WHAT: Apple iPhone 3GS
PRICE:$199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB
COMPARE TO:Palm Pre, T-Mobile G1, Blackberry Storm
FUN FACT: The "S" stands for speed.
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT: Because even if you don't have an iPhone, we know you've been secretly lusting for one since it debuted over two years ago. And now with Google, and more recently and importantly, Palm, raising the bar for what smart phones are supposed to be, it was only a matter of time before Apple adjusted their offering to resume its place atop of the mobile phone totem.
If it looks identical to the iPhone 3G that's because, cosmetically, it is. All the major upgrades take place inside. The original iPhone was amazingly elegant and simple to use. The software packed into its sleek dimensions allowed users to compute on the go in a way they've never been able to before. But even with all that, there were still a few, well, a lot, of features missing from the heavily hailed phone.
Features like, copy and paste, the ability to use your phone as a modem (known as tethering), universal search, voice dialing and, unbelievably, the ability to send picture messages. In response to the outrage voiced by iPhone users around the world, Apple released its latest iPhone software, 3.0, which does all that and more. Flick the screen to the right and you'll get access to the universal search screen which allows you to search emails, contacts and notes on your phone. It doesn't allow you to search the Internet like on the Palm Pre, but it's a much, much needed upgrade. You can also use the virtual keyboard in landscape mode in any program you want, which makes typing long emails much easier. Oh yeah, if you have an iPhone 3G, you can download the 3.0 software now and get access to all these features. So why should you get the 3GS over the now cheaper 3G?
Speed. If you have a iPhone, after a couple months of use, you've probably noticed your phone lagging a bit when opening apps like Safari or your messages. The 3GS cuts out that lag time. Safari opens up in almost half the time, making it less frustrating to use after you've loaded your phone with photo's and apps. The digital camera has also been upgraded to 3 megapixels and they've finally thrown in a video camera that records 30 frames per second video that you can then easily edit and share with friends. There's also a built in compass that works in Google Maps so you don't have to twist your phone around when you get out of the subway to figure out which direction your facing. Put simply, with all the new features, this is the phone Apple should have released when they gave us the first iPhone.
