If you coveted the first-generation Apple iPhone but decided to play it smart and wait for the second iteration, your patience has been rewarded.The iPhone 3G is better than the original in almost every way.
In fact, now that third-party developers can write software for the iPhone, the little device is an endless source of entertainment - as well as a platform for useful business applications that transform it from a cute gadget into a true hand-held computer.
The iPhone hasn't changed much physically, with the same brilliant 3.5-inch, touch-sensitive screen serving as both a display and control panel. There are only three buttons, one that displays the Home screen icons, a volume control and a power switch.
The biggest difference is improved hardware that ties the phone into AT&T's third-generation wireless network. It provides much faster and smoother Web browsing (300 to 500 kilobits per second) than the glacial Edge network that the original iPhone uses. It's a great showcase for the superb Safari Web browser's MultiTouch interface.
Unfortunately, AT&T's 3G network doesn't seem to be any more accessible than its older sibling. I still couldn't get a reliable network connection at my desk in The Sun's newsroom, even though AT&T technicians insisted the signal outside the building was strong. I got a four-bar signal on my Verizon phone in the same seat.
For price-conscious buyers, the iPhone 3G has good news and bad news.
Good: The iPhone itself is cheaper, starting at $199 with 8 gigabytes of internal memory and $299 for 16 GB - with the usual odious two-year contract.
The bad news is a higher monthly charge - $75 for the most popular calling and data plan with text messaging, compared with $60 for the original iPhone.
This is in line with 3G voice and data plans from other carriers, so if you want a higher-speed network, you'll have to pay for it.
Like the earlier model, the iPhone 3G will abandon the AT&T system and latch onto any Wi-Fi network in the area (provided that it's unsecured or you have the password for it). That's good, because short-range Wi-Fi networks are usually much faster than any public carrier's wireless system.
Another major improvement is better voice quality on phone calls. This basic virtue somehow disappeared in the rush to jam cool features into the first version, but if you're serious about the "Phone" in iPhone, your calling partners will now be able to tell that it's you on the other end.
