More about iPhone 3GS

I’ve spent a couple of days using  the 3GS, I must say it IS a joy to use.  Here is my attempt to do a product review & I guess you all know by now I’m an iphone fanboy. Anyway…..

One of my favorite features is Internet Tethering -

“share the fast 3G connection on your iPhone with your computer and connect to the Internet from just about anywhere — no Wi-Fi required”

This was already available in the 3.0 software upgrade, & with my 3G, it was actually faster to surf the internet using tethering on your laptop; but now with the 3GS, the speed is the same.   **Don’t try this unless you have a generous / unlimited data plan, & especially if you are traveling on data roaming - (I learned the hard way, on a week trip last year, I had a HK$4000+ data roaming bill)*

Now, the 3GS - whats different then?

• Launching apps & surfing the net is a breeze.  If you use IM apps like Beejive, (probably THE BEST mobile IM app ) it was painfully slow on the 3G - contact list takes ages to load & freezes when  you switch chats between different contacts.   Twitter on the iphone via apps like Twittelator runs better too!  Games take seconds to load…  Try “ DOOM Resurrection” &  my current favorite “Zen Bound” & the 3D abilitys really shine.

The camera can focus now, & macro shots are possible ! YEAY! Check out the above shot! Twittering on the iPhone is so much more fun with photos!

There are other “New” features of the 3GSlike a digital compass, voice dialing, Nike+ embedded, but you can check those out on Apple’s site.

One more feature that I have to mention is about the glass screen of the iphone.

Apple added an oil repellant coating on to the glass of the 3GS, they call it an “oleophobic coating”.

I was  skeptical about this at first & I was going to apply the screen protector that I’m used to using but I thought I give it a try.

I found the glass of the 3GS to be super smooth & slippery to the touch.  During dinner last night, after handling my phone with greasy fingers, I wiped the screen against my tee shirt & I was surprised to find the screen perfectly clear.  With my previous 3G, rubbing the screen on my t-shirt leaves a thin film of oily residue spread across the entire surface, making everything a bit hazy, especially if you have a plastic screen protector.  I’d then need to use a wet wipe or something to clean the thing.   Now, I’m using my iphone “as is” without any screen protector; typing & using the phone seems a lot smoother without any screen protector.

Yeah , I’m barebackin’  my iphone now & it feels nice.

Finally, the question that EVERY iphone user asks; “How about battery life?” Since my phone is new, it seems better than the 3G, but if you have Push mail active on 3G, that sucks the battery life twice as fast anyway.  Surfing the internet makes the thing hot… less so if you use wifi.   So, if you are a heavy user, you need to re-charge your phone often.  You can get an additional add on battery like the Incase power slider,  available at Incase’s site or at 8Five2Shop