3G coming to the iPhone (reuter's link)

[jt2ga65]

If you take the iPhone to Japan or Australia it will work perfectly as is. (you may not be happy with the roaming bill though!)

My understanding is that GSM does not work in Japan. I've not been there to test it, but even AT&T will tell you that their phones WILL NOT work specifically in Japan. They will rape you for roaming just about anywhere else, but not in Japan. It really disappointed me when I heard this, as I actually switched from TDMA to GSM so I'd have a phone that would work in Japan. The saleswoman at Cingular didn't realize that it wouldn't work, I guess.

Are you kidding, have you looked at a US history textbook lately, or listened to any of our mainstream media? I think we have the Japenese beat when it comes to revising history to meet the perception we wish ourselves and others to have about our country.

Yeah, except for one thing. While we certainly try to spin things in our favor, our media will be more than happy to tell us the truth. And we don't believe all the crap that is on TV and in the news anyways. With the Japanese, there are no dissenting opinions in the news or in the history that is taught, and the Japanese people simply don't go looking or believe in anything that is not the "group" opinion. If you ask a Japanese person what they did for Christmas, you generally will get a response that starts out along the line of "We Japanese do X." There is no concept that everyone could do something different. The group moves as one.

Honestly, I don't remember how we got side tracked on this topic.

-jt2

 

[kdarling]

*shaking head* People never learn. Apple says what makes themselves look good. You would think this past week's events would finally clue people in.

It's not a size issue. Other small thin phones have 3G.

It's not really a battery issue, since that's all relative... and fixable if you allow a higher capacity battery for those who need it, plus the easy ability to switch it on/off like WiFi and Bluetooth.

EDGE was also considered a battery drainer when it came out. Should we all go back to GPRS at 19Kbps? I think not, even though the phone could be REALLY thin and last a longer time without EDGE.

The real reason it didn't have 3G is because that would've raised the production cost at the time by almost $100. Since Apple wanted the target price to be down around $300 by the end of this year and still make at least $70 profit per unit, 3G was out.

 

[TXCraig]

My understanding is that GSM does not work in Japan. I've not been there to test it, but even AT&T will tell you that their phones WILL NOT work specifically in Japan. -jt2

I think its safe to say your phone will work in Japan:

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/roa_jpnd.shtml

 

[TXCraig]

*shaking head* People never learn. Apple says what makes themselves look good. You would think this past week's events would finally clue people in.

It's not a size issue. Other small thin phones have 3G.

It's not really a battery issue, since that's all relative... and fixable if you allow a higher capacity battery for those who need it, plus the easy ability to switch it on/off like WiFi and Bluetooth.

EDGE was also considered a battery drainer when it came out. Should we all go back to GPRS at 19Kbps? I think not, even though the phone could be REALLY thin and last a longer time without EDGE.

The real reason it didn't have 3G is because that would've raised the production cost at the time by almost $100. Since Apple wanted the target price to be down around $300 by the end of this year and still make at least $70 profit per unit, 3G was out.

Don't know where you got your engineering degree from, but just becuase there are smaller phones then the iPhone with 3G does NOT mean it will fit in the iPhone. The iPhone has other "stuff" in it that takes up room that other phones do not.

The issues with battery life will be resolved, but they have not been fixed yet.

Take a look at this study:

http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3036

I'd be interested in seeing the data that says the 2G chip is 100.00 more then the 3G. Please post the link to this information.

 

[emotion]

There are reports that backup Apple's claims that the current 3G chipset will not fit in the iPhone (without making the phone larger)...

SE seem ok with their nano-sized w880i:

....and would decrease battery life up to 1/2.

I don't know about a 1/2 but that's a valid point.

 

[spydr]

I will wager we won't see ANY hardware feature upgrade in '07.

Next year, I anticipate (in that order)

1. higher capacity
2. 3G support
3. GPS

I personally wish them reverse order. 8GB and edge seem to be sufficient to me. But I always worry about losing my way in the woods!

 

[P.B.]

Yeah, except for one thing. While we certainly try to spin things in our favor, our media will be more than happy to tell us the truth.

