IPhone 3G

The iPhone 3G is the second iPhone model developed by Apple Inc. It was announced on June 9 at the 2008 Worldwide Developers Conference and was released in July 11, 2008. Much like the original iPhone, the new iPhone 3G is a combination of three products - widescreen iPod with touch controls, a breakthrough Internet communications device, and a new mobile phone which now offered 3G connectivity. It supported iPhone OS 2 through iOS 4.2.1. iOS 4.3 and later were not supported.

3G and 4G
The 3G wireless technology, the GPS mapping, the support for Microsoft Exchange and the App Store are seen by many to be a radical improvement prior to the iPhone 4. However, the 3G support is flawed in the first 3G model, resulting in a massive flood of complaints to Apple, who haven't announced a solution yet. But now, after the release of the iPhone 4, the 3G internet support has been extended dramatically in terms of service, signal and coverage. Some of the most uncovered countries including China and Russia has now been covered by the local WCDMA/EDGE/3G suppliers. This is a very big leap in terms of internet. Now, people with the iPhone 4 (with a unlimited data transfer plan with the supplier of course) can basically really go on the internet anytime, anywhere.

Calling
Making a phone call on this device is as easy as tapping a number, name or dialing a number. The iPhone software allows users to contact people by virtually entering a phone number on a virtual keypad and calling it. Calling a contact is even more easy, just fill in the required information in the contacts list and when a call is needed just press the "phone" button and a direct call is given out. Unlike other phones, the iPhone can perform several other operations in the same time as having a call. Users can minimize the call screen and surf the internet, play games (although this isn't recommended ) and do anything you want while still talking on the phone. The iPhone 4 is said to have a severe connection problem, which is solved by not holding the iPhone in the lower left corner (where the antenna is located) and putting on a bumper made by Apple specifically.

E-mail
E-mailing on the iPhone is exactly the same as on your computer, the only difference is it's all touch screen. Its like having a portable E-mail device that you can store in your pocket. The iPhone also has the ability to setup email on the Mail client in a click.

The default providers were:
 * Yahoo! Mail
 * Gmail
 * .Mac
 * AOL
 * Other (the mail server information can be manually entered)

Safari
Every model of the iPhone includes the Safari internet browser. It is said to be the most powerful internet browser a mobile phone has ever encountered. Unlike many olden day phones which have the ability to go on the internet in all html mode, the iPhone revolutionized the system and made a simply a computer internet browser but without Flash capability. Also, the iPhone Safari features a simple finger swiping zooming effect. This revolutionized the way people interact with the internet as this process is simply reduced to fingers naturally interacting with the screen as if it was paper.

iPod
With this devices stunning 3.5-Inch widescreen display and Multi-Touch controls the iPhone is one remarkable iPod. You can browse your Music using Cover Flow and watch widescreen video clips with a tap of your finger you can also go straight to iTunes and buy new songs.

SMS messaging
With a chat-style analysis and a clever Multi - Touch keyboard that calculates and suggests words as you type (T9 Dictionary), the iPhone is better and smarter at text messeging than any other smart or touch screen phone. The iPhone was the first phone to feature a full QWERTY keyboard but reduced in size. After the user gets used to the small size of the full keyboard, the user can start typing just as fast as on an computer. Also, the iPhone supports a total of 48 different languages (keyboards) so people from all over the world can use the iPhone simply.

MMS messaging
On September 25th, AT&T Released MMS functionality to allowing the ability to send and recieve text & video messages to anyone. Now, every service provider provides MMS capability. This is simple since the user can take a picture and directly send it using MMS.

GPS
Find your destination by putting it in on your iPhone's GPS and following the directions you are given.

Maps on the iPhone includes:
 * To and From Directions
 * Traffic Maps
 * Satellite, Hybrid and Map Modes

iTunes
You can buy music from anywhere in the world with this portable built in iTunes. Browse the iTunes store from where you stand using Wi-Fi connection.

