News
iPhone 3G, New Mobile Apps Debut at Apple WWDC 2008
- By David Nagel
- June 09, 2008
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During his keynote address at Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference
(WWDC) Monday, CEO Steve Jobs debuted the company's new
iPhone
3G, an update to the popular mobile phone and computing device set for delivery
July 11. Developers also took the stage during the keynote to show off new technologies
arriving for the platform.
iPhone 3G Launch
The new iPhone 3G, which, as its name implies, incorporates 3G networking technology
(with continued support for WiFi and EDGE), is being touted by Apple as "twice
as fast at half the price." The 8GB model's price has dropped to $199,
$299 for the 16GB model.
At the same time, the mobile device adopts a range of new enterprise- and consumer-focused
features. These include:
- iPhone 2.0 software, with support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync;
- Support for applications developed on the iPhone SDK;
- GPS technology with real-time mapping;
- Contact searching;
- A new scientific calculator;
- Parental controls;
- Minor hardware redesigns; and
- The ability to save mail images and transfer them to a photo library.
It also includes support for the new MobileMe
Internet service (a replacement for the .Mac online service), which provides
push support for applications like IM and e-mail. MobileMe is expected to run
$99 per year when it launches, and a free trial will be available. It includes
20GB of storage. A "family pack" runs $149 and includes 20GB of storage
for the primary account and 5GB storage each for up to four family members.
"Think of MobileMe as 'Exchange for the rest of us,'" Jobs said in
a statement released today. "Now users who are not part of an enterprise
that runs Exchange can get the same push e-mail, push calendars and push contacts
that the big guys get."
Apple said that in addition to launching the iPhone 3G in 22 countries July
11, the iPhone 3G will be available in "more than 70 countries later this
year." In the United States, AT&T will continue to be the iPhone's
carrier.
For users of the first-generation iPhone, the iPhone 2.0 software will be available
as a free update via iTunes July 11.
Platform Development
As far as development for the iPhone platform goes, Apple Monday announced that
downloads of its iPhone Software Development Kit have topped the 250,000 mark
since the SDK's launch in early March. The SDK includes APIs and tools for creating
iPhone-native applications.
During the keynote address at WWDC, several developers took the stage to show
off new and upcoming applications designed for the iPhone, ranging from adventure
and arcade-style games to medical imaging software.
About the Author
Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's educational technology online publications and electronic newsletters.