I stood in line ~7 hours on iPhone 3G day for my shiny new 16 GB iPhone 3G, but forgot all about the pictures of the unboxing. It’s a shame, because I’m sure I was part of a very small group of people who were allowed to leave the store without activating/opening the iPhone.
The unboxing gallery on MobileMe.
While browsing AT&T’s website trying to find more information about the new $30 iPhone data plan (some sites are reporting that AT&T removed the 200 SMS messages), I came across the “AT&T Coverage Viewer” and decided to see just how much AT&T had expanded its 3G coverage.
I really wish I hadn’t. As the screen shot below shows, AT&T’s 3G service ends about 100 feet from my house (the pin on the map).
What’s even more annoying is that the 3G “deadzone” extends until the very end of my neighborhood. By about another 200 feet. In fact, my neighborhood is the only inhabited area within a 5 mile radius that isn’t covered by 3G.
I’m going to be quite angry if AT&T makes me pay an extra $10 (above the old $20) for a faster data network that I won’t even be able to use. Thankfully, the iPhone can still fall back to EDGE when not in a 3G area.
Update: It looks like Fullerton and Brea (where I spend most of my non-summer time) are fully covered, a small consolation.
It’s just under two days until Steve Jobs is set to take the stage at WWDC in San Francisco with an announcement about the new iPhone, and the blogosphere is already on fire with (quite convincing) pictures of the new phone.
The screen shots suggest that the phone will feature video chat/conferencing over AT&T’s 3G network and/or WiFi via an iChat application.
The blurb on the iChat page reads:
Video just became a little more fun. Start a real time video chat with other AT&T subscribers via 3G networking, or with iChat buddies via WiFi. The video calling revolution has begun.
Other notable items include: a front-facing video camera, iChat for Windows, MobileME (the rumored renaming of Apple’s .Mac service), full Exchange support (already announced), Product (RED), and a thinner bezeled border. Also, the choice of colors lends some credence to my earlier posting about AT&T leaking information on an “iPhone Black” on their website last month.
The story was originally broken at CrunchGear (via images on Flickr), however Engadget has some information that suggests the leaked images are fake. Notably the lack of a on/off button on the Product (RED) version and the improper capitalization of Windows XP on the iChat page.
I, along with pretty much every commenter on the CrunchGear and Engadget posts, hope that these are indeed real pictures. We’ll all have to wait until Steve Jobs’ keynote on Monday to know for sure.
AT&T’s website has “leaked” information about iPhone 2.0, the 3G-capable iPhone rumored to be released in June. These images are in no way difficult to find, and anybody with an AT&T wireless account can log in to their web site and choose their phone.
The screen shots below are from my AT&T account showing the supposed “iPhone Black.”
Knowing what I do about Apple, “iPhone Black” doesn’t really seem like a name they will stick with. But seeing as Apple went with MacBook Air for their new ultra-portable notebook, “iPhone Black” might be here to stay.
Regardless of what Apple decides to name the new iPhone, I’ll still be purchasing one. The 3G speeds (confirmed), GPS, increased storage, and better camera (rumored) will make the new iPhone something that I’ve got to have.
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