New to these giant software releases and wondering how to upgrade your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iOS 5? Luckily iTunes makes the process of upgrading painless. The best part is once you’re on iOS 5 you can start to receive OTA updates and you’ll never have to fuss with cables and computers again.

For now though, where you’re ready to update to iOS 5, here’s what you need to do:

1. Plug your current iPhone into your computer and open iTunes. Your phone should start to sync and backup automagically.

2. If it doesn’t start to sync automatically, click the Sync button in order to back up your device. (You can alternately right click your device name in the navigation bar and click back up as well. Either way will work just fine.)

3. iTunes may prompt you that an update is available. If it does just click update after you’ve backed up your device (iTunes will also prompt you to back up if you haven’t already.)

4. If it doesn’t, click Check for Update under the Version section.
5. The new software will start to download and then install. Your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad will restart. Don’t worry about it. Let iTunes do it’s thing and update your device to iOS 5.

6. Once it’s done updating, iTunes should prompt you to do one of two things – set up as a new device or restore from a backup. Choose to restore from a backup and select the backup you just made.
7. Once the restore is done your device will reboot. When iTunes detects it again it will start to sync back any apps and games your old iPhone had installed.

After you’ve done the initial manual update to iOS 5 you’ll have the option to use iCloud backups in the future. Do it. It’s free and it just works.

If you have any questions or have issues, check out our TiPb Forums for all the help you could ever need!

Daily Tips range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

So you’re getting an iPhone 4S, you’ve chosen the carrier and decided on the storage size, and now you need to figure out the ins and outs of how to sell your old iPhone (or other smartphone) before upgrading? If you don’t want to keep it around as a spare, or as an iPod touch, or hand it down to a family member or friend — if you’re looking to get some cash back — then there are a few things you can do, and a few things you need to know before getting started.

Today we’re going to show you how to cash out the old and bring in the new using a number of great services!

Getting more for your old iPhone

Before you sell your old iPhone, there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the best selling price possible.

1. Jailbreak/Unlock: The iPhone usually sells for more money when it’s jailbroken and especially unlocked, meaning you have the additional options of running restricted apps through Cydia or getting service on another carrier (like T-Mobile in the US, or any international GSM carrier). If you are new to jailbreaking we suggest checking out the jailbreak forums for the best resources.
2. Condition: It kind of goes without saying that you’ll get more money if your device is in better condition, but this counts even more when it comes to the iPhone. If your device is in excellent shape, you’re going to be able to ask for a higher amount. For example, an iPhone 3GS in ‘fair’ condition with wear and tear can get you around $230 while a 3GS in ‘perfect’ cosmetic condition can get you as much as $300. I’ve seen a wide range of pricing on the iPhone 4 and 3GS based on condition, so make sure you research prices and price competitively. (And giving it a good, careful cleaning before you take any photos or send it off is always a good idea.)
3. Wipe your data: Before you end up selling your old iPhone, we highly suggest you run a full data wipe on your device to make sure none of your data is available to the lucky new owner. We’ve done a quick How-To post to help you with the process.

Putting your iPhone up for sale

Now that we’re passed the basics and you’re ready to put your iPhone up for sale, it’s important to weigh all the options you have before making a decision on which service to use.

There are a ton of great online services out there to help you sell your old iPhone and we won’t be able to go through them all, so we’ve filtered down the list of services for you. We’ll start with the most familiar of them all…

eBay

Selling your iPhone on eBay is a pretty simple process. If you’ve ever used eBay for selling things in the past then you know the selling process isn’t all that tricky, however there are still some things to keep in mind when using eBay to sell your iPhone. For instance, eBay charges fees for each auction based on the item you’re selling and how much it sells for, among other things, so here are five quick tips to help you get the most out of your auction:

1. Only ship to the buyer’s confirmed Paypal address if using Paypal.
2. Price competitively if using Buy It Now as an option.
3. Make sure the pictures you use follow your description and are good quality — post pictures of any physical blemishes on the iPhone and be up-front in your description.
4. Use a fast shipping service and make sure you include that in your item description.
5. Use keywords in your title and in your item description to attract more potential buyers.

You may also want to consider insuring your item in case anything goes wrong during shipping. Watch out for low-feedback buyers and also keep in mind that Paypal charges processing fees as well.

