Apple's new iPhone 3G S sports new camera, video

The camera in Apple's upcoming iPhone 3G S sports not just video, but also some new features besides the usual not-so-useful bump in megapixels.

The phone, available next week in the United States and some other countries, comes with a 3-megapixel camera compared to the current iPhone 3G's 2 megapixels. It can shoot video at 30 frames per second at VGA (640x480) resolution, matching competing phones and addressing a shortcoming of the current phones.

Videos can be edited on the iPhone 3G S by trimming the sequence of still images taken from the video.

(Credit: Apple)

But the iPhone 3G S can do more than just shoot video, said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, at the company's Apple Worldwide Developer Conference here. People can share videos through e-mail, MMS, Apple's MobileMe service, and YouTube.

And taking advantage of the iPhone's relatively powerful hardware, people can "scrub" through a video--that is, click and drag to fast-forward and rewind--as they watch to jump to the spot they want. Likewise, they can trim videos to pare back to the desired portion. The scrubbing and trimming uses an interface that displays the video as a filmstrip sequence of still frames.

The iPhone 3G S also includes still camera upgrades for the photography crowd--and it should be noted that the iPhone rivals SLRs for activity on Yahoo's Flickr photo-sharing site, outpacing all mobile phones and all but one actual camera.

First is autofocus. Mobile phones' tiny image sensors often mean everything is in focus whether you want it to be or not, but the iPhone 3G S will let come with autofocus to try to ensure that the right part of the image is sharp. A feature called "tap to focus" lets people tap on the screen image to focus the camera on a particular part of the image--foreground or background, for example.

Yahoo's Flickr site puts the iPhone head and shoulders above other mobile phones for popularity on the photo-sharing site.

(Credit: Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Coming along with autofocus is an automacro mode, too, for close-up shots, Schiller said.

Apple also said the new phone has better low-light performance--a common bugaboo not merely for mobile phone cameras but for regular point-and-shoot models as well.

The iPhone 3G S will cost $199 for a 16GB model and $299 for a 32GB model, Apple said. Other features include better battery life and faster performance.

[The_happy_switcher]

Something tells me people will be lining up for this one--unlike some of the other brands--you know which one I mean. Now what to do with my Gen1 phone. Sell it to the Russians on Craigslist?

[Vegaman_Dan]

They didn't line up much for the second generation iPhone, but all those people with the first gen units are up for a refresh, so I expect there will be more of a demand. Lines? Doubtful- it's no longer the cool thing on the block to have one. They aren't going to run out, there isn't any rush to get one.

I'll get one myself to replace my aging RAZR, but I won't be standing in line for it.

[Sprintguy1376]

This was a deflating upgrade.

[3ollie]

"Something tells me people will be lining up for this one"....people also lined up for the Star Wars prequels....

[strongpimphand]

Also for 4.99 8 piece chicken day at popeyes, the free chicken meal coupon at kfc, free rootbeer float at sonics, madea goes to jail at the movie theatres in my town....madden (insert year)....

people will line up for anything in life. especially if they see a small line forming. some people line up for stuff they don't need!!!

[G|Net]

sounds like strongpimphand is hungry! Go get something to eat, dog!

[therobot]

The iPhone 3G S will cost $199 for a 16GB model and $299 for a 32GB model, Apple said


why are the iphones $100 cheaper than the iTouch?

[Sprintguy1376]

Because ATT pays for part of the phone when you agree to a two year contract.

[ckh1272]

Remember, That $299 iPhone comes with 2 years of servitude to AT$T (no, that is not a typo). The Touch will probably get bumped to 64GB, thus bumping down the 32GB price, around September.

[ywkhgqo]

yeah in reality the real price of the phones are in the $500-$600 range. Thats where they get you with the $70 minimum charges per month

[Vegaman_Dan]

Apple has always charged more for the Touch. It's just their way.

OS updates get charged too. Repairs/warranty service, all of that gets charged. Here's my current tally:

$500 1st Gen iPod Touch (32 Gb)
$9.95 1st OS upgrade.
$9.95 2nd OS upgrade
$52 Warranty repair (had to pay to get repaired under warranty- yeah, I know, it's stupid, but that's what they do)

$571.90 total so far. Now add another $9.95 for this update and I'll be at $581.85. That's $82 more that I've had to pay out to stay current in only one year.

Owning a Touch is MUCH more expensive than any iPhone.

[wonkafire]

Uh, Vegamann_Dan, I'm pretty sure my iPhone cost MUCH more than your touch:

$600 1st Gen iPhone (8 gb)
$20 Every month for internet alone (not including phone plan)
$200 to fix broken screen (had to pay to get repaired under warranty- yeah, I know, it's stupid, but that's what they do)

$1300 so far.

