Personal Computing: Apple Release the iPhone 3GS

OK folks, it’s here and I’m sure many of you have heard the announcement already.  Today at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) we saw the release of the next generation iPhone, snappily entitled, the iPhone 3GS – the “s” referring to the increase in speed of the new hardware.

From the Twitter stream of live feeds and people’s comments, it was the iPhone announcement that was the most anticipated new release of the conference.  The new ‘phone could be considered an incremental upgrade rather than anything radical, although the new features include:

• 2+ times increase in performance of apps, downloads.
• Video recording.
• Voice control.
• Compass.
• Cut and Paste.
• MMS support.

There’s plenty of information online – have a look.  I don’t currently have an iPhone but with this release I’m moving away from Nokia (currently using an N95) and will be buying one asap. 

When the iPhone was first released, I was skeptical of the device itself, deriding the quality (and lack) of applications (look at Notes as a good example – no synchronisation and no cut/paste).  This was also the reason for my initial negativity with the iPod Touch, however I bought a ‘Touch about 18 months ago and have loved it ever since. 

The reason for my u-turn has been the thing that deterred me in the first place – applications.  Having had 18 months of seeing the development of the apps for both iPhone and iPod Touch, it is clear that the hardware is less the compelling factor (merely the conduit) and that the quality of applications is the winning feature (although the hardware is good – no doubting that).  Applications are so important because for me, they provide total integration.  There are certain tools I rely on day in, day out, including email with Exchange, Evernote, RTM, Tweetie and so on.  Their implementation on the iPhone/iPod Touch platform works and works well, so I can have my information with me wherever I am.  Other mobile platforms just don’t do this.

There are certain applications I don’t currently use as I’m not “always on” with the iPod Touch.  Moving to the iPhone will give me access to those and make my Internet and data access complete.

So don’t focus on the hardware; have a look at what the apps can do for you.

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