Full review: iPhone 3G (Part Two)

Up next: GPS, the iPhone 3G's second, and only other, major improvement over the first-gen iPhone. Plus: the new App Store, Exchange support, and a laundry list of missing features.

Click here for the first part of my review.

As I wrote earlier, the new iPhone does a good job at pinpointing your location on Google Maps within, oh, a third of a city block or so, especially if you're outside under a clear sky. (Indoors, the iPhone must rely on Wi-Fi signals or cell tower triangulation, so the "current position" crosshairs may encompass dozens of blocks.) If the GPS sensors get a solid fix, the crosshairs turn into a blue, pulsating dot that follows you as you walk or drive. In my outdoor tests, the iPhone 3G's GPS got a good fix on me within about 15-20 seconds—not bad.

It's a cool feature if you're looking for the nearest Starbucks or ATM, but as a substitute for a dashboard GPS system, the iPhone's GPS capabilities fall well short. Yes, the iPhone 3G will deliver point-to-point driving directions (as will the old iPhone), but it won't guide you though the list of directions as you pass by specific waypoints. Indeed, unless you tap your way to the next step, your little blue progress dot will inch right off the map. There's also no re-routing if you make a wrong turn (unless you call up a new set of directions manually), and the iPhone map doesn't rotate depending on which direction you're facing, which can get confusing when you're trying to make that next left turn.

Now, there's no reason some enterprising developer couldn't come up with better navigation software for the iPhone 3G—in fact, I'd be surprised if we didn’t see such an offering on the App Store within the next several months. As it stands, however, Google Maps with GPS on the iPhone feels half-finished, especially compared to Verizon Wireless' polished VZ Navigator or Sprint's Navigation app.

Speaking of the App Store, it's easily the best thing about the iPhone 3G—although it also happens to be available on the old iPhone via the firmware 2.0 update. I've already posted my impressions of the App Store, plus a handful of the more than 500 available applications (Gina has also posted some reviews), but I'll say it again—if you're looking for something new to get excited about in iPhoneland, this is it. The 3-D, accelerometer-enabled games like Super Monkey Ball look amazing on the iPhone, the TypePad blogging app lets you post thoughts and photos on the fly, Pandora delivers free, streaming music channels, and Loopt lets you keep track of your pals in real time—and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Also new, and available on both the iPhone and iPhone 3G: Exchange support, which worked like a charm for me. Setup was a snap (I use a hosted Exchange service, not a corporate server), messages, events, and contacts arrived almost instantaneously, and I had no trouble accepting (or declining, heh) Outlook invites. My Exchange account did (as others have noted) erase all my personal contacts and events on my iPhone; however, once I activated push MobileMe support (another new feature), my Exchange and MobileMe info lived peacefully side-by-side. Meanwhile, corporate IT departments get a slew of security and deployment features that rival those for the BlackBerry. Good stuff.

OK, so what's still missing? Deep breath…

No MMS, a.k.a. picture mail: You can send text messages aplenty or zap snapshots to pals via e-mail, but there's still no MMS (multimedia messaging) on the iPhone. Personally, I've never been a fan of MMS—the messages are a pain to compose, plus carriers love to gouge you for sending and receiving each picture message—but if you want to send a quick snapshot from an iPhone to your friend's MMS-capable RAZR, you're out of luck.

No iTunes Store access over 3G: Again, most high-speed U.S. phones let you download full-track music over a given carrier's 3G network. For whatever reason, however, you'll need to be in Wi-Fi range to buy songs from iTunes over the iPhone.

No access to AT&T's streaming video service: Just about every other 3G phone in AT&T's lineup lets you access the carrier's collection of streaming video clips. Not so on the iPhone, however. Indeed, barring some new program on the App Store, you're stuck with the iPhone's YouTube app (which, actually, is pretty fun).

Same 2-megapixel camera, no video recording: With more and more camera phones getting features like touchscreen auto-focus and Xenon flashes, it's disappointing that Apple's pretty much ignored the iPhone's no-frills camera application. Snapshots on the iPhone 3G's two-megapixel snapper—the same as on the original iPhone—look fine as long as you're in well-lit conditions, but you're not going to win any awards. Even more disappointing: still no video recorder, although I'm guessing that some enterprising developer will eventually sell one through the App Store.

No cut-and-paste: BlackBerrys can do it, so can Windows Mobile phones. What gives, Apple?

No Flash support for Web browsing: Adobe says it can be done, but so far, Apple refuses to bite.

No user-replaceable battery: That said, as tear-down analysis has revealed, the iPhone 3G's battery isn't soldered onto its circuitry, and a pair of screws in the 3G's housing could make for easier removal. Still, the lack of a simple, user-replaceable battery is a serious drawback.

Battery life in general: I'm pretty much accustomed to charging my old iPhone every night, and if anything, you'll have to be even more diligent with the iPhone 3G. Granted, my handset arrived nearly dead Friday morning, and I only had time to let it charge for a couple of hours. But after a reasonable amount of 3G Web surfing, a couple of quick phone calls, and a 30-minute, GPS-aided stroll through my neighborhood, the iPhone 3G battery was down to about 25 percent. I'll do some more thorough battery testing in the next couple of days, but clearly, 3G and GPS use takes a toll. You can always turn 3G off in the Settings menu, but then you're back in EDGEville.

It's well documented that despite the iPhone 3G's subsidized $199 (for the 8GB version) and $299 (for the 16GB model) price tags, the increased data charges ($30 a month, up from $20/month last year) pretty much eliminate any savings over the old $399/$499 models.

So, here's the question for original iPhone users: Should you upgrade? Frankly, while surfing at 3G speeds was certainly a pleasure and the new GPS features are good, if not great, I don’t see any compelling reason to rush out to an Apple Store just yet. Take your time, go see one for yourself, even wait for a new model with more memory (I bet a 32GB iPhone 3G will be available before the year is out). The App Store will keep you plenty busy while you ponder. (That said, will I be upgrading? Well, yeah.)

Not an iPhone fan? Well, there's nothing in the iPhone 3G that'll change your mind; based on the list of missing features I just ticked off, Apple has a ways to go before it comes up with something for everyone. Instead, consider the bargain-priced, touchscreen Samsung Instinct, with its streaming video abilities, picture mail support, impressive GPS navigation, and removable batteries. Or wait till September, when the gorgeous (but Windows Mobile-based) HTC Touch Diamond arrives in the States. Want a great camera phone? Check out the 8.1MP C905 Cyber-shot, coming soon from Sony Ericsson.

For non-iPhone owners who've been waiting to take the plunge: Now is a great time. If you can live with the iPhone's nagging limitations, there's still a lot to love (I haven't even mentioned its stellar iPod abilities—side-loaded movie rentals, anyone?—or the best mobile browser, bar none), and thanks to the App Store, the sky's the limit. From tech fiends who love the latest gadgets to parents frustrated by the confounding menus in most phones, the iPhone 3G makes for a great choice. (Indeed, my mom already has dibs on my old iPhone.)

Have more questions about the iPhone 3G? Post 'em below, and I'll answer as many as I can in an upcoming post.

Click here for the first part of my review.