App Store
Visit the App Store and find Applications for your iPhone under every category, from education to games, business to entertainment the iPhone's App Store has Appliction to suit everyone. Most of these Apps have been designed to take advantage of the iPhone's features such as; Multi-Touch, The Accelerometer, Wireless and GPS. You can download them wirelessly and begin using them straight away. Some of the Applications are Free as well.

Calendar
The iPhone helps to keeps you organized on the go. Using an easy user interface that allows the user to tap a date, write a note, and set a notification time.

YouTube
Just like on your computers internet the iPhone has YouTube. Accessing YouTube has never been easier, all you have to do is get into the home screen and tap the T.V. icon. You can watch video clips on YouTube from wherever you stand, it will also load very quickly with 3G or Wi-Fi connection, if you find a video clip you like you can bookmark it and or share it with your friends!

Camera and photos
Like most modern mobile phones the iPhone has a built in Camera App of 2.0 megapixels. The iPhone is one of the most photo friendly phones ever, the snapshots taken on this phone will automatically sync the pictures with your PC or Mac. The iPhone displays albums with the flick of a finger, it will also automatically post all your taken photos to a MobileMe Gallery.The iPhone's camera lacks zoom capabilities, but there are many apps that enhance taken images.
 * Tip: If you press the Stand-by and the Home buttons at the same time, the iPhone will take a screenshot of the current screen in any app.

Stocks, weather, and notes
The Stocks, Weather and Notes are three different Apps.

Stocks If you access the Stocks App it will show you the performance information on any stock you pick, if you tap the 'Y!' button it will take you to Yahoo! finance for more information.

Weather If you need the Weather From anywhere in the world just access the Weather App. With this Application you can add the cities you want and check the Weather for six days in advance, and just like the Weather App, you tap the 'Y!' button it will take you to Yahoo! Weather.

Notes  With this App you can write Notes to remember things like Birthdays, you can also send Notes to yourself or your friends using the built in E-mailing function.

Networks
The two beginning Networks for the iPhone 3G are 'Vodafone' and 'Optus'. If you buy an iPhone with either Vodafone or Optus you will have to change to a 'Plan' or a 'Cap' (the cost of the Plan/Cap will not matter)

Criticisms

 * Lack of ability to use it as a flash memory drive when connected to a PC without the use of 3rd-party software.
 * Web pages constantly reload when moving from window to window or using the back arrow in Safari creating lag and extra data traffic.
 * Lack of Flash Player. (Skyfire [$2.99 in the App Store] was an option fix this problem)
 * Lack of A2DP Bluetooth profile.
 * Lack of an FTP Bluetooth profile.
 * All official apps are tightly regulated through iTunes. Unofficial programs require a jailbroken iPhone.

Accessories
There were initially fewer accessories for the iPhone 3G than there were for iPods. Though the iPhone 3G used the same 30-pin dock connector as the iPods, many unlicensed 3rd-party accessories would trigger an alert that it was incompatible with the iPhone. Some supported accessories included:
 * Apple 30-pin to USB Cable
 * Apple earbuds
 * Apple iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable
 * Apple Universal Dock (2010 version)
 * iPhone 3G Dock

Hardware
Most of the hardware in the iPhone 3G was from the same companies for the same purpose as in the iPhone 2G but upgraded, with two exceptions: 1) The same Samsung S5L8900 Application Processor used in the iPhone 2G was still used in the iPhone 3G and 2) The Samsung NAND Flash Storage was replaced with a Toshiba NOR/NAND Flash Storage microchip.
 * Samsung S5L8900 Application Processor
 * ARM 1176 32-Bit Core Processor
 * ARMv6 Instruction Set
 * 667Mhz (underclocked to 412Mhz to prevent overheating)
 * 128MB SDRAM
 * Integrated PowerVR MBX Lite Graphics Card
 * Samsung K9MCG08 → Toshiba TH58G6D1DT (NOR/NAND Flash Storage)
 * Marvell W8686 → Marvell 88W8686 (Wi-Fi)
 * CSR BlueCore4 → CSR BlueCore6 (Bluetooth)
 * Infineon S-Gold-2 → Infineon X-Gold-608 (Phone, Messages, and Cellular Data)
 * Infineon Hammmerhead II PMB2525 (GPS)