Craigslist

Selling on craigslist is locally based, so you’ll be making a face-to-face exchange with someone in your area. I’ve used Craigslist to sell a number of things around the house, and always follow a few basic rules:

• Don’t ever put your personal or home address in an ad. Ever!
• I’m usually fine with putting my personal phone number in an ad, but that’s up to you. Some find it easier to text rather than email.
• Meet in a public place, preferably in the daytime.
• Watch out for email scams, something Craigslist is notorious for.

It’s always a good idea to use caution when dealing with Craigslist. I’ve heard some pretty crazy stories of people getting robbed or worse when meeting with people for a transaction, so bring a friend and meet in an open, public area to avoid those types of situations.

Gazelle

Gazelle offers a service that lets you easily turn most electronic devices into cash. Simply send in your iPhone and Gazelle will send you money after confirming the item condition. The first thing you’ll need to do is tell Gazelle what you’re selling and what condition the item is in. You can choose from poor, fair, good or excellent condition, and it’s important to be honest when rating the condition so there’s no hiccups or snags along the way. It also helps if you have the box and original documentation and cables with your item, and the service will check for any water damages before giving you a quote.

An average-conditioned 16gb iPhone 4 will currently grab you about $215 where a perfect-conditioned iPhone 4 will get you as much as $250. The process takes about a week, and although you’re not getting as much money in the end it’s a great service if you don’t want to deal with a lot of hassle. You can have your payment delivered through Paypal among other methods, and you can also submit multiple items if you’re looking to get rid of a few more things while you’re at it.

SellYourMac.com

SellYourMac.com offers a similar service to Gazelle by letting you send in your old iPhone for payment with little to no hassle involved. In a nutshell, they’ll buy your old Mac or iOS device. You’re required to provide pictures along with a serial number next to your item description and condition. Once SellYourMac.com receives your iPhone they clean it, inspect it and verify that it’s in working condition before they turn around and sell it on eBay. Users can receive payment via Paypal and SellYourMac.com even says they give higher quotes than competing services like Gazelle, so you’ll definitely want to compare before making any final decisions.

Apple Recycle Program

If selling your old iPhone on any of the services mentioned above doesn’t sound appealing, Apple has set up a new iPod and Mobile Phone Recycling Program. As of this writing, Apple will give up to $200 for your used perfect-conditioned 32GB White iPhone 4 in the form of an Apple Gift card, which you can then turn around and use to purchase the iPhone 4S. In this case, you’re basically getting the iPhone 4S at no charge (with a 2-year contract, of course). If you have a black model, they’ll give you up to $180.

Apple is even including the iPhone 3GS in the Recycle Program, giving a $105 gift card if your 3GS is in perfect condition. They also offer to give you a new 8GB model of the same iPhone to swap out provided you sign a 2-year contract.

Personal transactions

Just because all these online services are available, it doesn’t mean you can’t still sell your old iPhone the old fashioned way — person to person, likely to a friend or acquaintance. Just be sure to follow all the tips suggested above, and remember that accessories like Square can even let you take credit cards right on your own device now, if cash isn’t as convenient.

Bonus tip

Include all packaging, cables and adapters if possible. If you have any extra cases or accessories you want to throw in the deal it can usually net you a higher selling price as a bundle instead of trying to sell them individually.

Any questions?

Whether it’s eBay, Criagslist or any other method for selling your old iPhone we hope this article will help you along the way. As always, let us know if you have any questions or additional suggestions in the comments below!

You can also check out our Marketplace Forum for more iPhone buying/selling action.

Should you upgrade from whatever you have now to an iPhone 4S? The answer to that depends entirely on what exactly you have now, or whether any of the features of iPhone 4S are compelling enough to makes it worth upgrading regardless of what you have now.

Read on for the full breakdown.

Upgrading from an iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, or iPhone 3GS

If you’re currently using an original iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPhone 3GS than your contract has likely expired and you can get an iPhone 4S at full, subsidize price. You can also get an iPhone 4S on Verizon or Sprint in the US, which wasn’t an option for any of the pre-iPhone 4S models.

The improvements to iPhone 4S for iPhone 3GS owners are significant. For iPhone 2G or iPhone 3G owners, they’re stratospheric. Retina display, a much better camera that shoots HD video, silky smooth multitasking, incredible gaming power, FaceTime video calling, Siri voice control — the list goes on and on.

Also, you get to keep your apps, you maintain easy access to any iTunes music, TV shows, and movies you might have bought, and your cables stay compatible.

iPhone 4S is almost a no-brainer update from those early iPhone models.

