Apple just launched the new iPhone 3GS (for Speed), but is this new iPhone worth the upgrade? – We see how it stands up against its older brothers.

Introduction

The iPhone has become an icon in popular culture. The iPhone, along with its sibling, the iPod, are woven into our view of the world. As a device it is sleek and sexy. It has a great sense of style and shows that while Apple may do many things wrong, they at least do them with style and flare.

From its launch the iPhone has been poked at and prodded, reviewed and tested. The latest launch is nothing new; there have been all kinds of comparisons of the iPhone 3GS and individual tests ran to determine how much better it is than the older iPhones.

We will take a look at the new iPhone 3GS as a first time purchase and see how it compares to its older brother, the iPhone 3G with the same software. So let’s dive in to the new iPhone 3GS and see if it is worthy of your money and time.

Incoming search terms:

• iphone 3gs box
• iphone 3gs
• iphone 3gs back
• iphone 3gs black
• iphone 3GS 16GB
• apple iphone 3gs
• back of iphone 3gs
• iPhone box
• 3gs back
• iphone 3g box

A source closely connected to Apple’s hardware team claims to possess knowledge of the next-generation iPhone’s specifications and release date.

The source told iPhone fan blog Apple iPhone Apps that the new iPhone will launch July 17. Many of the provided specifications corroborate with past rumors that the device will introduce a digital compass and a video recorder, among other features.

Here’s the list:

* 32GB and 16GB storage (up from the current 16GB and 8GB models)
* $199 and $299 price points to be maintained
* 3.2-megapixel camera (up from the current 2-megapixel camera)
* Video-recording and editing capabilities
* Ability to send a picture & video via MMS
* Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
* OLED screen
* 1.5 times the battery life of the current models
* Double the RAM and processing power
* Built-in FM transmitter
* Apple logo on back will glow
* Rubber-tread backing
* Sleeker design
* Built-in compass
* The camera, GPS, compass and Google map combined will identify photo and inform about photo locations
* Turn-by-turn directions

Overall, if these claims are true, this is a relatively minor upgrade. The most notable new features would be the built-in compass (which appeared in earlier rumor reports), the video recorder and editor (the current iPhones don’t support video recording unless you Jailbreak them), the built-in FM transmitter and the OLED screen (which would improve battery life).

One of the features that sticks out to me is the built-in FM transmitter. I see no compelling reason for Apple to put this in the iPhone, as it is not a feature that users have been demanding, and it hasn’t appeared in other iPods.

Another specification I find strange is the OLED screen. That would be a welcome change because it would look nicer than the current LED screen. But OLEDs are generally pricey, and if the current price points are maintained, I’m not sure if I believe this one.

In the vast, treacherous world of me-too iPod sound systems, Helms’ SoundBuddy II K999B Mini 2.1 Digital Audio System does a commendable job of standing out. What it doesn’t do so well, however, is sound good. Unfortunately for it, the music side of things is pretty darn important when it comes to deciding on an audio setup.

iLounge recently got ahold of this here unit, and while the styling was definitely unique and highly lauded, some of the design aspects — including the actual docking apparatus and the speaker location — were understandably questioned. Furthermore, critics found the sound quality to be borderline laughable given the steep $140 price of entry, leading to a conclusion that the hands-on images in the read link are probably as close as you (or your wallet) should ever get to this one.

We’d already heard that evidence of a new iPhone model was found buried in newer firmwares, but how about two new iPhone models — along with a couple new iPod touches thrown in for good measure? It seems that a careful deconstruction of the beta 3.0 build provided to developers this week has uncovered the same product code “iPhone2,1″ found before in addition to an even newer, awesomer “iPhone3,0.”

For the record, the iPhone 3G is identified as “iPhone1,2,” so these alleged new models would be the first in the iPhone line to be blessed with major version number increments. Turning our attention to the iPod touch, the current model carries the “iPod2,1″ designation, but models “iPod2,2″ and “iPod3,1″ have both been rooted out of the binary. June is widely speculated as the time that we’d be seeing new iPhone models — right about the time that 3.0 is released to the general public — so we don’t have terribly long to wait to get this sorted out.