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Apple's iPhone 3G guided tour reveals extra details

New video walkthroughs of iPhone 3G help illustrate how to use the phone and what's changed in software, but also spill details of changes to the hardware design, a free official AOL instant messenger client, and more.

The guided tours are available in both a 38-minute beginner's guide to the entire phone or a condensed, 12-minute edition that shows just the new features added with iPhone 3G and its iPhone 2.0 software.

One of the most conspicuous changes is to the speakers. Briefly alluded to during the iPhone 3G's introduction at WWDC, the "dramatically improved audio" of the updated iPhone is now attributed directly to its new microphone and speakers.

A look at the bottom of the device, which has been hidden from view in most early looks, also shows two screws at either end of the Dock Connector — an unusual design concession for a company that normally prides itself on hiding screws from view on its handheld devices.

And while most software demonstrations in the videos are of expected features, the front view of the App Store shows an AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) application that confirms a March 6th demo has translated to a finished and likely free application that may be available with the App Store's opening on July 11th.

The software could potentially be used to mitigate the lack of include SMS messages with AT&T's standard iPhone plans.

Downloading and installing third-party applications is also shown to be different than with purchases through the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. Instead of managing a separate queue, inbound apps surface directly on the home screen, with a progress bar indicating how close they are to completion. Apps immediately become active once downloaded.

iPhone App Store - AIMiPhone App Store - download

Update: AppleInsider forum member Berzerker notes that the guided tour also demonstrates a feature of iPhone 2.0 that will allow users to enable Wi-Fi on Wi-Fi enabled flights without leaving Airplane mode.



62 Comments

merdhead 17 Years · 587 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider

A look at the bottom of the device, which has been hidden from view in most early looks, also shows two screws at either end of the Dock Connector -- an unusual design concession for a company that normally prides itself on hiding screws from view on its handheld devices.

Yeah, like the seven screws on my MacBook, including two on one side that are purely cosmetic.

Thank you again for your thoughtful analysis, AI.

berzerker 17 Years · 28 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider

New video walkthroughs of iPhone 3G help illustrate how to use the phone and what's changed in software, but also spill details of changes to the hardware design, a free official AOL instant messenger client, and more.

The guided tours are available in both a 38-minute beginner's guide to the entire phone or a condensed, 12-minute edition that shows just the new features added with iPhone 3G and its iPhone 2.0 software.

One of the most conspicuous changes is to the speakers. Briefly alluded to during the iPhone 3G's introduction at WWDC, the "dramatically improved audio" of the updated iPhone is now attributed directly to its new microphone and speakers.

A look at the bottom of the device, which has been hidden from view in most early looks, also shows two screws at either end of the Dock Connector -- an unusual design concession for a company that normally prides itself on hiding screws from view on its handheld devices.
And while most software demonstrations in the videos are of expected features, the front view of the App Store shows an AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) application that confirms a March 6th demo has translated to a finished and likely free application that may be available with the App Store's opening on July 11th.

The software could potentially be used to mitigate the lack of include SMS messages with AT&T's standard iPhone plans.

Downloading and installing third-party applications is also shown to be different than with purchases through the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. Instead of managing a separate queue, inbound apps surface directly on the home screen, with a progress bar indicating how close they are to completion. Apps immediately become active once downloaded.


There's also another new feature of the 2.0 software. The tour guide mentions that if you're on a wi-fi enabled flight, you can turn on wi-fi without leaving Airplane mode, and demonstrates this feature. This is not possible in 1.1.4 and earlier. In these versions, Airplane mode MUST be off for Wi-Fi to be enabled.

jmadlena 17 Years · 43 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by merdhead

Yeah, like the seven screws on my MacBook, including two on one side that are purely cosmetic.

Thank you again for your thoughtful analysis, AI.

Compared to other companies, they are very right. Most companies don't give 25 screws on the face of an object as a big deal. Apple will do things to avoid it. No need to be an ass.

petero 19 Years · 94 comments

Maybe the two screws facilitate battery replacement....?

matthew yohe 19 Years · 298 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by merdhead

Yeah, like the seven screws on my MacBook, including two on one side that are purely cosmetic.

Thank you again for your thoughtful analysis, AI.

You missed where AI said: "...hiding screws from view on its handheld devices."

Your MacBook is not a handheld device.