Yeah, right. The America is known worldwide for it's rational and serious media...

And we don't believe all the crap that is on TV and in the news anyways.

Maybe you should ask an European about his stereotypes regarding Americans. Believe me, 'stupid propaganda-media' and 'blind followers' will be on the Top5. (Disclaimer: I personally do not think so...)

With the Japanese, there are no dissenting opinions in the news or in the history that is taught, and the Japanese people simply don't go looking or believe in anything that is not the "group" opinion. If you ask a Japanese person what they did for Christmas, you generally will get a response that starts out along the line of "We Japanese do X." There is no concept that everyone could do something different. The group moves as one.

That, my friend, is called racism.
What's worse? Talking about "we Japanese do ..." as an Japanese or "those Japanese all do ..." as an American? I'd pick the latter.

Honestly, I don't remember how we got side tracked on this topic.

I do: by stupid stereotypes and bashing of a whole nation.

 

[kdarling]

Take a look at this study:
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3036

I have. It's mostly junk logic, written for non-engineers and Apple groupies.

I've researched and written hardware comparison reports for decades. Not to mention having helped design small computer boards.

I'd be interested in seeing the data that says the 2G chip is 100.00 more then the 3G. Please post the link to this information.

I believe you meant to say 3G being $100 more. The extra money would've been in the extra coprocessor, power, and custom logic to make other circuits smaller. Someone else did a similar analysis long ago. Let me Google for it... hang on... yeah okay:

Piper Jaffray Report

The final proof will come with the 3G iPhone. I predict it'll be mostly the same size, but settle out to be about $100 more than the U.S. version. (Assuming no other differences such as more RAM etc.)

Put another way: once the 3G iPhone comes out, you'll no longer hear Apple talking about poor battery or size issues Because then it would be counter-productive. It's like Jobs claiming that web apps sucked right up until he changed his mind and tried to promote them instead of native apps.

 

[LoganT]

I think a way to combat the battery issue is to have a 3G on/off switch. Or the phone automatically connects to the nearest open WIFI and 3G is shut off, preserving battery life.

 

[TXCraig]

I think a way to combat the battery issue is to have a 3G on/off switch. Or the phone automatically connects to the nearest open WIFI and 3G is shut off, preserving battery life.

Well.. i guess if you just turned the entire phone off, that would save the battery also. But why have one then?

 

[LoganT]

Well.. i guess if you just turned the entire phone off, that would save the battery also. But why have one then?

What? I'm not talking about shutting off the phone, just shutting off the 3G to EDGE when on WIFI, automatically.

 

[Canuck4]

Even if lets say they did add 3G.
Why would they do it if it only work on some parts of the country? Then you'll have alot of pissed of people, put it on Edge thats available everywhere and then maybe build up your 3G network so a year down the road maybe you can offer 3G service to all your AT&T customers.

 

[LoganT]

Even if lets say they did add 3G.
Why would they do it if it only work on some parts of the country? Then you'll have alot of pissed of people, put it on Edge thats available everywhere and then maybe build up your 3G network so a year down the road maybe you can offer 3G service to all your AT&T customers.

Free WIFI isn't everywhere though, should Apple have not included it? With a 3G iPhone, the people with the 3G coverage get 3G speeds, and the people without the 3G coverage gets EDGE (until they roll it out). It's a win-win for both sides.

 

[Canuck4]

True but I think theres alot more wifi out there than there is 3G coverage
But then again wouldnt having 3G turned on kill your battery quick even if you're not using it and you're pulling Edge speeds? Or does it take a toll on your baterry only when you're actually pulling 3G data?

Free WIFI isn't everywhere though, should Apple have not included it? With a 3G iPhone, the people with the 3G coverage get 3G speeds, and the people without the 3G coverage gets EDGE (until they roll it out). It's a win-win for both sides.

 

[LoganT]

True but I think theres alot more wifi out there than there is 3G coverage
But then again wouldnt having 3G turned on kill your battery quick even if you're not using it and you're pulling Edge speeds? Or does it take a toll on your baterry only when you're actually pulling 3G data?

I'm pretty sure it only takes a toll on the battery when you are actually pulling 3G data.