Original Unlocked Apple iPhone 3G 8GB Reviews

When I originally purchased for the phone, I opted for expedited shipping. Well that didn't happen because it took almost two weeks to get here instead of the 3-5 days that was promised with expedited shipping. After I had finally gotten the phone I connected it to my PC. It did a search and needed to be updated to the latest version, which had been accessible for quite a while. While I was running the update, the phone froze and was not doing anything. I took it to the nearest apple store for them to tell me that the software was screwed up on the phone and that the battery doesn't hold a charge at all. I had the phone to charge for more than five hours, and it was getting ready to die after only two. I then had to purchase a new phone with the store instead. Poor poor purchase.

The iPhone 3G is the second generation of iPhone. It was the successor to the original iPhone, and is succeeded by the iPhone 3GS. Introduced on June 9, 2008 at the WWDC 2008 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco. The 3G was very similar to its predecessor, containing the same 2 MP camera and no support for video recording, and its performance was limited by the same 128 MB eDRAM memory unit. Nevertheless, the 3G featured several improvements over the original. It supported Assisted GPS, 3G data and Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA.

The iPhone 3G runs Apple’s iOS operating system, the same operating system used on previous iPhones, the iPad, the Apple TV, and the iPod Touch. It is primarily controlled by a user’s fingertips on the multi-touch display, which is sensitive to fingertip contact. The iPhone 3G no longer receives software updates from Apple as of March 11 2011, which was the date iOS 4.3 was released. It is no longer supported.

Screen and Input

The touchscreen is a 9 cm (3.5 in) liquid crystal display with a resolution of 320-by-480 (HVGA) at 163 ppi along with a scratch-resistant glass sitting on top of the display. The capacitive touchscreen is designed for a bare finger, or multiple fingers for multi-touch sensing.

The device also features the same sensors its predecessor had. A repositioned proximity sensor which deactivates the display and touchscreen when the device is brought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery power and to prevent inadvertent inputs from the user’s face and ears. An ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness which in turns saves battery power. A 3-axis accelerometer senses the orientation of the phone and changes the screen accordingly, allowing the user to easily switch between portrait and landscape mode.

Processor and Memory

Most of the iPhone 3G's internal hardware were based on the original iPhone. It still included a Samsung 32-bit RISC ARM11 620 MHz processor (underclocked to 412 MHz), a PowerVR MBX Lite 3D GPU, and 128 MB of eDRAM.

Camera

On the rear of the device, the iPhone 3G features the same fixed-focus 2.0 megapixel camera that its predecessor had. It has no optical zoom, flash, or autofocus, and does not support video recording, although various applications have allowed video recording on the device. The iPhone OS 2.0 software update which came preloaded on the iPhone 3G at launch, introduced the capability to embed location data in the pictures producing geocoded photographs.

Connectivity

In addition to EDGE, the iPhone 3G included the addition of Assisted GPS, 3G data, and Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA. These enhancements allowed faster data downloads and turn-by-turn navigation with Maps.

Like its predecessor and recent iPods, the iPhone 3G also features the same proprietary 30-pin dock connector for charging the device. It is also used to synchronize the device with a computer and to connect various accessories. The iPhone 3G also features a flush-mounted 3.5 mm headphone jack instead of the recessed headphone jack that was included on the original iPhone, thus it can be used with headphones other than those provided by Apple.

Battery

The iPhone 3G features an internal rechargeable battery rated at 1150mAh, which like its predecessor, is not user-replaceable. Apple states the iPhone 3G’s battery is capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing on WiFi or five on 3G, ten hours of 2G talk time, or five on 3G, and 25 hours of audio playback, or 300 hours of standby. Unlike the original iPhone, the iPhone 3G uses a different battery which is fitted with a connector and is easier to replace, although replacement by any party besides Apple still voids the warranty.

The battery life of the iPhone 3G has been criticized by several technology journalists as insufficient and less than Apple’s claims. This is also reflected by a J.D. Power and Associates custom satisfaction survey, which gave the “battery aspects” of the device its lowest rating of 2 out of 5 stars.

Technical Details

• 8GB of internal storage
• 3.5in widescreen Multi-Touch Display
• 2MP Camera
• 802.11b/g WiFi
• Includes charger and original box.