Much more expensive than your touch dude

[Indervinder]

Because the iPhones are subsidized by ATT Wireless

[Galen20K]

Just Plain B O R I N G.

Thanks but No thanks Apple.

Keep your unimpressive Junk.

[ace10134]

+1

[seven7dust]

which impressive phone do you use I wonder ?

[irueludruel]

Very well said. Sevendust

[mjeffryes]

So... I'm a bit confused. OS 3.0 gets you MMS, rel exchange support, Spotlight search, voice recording, stereo bluetooth and the ability to use the keyboard in landscape...(stuff that most competitor phones already have). And the the new hardware is faster and has a better camera... This is the biggest non announcement I have seen from Apple to date. I was a bit excited to hear what new innovations Apple was going to throw our ways, the best news is the price reduction in the "old" (nearly identical) model, then get the OS 3.0 upgrades for free.

[Vegaman_Dan]

It means that Apple's iPhone is nearly up to par with the majority if cell phones on the market out for the last five years. They are finally nearly equal. That is a big deal because now you can better compare similar features.

[kcotham]

Much faster, compass, decent camera with video, it's looking better every iteration.

[ace10134]

More like it's just catching up to existing phones. But, it still can't multitask, so it's still a few years behind current phones.

[seven7dust]

@ace
these so called other phones have problems of their own

[JadedGamer]

I guess since the iPhone apparently is behind it cannot hope to sell in a market with such brilliant competition. Oh, wait it does because the people whining the iPhone does not have feature A ignore that it has feature B that the others lack. And people accept not having feature A because beature B i so cool.

[hvneff]

I'm sorry if this is obvious and I missed it, but do we know whether the 3.0 upgrade will allow "ordinary" Iphone 3G's to do some or all of this (record video, etc)?

[mjeffryes]

3.0 gives you most of the functionality. The the "new" phone is faster, has a 3 MPXL cameral (up from 2), supports video recording and voice control... and that's it.

[boeush]

When will Apple finally add true GPS reception/navigation? That's the ONE feature my current phone has, that the iPhone still does not -- even in its 3.5 version. It's dead-useful, and it's the ONE thing keeping me from switching. Am I the only one out there with such a feature request?

It's getting even more ridiculous, now that Apple is adding location-awareness to its OS and SDKs. Why limit the phone to the inaccurate and unreliable cell tower triangulation, when a GPS antenna and chip would provide a vastly more robust and universal solution?

[ace10134]

B/c Apple loves making you suffer. Buy a WinMo phone or the Palm Pre and you'll have turn-by-turn GPS with true GPS chips in them.

[Get_a_life_Leo]

Today Tom Tom announced an iPhone GPS solution with Turn By Turn along with a car kit that "enhances" the built-in aGPS. No word on pricing though..... Apple also said they were allowing developers to craft turn by turn navigation so there will be several solutions soon.

[ralfthedog]

Apple only uses cell triangulation in low power mode. The iPhone 3g has had true GPS for about a year now. Applications can choose to use the GPS, or they can go to a lower powered mode where they use triangulation. In the lowest power mode the iPhone gets its location by looking at the near by WiFi hotspots (You don't need to log in. Apple has a list of hotspots and their location).

The new 3GS also has a built in magnetometer that you can use as a compass. This will be used by many application designers for many things other than navigation.

[seven7dust]

@ace
buying a winmo phone will make you suffer more
horrible unresponsive resistive touch screens slow outdated interface
thats most probably skinned with some ugly custom skin and crashes/rebots every now and then
pretty common complaints about Win Mo in general !

now the plam pre ,well is a intersting phone which has problems of it's own

[boeush]

When will Apple finally add true GPS reception/navigation? That's the ONE feature my current phone has, that the iPhone still does not -- even in its 3.5 version. It's dead-useful, and it's the ONE thing keeping me from switching. Am I the only one out there with such a feature request?

It's getting even more ridiculous, now that Apple is adding location-awareness to its OS and SDKs. Why limit the phone to the inaccurate and unreliable cell tower triangulation, when a GPS antenna and chip would provide a vastly more robust and universal solution?

[TKE49]

Yep, that "other" brand and that "other" carrier have full blown turn-by-turn navigation - which they've had for a long time now.

But of course, Apple fanatics still think this is a "significant" announcement...PULLLEASE.

Time to look beyond Apple's fantastic job of smoke and mirrors. No pun intended.

[kelmon]

As long as the price for the 3GS isn't bonkers in Belgium and the SatNav stuff works well then I'll definitely get one of these. My current phone is about 7-years old (heck, its not even heard of a colour screen) and the iPhone 3GS sounds like it'll do everything that I need.

