integration with Maps orients a map to the user’s viewing direction.
New accessibility features include VoiceOver, a screen reader announcing what appears on the display and allowing visually impaired users to make calls, read email, browse websites, play music and use applications. Universal Zoom magnifies the entire screen, while White on Black reverses display colours for greater contrast. Mono Audio combines left and right channels so both tracks play through both earbuds for users with hearing loss in one ear.
iPhone OS 3.0 includes more than 100 new functions: Cut, Copy and Paste; MMS; Spotlight Search across the phone and within Mail, Contacts, Calendar and iPod; landscape keyboards for Mail, Messages, Notes and Safari; expanded parental controls for television programmes, films and App Store applications; and Voice Memos for recording and sending audio. Find My iPhone works with MobileMe to locate the phone on a map, display a message or play a sound even in silent mode. If the phone cannot be found, Remote Wipe deletes its data and content. New iTunes features include wireless downloads of films, television and audio programmes, and iTunes U material for students.
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The App Store gives users access to more than 50,000 programs and developers access to millions of iPhone and iPod touch users worldwide. Customers have downloaded more than one billion applications. More than 1,000 new APIs in the iPhone SDK allow developers to create applications using In-App Purchases, a new Maps API and Push Notifications.
Built-in Nike + iPod support turns iPhone 3G S into a fitness companion. The optional Nike + iPod Sensor, priced at €19 including VAT, fits into a Nike+ shoe, connects seamlessly, records distance and can synchronise with compatible fitness equipment.
Prices & Availability
iPhone 3G S will be available in Germany from June 19, with prices announced then. iPhone OS 3.0 will be available free to all iPhone users on June 17 through iTunes 8.2 or later. iPod touch owners can purchase the update for €7.99 including VAT. New MobileMe functions require iPhone OS 3.0. MobileMe costs €79 including VAT annually.
iPhone 3G S will become available in more than 80 countries during the following weeks. Further US and international pricing and availability information is at http://www.apple.com/iphone.
(*) Available only with iPhone 3G or iPhone 3G S. Charges may apply. MMS is not available in every area.
(**) 7.2 Mbps HSDPA is not available in every area.
(***) Compass reliability may be affected by local conditions such as magnetic fields.