Upgrading from an iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S

If you’re currently rocking an Phone 4, the answer isn’t as easy. You’re probably still on contract with the carrier, so you may not be able to get the fully subsidized price unless you qualify for an early upgrade or you lean on them and their retention departments. There’s also not a huge difference in functionality — more speed, a better camera, Siri voice control, availability on Sprint, and world-phone CDMA roaming being the major differentiators.

• If you’re a hardcore gamer or productivity maven whose tolerance for lag is less than zero, the 2x speed and 7x gaming power might tempt you to upgrade.
• If you’re a photo and video enthusiast who really wants the “best camera”, that 8mp, F2.4, 1080p lens might tempt you to upgrade.
• If you want the future now, now, now, or you’re visually impaired, the artificially intelligent, natural language interface Siri promises might tempt you to upgrade.
• If you need Verizon or Sprint at home but have to travel a lot, the ability to roam on international GSM networks might tempt you to upgrade.

iPhone 4S is not a compelling upgrade for most iPhone 4 owners unless you really want or need a specific new feature.

Upgrading from Android, BlackBerry, webOS, or Windows Phone to iPhone 4S

If your current phone of choice runs Android, Windows Phone, or webOS or is a BlackBerry, here’s where it gets tricky. If you’re not on contract, it’s easier. If you are, you need to weigh the pros and cons and see if the features you get outweigh the penalties you’ll have to pay.

• iPhone isn’t as customizable as Android unless you Jailbreak it (think root), and that’s not always possible at first when a new device comes out.
• iPhone doesn’t have BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), so if that’s what your friends use you’ll be out of touch — and out of luck. iMessage will let you talk with other iOS users in an SMS/MMS type way, and there are cross-platform apps, but none of them are BBM.
• iPhone has the slickest UI and best UX in the business, but it isn’t as simple or elegant as the new Metro UI on Windows Phone, or have as good a multitasking metaphor and aggregation system as webOS. It does more (for now) but taste and preference are subjective.
• iPhone only comes in one style and screen size. 3.5-inch slab. No sliders, no flips, no hardware keyboards of any kind, and no option for 4 to 5.5-inches.
• No Adobe Flash video. (That could be a pro or con depending on how you feel about it.)
• No LTE, WiMax, or HSPA+ 21 or 41 mbps options for faster internet.

But iPhone has a lot going for it as well.

• iPhone has multiple layers but the first layer is so incredibly easy to use that the most non-tech savvy of people, people who are moving up from feature phones, can pick it up and get going with it immediately. At the same time it’s highly appealing to expert and veteran smartphone users who want to spend their time getting things done, not getting their phones to do things.
• Apple was the first to put a usable web browser on a phone and absent Adobe Flash, Safari is still the most powerful HTML5 browser in the business. Likewise the built in Mail app shows rich content with pictures. VPN, ActiveSync, and other enterprise-friendly features are also built right in.
• It’s become a cliché but there really is an app for almost everything on the iPhone. Pretty much every major app and currently all the best games are easily available in the App Store and are so functional people actually use them more than the great web browser these days.
• iTunes and now iCloud, which does a lot of what iTunes used to but without the cable, lets you easily sync your existing content and also gives you access not only to the App Store but iTunes music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, iTunes U (University) and overall more content in more parts of the world than any other service.
• If you live near an Apple Store, and you have a problem with your phone, there’s no passing the buck between carrier and manufacturer, there’s no sending your phone away for lengthy repairs. You make a Genius Bar appointment, you show up, they fix your phone or swap it for a new one (if you’re still under warranty or Apple Care). They’ll also help you set it up and teach you how to use it. If you’re new to phones, this is the single best reason to go Apple.
• Apple also creates a ton of other products to supplement the iPhone, including Mac computers, software for Mac and Windows, and together with their partners provide more cases, chargers, docks, car kits, and accessories of every kind. No other smartphone has the quantity or quality of extras, from fashionable to functional, that iPhone has.

If you’ve only been using another platform because you were waiting for the 2011 iPhone on your choice of carrier — go get it.

If you like your current platform but are curious or considering the jump to iPhone 4S, wait until you can try one at the store and really get a feel for it.

Upgrading from a feature phone to iPhone 4S.

Yes. Do it now.

(If you’re really hard up for up-front cash, consider a $99 iPhone 4 or free iPhone 3GS, but if you can scrape together the $199+ for an iPhone 4S, considering the contract will cost you ~$2000+ over two years, it’s not really much of a savings.)

