Since news of today's iPhone event was made official, we've been anxiously waiting for Apple's unveiling of an updated iPhone.
Here's the latest from the event:
If any of you were around for the iPhone launch in 2007 and the iPhone 3G launch last year, you're probably noticing that the hoopla surrounding this year's launch isn't as crazy as previous years. Before AT&T opened its doors this morning, there were a few people lingering about, but nothing to the effect of lawn chairs, a beverage cooler, and blankets. Here are some pics of what the scene looked like outside San Francisco's Apple store this morning — a decent, civilized line — without any hardcore overnighters. I know most of you are pretty excited about the iPhone 3G S, so taking into consideration the state of the economy and the fact that you could pre-order the device online, do you think this is why the lineups are smaller than the past two years?
Sure, I did this poll last year, but it's gotta be done again: if (ahem, when) the next generation of the iPhone is announced at WWDC next Monday (which I'll be attending and reporting from live), will you be one of the many in line for it?
Rumored among the third-generation iPhone's features are an updated camera (more megapixels, autofocus), a builtin compass, and a 32GB hard drive. Confirmed earlier this year is its new OS (providing the long-awaited copy/paste functionality). That will come to all current iPhones anyway, but it's still an asset to the new handset, which is sure to be a hot little number and the must-have gadget of the Summer.
So tell me: Are you going to buy what ever new iPhone is announced? And do tell in the comments — will you be a first-time buyer or will you be upgrading your current iPhone?
If you're one of the many who has already picked up an iPhone 3G (or will be getting one pretty soon), are you also one of the many who already had an iPhone? Old man iPhone 1.0, 2G, whatever you want to call it?
I am among these ranks too and have been debating forever now on what to do with my old phone, now that I am sporting a hot new fingerprint-free iPhone 3G.
Should you get cash for it with Flipswap? Sell it on Craigslist to a tech-needy soul, or will you give it to a deserving and envious younger sibling? Or maybe you will recycle it way, way before its time?
Whatever you do with it, share your plan with me here!
Whenever hot new products are announced (especially with Apple) we all get really excited and worked into a tizzy. Case in point: the iPhone launch. You most likely forked over your cash before the launch to get your dream gadget preordered, making sure it was in your hot little hands the first day. But the problem with version 1.0 anything is that it's almost guaranteed to be buggy and not have all the features you want, and it's likely to die early.
So if we all know the risk that our beloved gadget won't be all it's cracked up to be, then why do we rush out and snatch them up on day one? One of my pals has patiently waited — well, more like a lion patiently stalking its prey – for the second release of the iPhone, thinking that 3G, a better camera, and streaming video will all be worth the wait. So with the iPhone V 2.0 launching soon, tell me, do you buy first-round gadgets or wait for a second release?
Yes, we attended the iPhone launch at the Apple Store in downtown San Francisco and a neighboring AT&T store. No, we did not buy one on launch day. At the time, waiting for the crowd to die down seemed like a good idea (two days spent interviewing the people in line turned out to be a real energy blaster). A few days later, I succumbed and joined the 40 percent of you that said you would be buying the iPhone this year and ordered it from the nearby AT&T store. While I half expected it to make my dinner and wash my hair, I am honestly more impressed with it than I am disappointed. Here is part one of a series of reviews I will be doing on the gadget of the moment.
Touchscreen: The rave reviews about the iPhone's multi-touch screen are all true. As soon as I began navigating my way around the menu and web browser, my finger effortlessly tapped its way through the screens. With two fingers I could shrink and expand web pages, as well as move the page around with one finger to zoom in on a particular spot. Even typing letters for messages and pressing numbers on the dial pad turned out to be easy.
Browser Speed/Edge Network: When connecting to the internet with the iPhone, I noticed that using a WiFi connection is much faster than using the EDGE network. Even when I couldn't pick up a wireless connection, using EDGE wasn't that painful - despite what all the critics say.
For the rest of the review, read more
The iPhone has only been on the market since last Friday, and many are still struggling to get their hands on one. (The downtown SF Apple store continues to put out new shipments every morning at 9 am and sells out before noon. The local AT&T stores are selling them online or promising to ship them priority mail.) So how many have been sold? It's hard to say - and the number continues to insight debate. While neither Apple or AT&T have disclosed their sales figures, USA Today reports that Tech and telecom analysts estimated sales of 500,000 to 700,000 units of the combination phone, iPod and pocket Internet device by Sunday.
Gene Munster of equity firm Piper Jaffray told USA Today he estimates that 95 percent of iPhone buyers bought the more-expensive $599 iPhone with 8 gigabytes of storage (it's also available for $499 with 4 GB of storage) and that Apple kept most of the phone inventory for its own retail stores.
I'm usually opposed to dividing the sexes when it comes to gadget talk, but while wandering the line at last week's iPhone launch I couldn't help but notice the crowd was lacking a strong feminine presence. In fact, I estimate that for every 30 men in line there was one woman. It's a phenomenon I can't easily explain without falling into an archaic and general stereotype that men care more about gadgets while women care more about shopping for say, shoes. While the popularity of the iPod has proven there is no gender gap when it comes to Apple products and techie toys, I chose to think that men are more apt to be early adopters to technology while women tend to be safer tech shoppers. What do you think attributed to such a small ratio of women at the downtown San Francisco iPhone launch?
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The lines, media frenzy and general geekiness surrounding last Friday's iPhone launch were nothing less of awe-inspiring. I can honestly say I have never seen 1,000 people ogling a single gadget with such curiosity, adoration and desire. While I spent the day reporting from the Apple Store in downtown San Francisco, I asked any of you who were participating in the madness to share your stories as well. And, while not all of you were able to take the day off work to get your hands on the iPhone, geeksugar reader and resident Mac expert, macgirl was quick to share details of her whole day - from the line at the Apple Store in Newport Beach, Ca to her unboxing. Her photos compare the iPhone to her Treo and offer those of you that haven't had a chance to see it in person a brilliant sneak peek at the phone. She reports: "First let me start out by saying it is way neater than I could have ever imagined. The fact that you couldn't play with it ahead of time made it even better. I felt like Jack in Nightmare Before Christmas 'what's this??!??'" I couldn't agree more.
To check out more additional pictures from macgirl's unboxing, read more
For those of you who are decidedly anti-iPhone and had to suffer through the parodies, strategies and general chatter, I sincerely apologize for the pain you must have endured this past week. For those of you who battled the lines, camped out and sat patiently at your desk until you could order online- congrats! The iPhone has officially been released on both coasts and while I was unable to catch New York's Greg Packer get his, I was able to catch the San Francisco campers getting theirs. It was madness, insanity and utter chaos, and we loved every minute of it. Minutes before the final hour, the Apple staff was lead into the building, where they roared with iPhone chants and a proper countdown. And as the clock struck 6 pm, those first in line - including our friends Jerry, David and Dale - all ran into the store to get their long awaited treasures. It was a glorious moment indeed. 
To check out more images from the iPhone release front lines read more
