Michael Koby

Today, Steve Jobs used this years World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) to accoune the release of the second generation iPhone, also known as the “iPhone 3G” and all I can say is “so what?”

Seriously, lets look at the latest features for this next generation smartphone from Apple.  We have 3G data speeds (something Nokia, Sony Ericsson, & even LG have had for years), GPS, and a new low entry price.  These are some of the features Steve made the center of his announcement.  Some others include Exchange support (and more enterprise worthy features), third party applications, and a nice new look.

So we have some features that have been in other phones for at least 2-3 years now and yet Steve Jobs demonstrated these features like they were extremely cutting edge.  Features like 3G and GPS have been in phones for the better part of 2 years (not all phones mind you) so these things are not new.

I guess the best the way to describe this latest generation iPhone is a true iPhone 1.0.  If Apple had wanted to be cutting edge on all fronts, they would have released the iPhone a year ago with at least 3G data speeds.  I’ll give Apple that GPS in phones is just now getting popular and a year ago wasn’t a deal breaker like it is now (though this should be some sort of testament to how fast technology moves).

In case you can’t tell, my general overall opinion on today’s announcements is lackluster at best.  We have features that people up and down claimed should have been in the first iteration (but I’m sure the Apple fan-boys will back-pedal on these previous statements under the guise of “Apple can do no wrong”).  I’m overly unimpressed, and was honestly expecting more from Apple.  There was nothing truely groundbreaking (though the service push for things like IM is nifty).  But I’m sure I’m a lone man on this opinion as I have already seen several blog articles touting the new iPhone’s supposed greatness.

Google just can’t seem to stop outdoing themselves.  The latest version of Google Maps Mobile (download) contains a new feature called “My Location” that will show you your location on the map.  If you have GPS enabled phone, it will show you your location as accurately as GPS can do (which is pretty darn accurate).  But what is even cooler than that is if your phone does not have GPS, then it will attempt to use cell tower information to get your location down to a couple of thousand meters (around 1.5-2 miles).  While that method does not offer pinpoint accuracy, it is good enough to show you where about you are in relation to the things around you and give you the ability to find businesses and locations that are near you more quickly.

Google needs to keep up this kind of innovation, they seem to like to make their mobile applications very usable while maintaining a certain level of the “cool factor” now if they could only get with RIM about getting Gmail IMAP working flawlessly on my Curve, we’d be in business.