Any questions?

If you’re still not sure, hit up our iPhone 4S Forums to get the help you need to make up your mind.

As of right now, it appears as though AT&T will not be honoring upgrade prices for the iPhone 4S to early iPhone 4 adopters. In the past, early adopters have been able to purchase the new iPhone at the upgrade price even though their account wasn’t technically available for an upgrade yet.

I purchased the iPhone 4 on the day of release, but when checking my availability for the iPhone 4S from Apple’s website, I’m presented with the following prices:

Before November 25, 2011:

• iPhone 4S: 16GB – $449
• iPhone 4S: 32 GB – $549
• iPhone 4S: 64GB – $649
• iPhone 4: 8GB – $349
• iPhone 3GS: 8GB – $199

The prices listed for after November 25 are the same prices that Apple announced earlier today: $199, $299, $399, $99, and $0.

If history repeats itself, AT&T will come to their senses and move the upgrade dates to October 14. This is normal behavior for them: send customers into a panic, then change their minds at the last minute. However, there is still the possibility of them sticking to their guns and not budging with their prices.

If AT&T sticks with these prices, will you still be lining up to essentially pay a $250 fee to purchase the iPhone 4S 42 days sooner?

Still have a working original iPhone 2G or iPhone 3G (or an iPod touch 1 or 2) and wondering how to get iOS4 features like Multitasking, Folders or Tethering? If you’re willing to Jailbreak with WhiteD00r, you can enable most of these new features with a simple install. We’ll show you how after the break!

Steps

1. Head over to whited00r.com and select your device from the “firmware download” page.

2. Extract the .zip file (make sure that your unarchiver/unzip utility doesn’t extract the contents of the .ipsw as well!)

3. Plug your iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, or iPod touch 1 or 2 into iTunes

4. Once detected, hold down the ALT (Mac OS X) or SHIFT (Windows) key, and then browse to unzipped .ipsw on your computer.

5. Be patient! It can take between 10 and 15 minutes for your iPhone or iPod to to activate.

6. That’s it! You’ll now be able to enjoy such features as Multitasking, Folders, custom wallpapers and more.

Additionally, your phone is now jailbroken, so you can install the vast library of Jailbreak apps.

Unfortunately, there are some things missing in WhiteD00r, like access to Game Center, the auto naming of Folders, your video camera comes in a separate app, and doesn’t save to the camera roll without some minor post-installation tweaks. However, for a unofficial hack, it works very well.

It certainly gave my old iPhone a new lease of life, and if you have any additional suggestions for getting more out of your old devices, let us know!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

The new Cydia update we’ve all been anticipating for a while now is ready for your jailbreaking entertainment! Cydia 1.1 can be had by simply launching Cydia and letting the packages refresh. It should then notify you that an upgrade is available. Simply select complete upgrade and let it do its thing!

The new features of Cydia 1.1 are as follows:

• Speed improvement, such as with “Loading Changes”
• Memory usage has decreased
• Much improved search algorithm
• Lets iOS run Activator, libstatusbar, and SimulatedKeyEvents while Cydia is running

All you jailbreakers out there, get your Cydia on and let us know what changes you’re noticing in the comments!

Thanks Dave for the tip!

We posted our iPad Buyers Guide earlier today but have since gotten quite a few emails asking whether or not original iPad owners should upgrade to iPad 2? There are only a few big differences between the original iPad and iPad 2 so the question comes down to whether or not any one (or more) of them are compelling enough to warrant an upgrade.

We’ll take a look at them and help you decide after the break!

If you compare the original iPad to iPad 2 you’ll see the screen is the same size and resolution — 9.7-inch 1024×768 — and the storage options are the same — 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. Battery life will be the same — roughly 10 hours — and both will have iOS 4.3 so the software will be similar. What’s different?

Cameras and FaceTime

The original iPad has no cameras while iPad 2 has two cameras — a front facing VGA at 30fps, 640×480 and a rear facing 720p at 30fps, 1280×720. It means iPad 2 can do FaceTime and use other video calling software like Skype. These might be great for families and individuals to see their long distance friends, relatives, or special someones. It also means you’ll be able to take video and low quality stills in a pinch and use augmented reality apps. You’ll even be able to use Apple’s new built in Photo Booth app and similar video and picture apps from third parties. Those cold be fun for little ones or grown ups alike. If any or all of that is important to you, you might want to upgrade.

