Apple announced their new iPhone 3G S, which they claim is the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet – with processing speeds up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G, and longer battery life. The other real noteworthy addition is a new 3 megapixel autofocus camera, which will record stills and video.
While Apple is not labeling the video quality of the 3G S as HD (High Definition), they do describe it as “high-quality.” Which only means one thing: Cisco has just soiled their shorts (see The Future below).
The top of the line 3G S has 32 GB of built-in memory, which is more than enough for your Handbreak’d movies, music and videos. Other features include a compass (for when you’re lost at sea with your iPhone), support for 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, MMS (when AT&T gets their act together later this Summer), OpenGL ES 2.0 standard and basic voice control.
The new 3 megapixel autofocus camera captures pictures and video, making it easier than ever to capture, edit and share those moments instantly with family and friends. The new autofocus camera adjusts focus, exposure, color and contrast for the best possible image and includes an automatic macro focus for extra close up shots. With the new “tap to focus” feature, you simply touch the display to select an object or area of interest and the camera automatically re-adjusts focus and exposure. You can record video clips and edit them right on your iPhone 3G S by simply trimming the start and stop points. With iPhone 3G S you can send photos and video by email or MMS and post them to MobileMe or YouTube with just one tap.
The voice control feature in iPhone 3G S offers hands free operation for both iPhone and iPod functions. Simply speak the appropriate commands into the built-in microphone or headset microphone to dial by name or number. With voice control you can play your favorite music by artist, album or playlist and activate the Genius feature by saying “play more songs like this.” You can also tell iPhone to pause the music, play the next track, turn on shuffle or ask, “What’s playing right now?”
iPhone 3G S also includes the new iPhone OS 3.0 software with more than 100 new features including: Cut, Copy and Paste; MMS; Spotlight Search to search across iPhone or within Mail, Contacts, Calendar and iPod; landscape keyboard for Mail, Messages, Notes and Safari; expanded parental controls for TV shows, movies and apps from the App Store; and the ability to capture and send audio recordings on the go with the new Voice Memo app. iPhone 3.0 software also includes a new Find My iPhone feature that works together with MobileMe so you can locate your lost iPhone on a map, send a message that will appear on the screen or play a sound to help you find it even if your phone is set to silent. If you cannot find your iPhone, you can erase all data and content on your iPhone with the new Remote Wipe feature. New iTunes features available with iPhone 3.0 software include wirelessly downloading movies, TV and audio programs as well as iTunes U so students can download learning materials on the go.
The Future: Well Cisco must have crapped their pants (while the founders of Flip Video must have executed a victory jig) with this announcement, since it officially signals the beginning of the end of the micro video camera market. Within 2 years, most mobile phone manufacturers will have quality video recording on their entry level phones and the Flip will be a moot point.
