Key Features about the iPhone 3GS:
- This is the fastest iPhone yet–up to two times faster and more responsive than the iPhone 3G
- 256MB RAM, up from 128MB on the iPhone 3G
- 600MHz processor
- supports Open GL ES 2.0, the latest 3-D graphics API for mobile devices
- video recording
- voice control
- 3 megapixel camera
- fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating
- etc
Appearance
From the outside, the 3GS is exactly the same as the 3G. It’s slightly heavier and has glossy text on the back. Holding the 3GS next to the 3G, you’ll notice that the screen is more reflective due to the new fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating. The coating works in preventing some fingerprints and grease, and it allows the phone to be smooth and usable even if fingerprints are present on the surface.
The 3GS display is slightly warmer than the 3G’s, having a yellow/orange tint when viewed side by side. The warm screen is slightly easier on your eyes even if the brightness is bumped up high.
Speed
SpeedThere’s a purpose to Apple naming this the iPhone 3GS: speed is the real upgrade here, and is easily the reason for upgrading to a 3GS from a 3G. The 3GS is worth an extra $100. Safari, Email, Camera all load quicker than they do on the iPhone 3G. Booting the phone even takes half the time. Apps with long load times, namely games, all show how much faster you get up and running on the new device. Everything is faster. It’s like upgrading from a two-year-old computer to something fresh from the assembly line. Apps looks the same, but they load and run much more smoothly.
System
What does this speed increase mean for future iPhone apps? With the 3GS running on a 600MHz CPU with 256MB RAM (up from 400MHz and 128MB), there’s a higher performance limit for apps to reach. The OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics standard that’s now supported paves the way for an impressive visual boost. Gamers: this phone is for you!
Camera
The 3GS also has a 3 megapixel camera, adding auto focus and video recording. There’s even a type of manual focus feature as well.
By tapping on the screen and activating the auto-everything—not just auto focus but improved auto exposure and auto white balance—you’re gaining the ability to control more of what your shots look like. It’s most obvious in macro shots where the subject is only a few inches away. The 3GS is better in low-light conditions than its predecessor, as well as having better overall auto white balance.
The video quality is decent for a cellphone. Apple claims up to 30 frames per second, and even if it’s not quite 30FPS at all times, the video is smooth. The tap-to-focus (and re-expose) feature also carries over to video, which you can use to “aim” your camera at a part of the scene.
You’ll also want to use the quick trimming feature before you upload your videos directly to YouTube to cut out the excess at the front and back of your clips. The quick trim is just like trimming a clip in iMovie, with the yellow draggable borders.
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