[Get_a_life_Leo]

The reason this update isn't revolutionary is that it?s a sign of the times. Apple is consolidating its grip on touch interface devices and is providing various small sweeteners in technology to get people to buy in but is doing so at a fixed price point. Most people do not upgrade their phones every year and they switch carriers only when there is a minimal penalty. This version of the iPhone will be a major success because of the 32Gb storage and the application store. It's not targetting the hyper-geeks, that market is too small. They are targeting the plain phone users (e.g. the Razr brigade). The rest of the new features (inc. the easy, on device video editing) is gravy and plays second fiddle to the iPod ecosystem (which is alive and well and still growing).

Meanwhile, Palm and RIM will continue to push the hardware envelope to try to entice people into their ecosystems but will have an increasingly uphill challenge given some of the compelling applications being developed for the iPhone. Bottom line is that if you want the latest tech, go for Nokia N series or the Blackberry Bold. If you want a cutting edge OS, go for a Pre. If you just want the most polished, practical experience then the iPhone is hard to beat.

[Vegaman_Dan]

" People can share videos through e-mail, MMS, Apple's MobileMe service, and YouTube. "

CORRECTION / UPDATE:

The article didn't mention it, but this is not available to users in the US as AT&T does not currently have MMS for the iPhone, nor will it until possibly late this summer. Keep in mind that MMS does not come as part of the cell phone package, and you may need to pay more for this feature.

This isn't a limitation on Apple's part, so don't blame them This is just AT&T's business practices.

[seven7dust]

At&t is said to have be ready by summer with both MMS and tethering
well it's a rumor actually !

[t_kemp03]

wow, well i guess, if thats what u consider a better phone, it looks just like the first one to me, now that touch pro 2, what a difference now thats a phone change, not just a simple old OS change, but if the apple is for u, go ahead and get it, i?m waiting on that touch pro 2, is anyone else on the same page as me.

[montex66]

Looks like I'll be standing in line at the Apple store in Seattle's U-village on June 19th. Same place I was two years earlier. Last time I didn't think there would be more than 50 people. By the time the store opened there were 300 in line. Puts the Pre to shame.

[wiisixty]

I have a 2nd gen i have a 2nd gen and I was going to get a 3rd gen, it being cheaper but you guys bring up a good point and I think I will just wait until it catches up with other phones...

[grelaz]

Amazing how many of you believe Apple STILL has to catch up to the other phones out there!
The other makers are still in the starting blocks, the IPHONE has already won the race, RIM and dozens of other manufacturers are only recently bringing out touch screens.

APP stores...forget about it!

How many of you used the internet on a previous smart phone?? I mean give me a break!
GPS big deal, anyone could use the iphone and it worked well enough, now it is an added bonus. Yes there were some niggling issues like forwarding sms's and mms but when I look at my buddy's using a Blackberry crudely surfing the internet I just have to laugh!

I then see others with an ipod and a phone like a nokia, how many of us bought stand alone GPS units because we couldn't use them in our phones??

The iphone brought it all together so it could be used properly. I have Nokia's, Ericsons, Motorola's etc etc lying around capable of playing music, syncing, browsing the web, GPS and doing millions of other things yet not once did I use these features...actually I did use the FM radio but whoop di da
GOOD ON YOU APPLE - Keep it coming!!

[tech212]

A lot of devoted Apple fans are in for a big surprise when they upgrade to the 3GS. I purchased the original iPhone when it released in 2007 for a whopping $600, subsequently I upgraded and purchased the iPhone 3G when it released last year and was given the subsidized price of $299. Today I 'reserved' my iPhone 3GS on the Apple Store site, and after the pre-authorization was approved by AT&T, I was told as a valued AT&T customer I was eligible for an early iPhone upgrade with the traditional $18.00 upgrade and $18.00 activation fees AND I would receive a PARTIAL subsidy on iPhone 3GS and would have to pay $499 for the new phone, or I could choose to wait until December to get it at the $299 price. I thought this was a technical error, but a call to AT&T confirmed that this was indeed the policy for loyal, early adopters such as myself. This is how they treat their loyal customers? Poor judgement if you ask me. Sad thing is, I don't think many people are going to be aware of this until they get to point of purchase after standing in a long line on the 19th. It's gonna get ugly.

[lsc--2008]

The addition of the magnetic compass sensor is HUGE! When you are NOT moving, the only way any GPS unit can tell which way you are facing is if there is a built-in magnetic compass. The compass improves the quality of direction-finding tremendously, especially for low-speed activities such as hiking and bicycling or just walking around. This ENABLES the iPhone to provide high-quality turn-by-turn directions. (I'm sure there will be dozens of really cool GPS apps exploiting the compass really soon.)