The maps function also works much better with 3G than with Edge. The maps widget has always been a source of frustration on my first-gen iPhone because the only time I really use it is when I’m out of the house, where I don't have ready WiFi access. Now with 3G, the maps work in real-time away from home, without needing to take minutes to redraw the map every time I scroll.
GPS Functionality
In addition, the maps now have GPS functionality, thanks to a GPS chip in the iPhone 3G. I tested it this morning while out driving. The GPS quickly located my precise location, and I could follow the dot as my car moved along. Unlike a dedicated GPS, though, the map doesn’t change its orientation to follow the direction you’re driving. That is, no matter which direction you are going, south is still downward on the map; east is still rightward; north is still upward; and west is still leftward. You also don't really get a street-level view, just a bird's-eye view of streets. (Check out the demo). The GPS functionality is rather primitive, and definitely no replacement for my Garmin. But if I’m ever lost in the Maryland woods, it could still come in handy.
Redesigned Plastic Back
One matter of concern was the new plastic back to the phone. The first-gen iPhone had a classy metal back. Before the new phone's release, iPhone users debated whether or not the plastic would devolve the phone to kitsch. The short answer is: No. The new plastic back definitely does smudge (I got the black version). But smudging an iPhone is a way of life. I got over the smudge factor a year ago.
The tradeoff is that the new phone just feels great in your hand. The first-gen iPhone felt awkward — less like a phone, and more like a handheld computer. The iPhone 3G feels like a handheld phone that just happens to include a handheld computer. Thanks to some slight adjustments to the curvature, it's much more comfortable in the hand for phone use, as well as for playing games and running other apps. I was dubious about the plastic back when I first heard of it, but thanks to the brilliant design it has become one of my favorite features of the new phone. This is a phone I can hold to my ear with ease.
Apps and the App Store
As anybody who’s interested in the iPhone knows, sanctioned third party desktop apps arrived with the 2.0 software. Before 2.0, apps written for an iPhone had to be displayed in a Safari browser window (or you had to jailbreak your phone). Now, apps can be downloaded from the iTunes Apps Store and run as widgets on the desktop. Many developers (including those for Facebook, MySpace, WordPress, New York Times, eBay and the Yellow Pages) are providing apps for free. There are even a few free games, as well as a great little BoxOffice app (very helpful for us film folks!).
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