Display mirroring

With iOS 4.3 you’ll be able to use the existing VGA adapter and the new HDMI adapter to output video from your iPad. However only iPad 2 will be able to use the new display mirroring. With display mirroring anything that’s on your iPad 2 will be shown identically on your TV — the home screen, your apps, your games. That’s great for teachers, for business users, for bloggers and reviewers who want to use HDMI capture to record the iPad screen, and for anyone who just wants to get everything out. (Or almost anything, Hollywood companies like Hulu will no doubt block any output they can.) If display out is a killer feature for you, you might want to upgrade.

Black and white

With all the delays surrounding the white iPhone 4 it’s surprising to see Apple offering the iPad 2 in white starting on day one. But they are. They really truly are. (The lack of LED flash and proximity sensor might have made it easier.) The original iPad was only available in black so if you’ve always wanted a white iOS device, or you want to make sure everyone knows you have an iPad 2, you might want to upgrade. (I know it’s superficial but it’s still a reason!)

Verizon 3G

AT&T was the only carrier choice in the US for the original iPad (unless you used Mi-Fi or a mobile hotspot phone for the connection). With iPad 2, there will be 6 models (one of each storage size in each color) that support Verizon’s CDMA/EVDO network. If AT&T doesn’t have great reception in your area but you really want to be able to use your iPad when you’re away from Wi-Fi connections, you might want to upgrade.

2x faster, 9x better graphics, gyroscope

The iPad 2 sports an Apple A5 processor which they swear will do 2x faster processing and 9x better graphics. It also adds a gyroscope to the mix. Developers will no doubt take advantage of that to provide smoother, more beautiful, better controlled games for iPad 2. Imagine Infinity Blade or Real Racing HD with more action, crazier texture mapping, and even more immersive play. Next generation gaming requires next generation hardware so if that tempts you, you might want to upgrade.

More RAM

We don’t know for sure but we’re hoping iPad 2 has at least twice as much RAM as the original iPad, which was stuck with 256MB. More RAM means you can keep more information in memory so Safari isn’t always reloading pages, multitasking isn’t dropping apps left and right, and in general everything just works better. If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of RAM in the original iPad and iPad 2 does indeed have more, you might want to upgrade.

Thinner and lighter

iPad 2 is slightly shorter and skinnier but significantly thinner and lighter than the original iPad. If you carry your iPad around a lot or hold it up to read or play games or have just always found the original iPad too heavy and the iPad 2 seems just right, you might want to upgrade.

Magnets

iPad 2 has magnets around the bezel that accessories like Apple’s own Smart Covers — and no doubt lots of 3rd party ones once they ramp up — use to make really light, really cool screen protectors that can even turn your iPad 2 on and off when you open or close them. Who knows what else will take advantage of these magnets? (I’m hoping for stands.) If you want on the next big wave of magnet powered accessories, you might want to upgrade.

And?

Those are our reasons for considering upgrading from the original iPad to iPad 2. If none of those are a big deal to you, stick with the original iPad. If any of them are game changers (like HDMI out will be for many of us here at TiPb) then upgrade away and sell your old iPad or gift it to someone special.

Did we miss any reason for why you would choose to upgrade (or not upgrade?) If so, tell us in the comments!

The TiPb forums are naturally a great place to talk, commiserate, celebrate, get help, and offer advice to your fellow iPhone users. In order to create a new thread of your own or reply to any of the existing threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is easy and free so if you haven’t already, head on over and register now!

• Interesting thread with a poll going on that the results may surprise some of you – Average age of a iPhone user?

• For those of you picking up a Verizon iPhone 4 in a few short weeks, which will you choose, 16GB or 32GB?

• Have any questions regarding jailbreaking your iOS device? For all of your jailbreaking needs please stop by the following forum – Jailbreak and Unlock Forum.

• AT&T users should check their upgrade dates as it seems like the carrier may have made some changes for certain iPhone owners. Perhaps to keep them from jumping ship to Verizon?

See you in the forums!

Apple today posted a Verizon Wireless upgrade eligibility checker on their site along with voice/data/messaging plans — only to pull them down a short time later. While up the information seemed to confirm what we have been hearing about the data plans where there will be unlimited for $29.99 a month and the option to throw the hot spot on there with 2GB extra for an additional $20 a month.

Voice

• 450 minutes $39.99/month
• 900 minutes with unlimited to 5 selected people (any network) $59.99/month
• Unlimited $69.99/month

Data

• Unlimited iPhone $29.99/month
• Unlimited iPhone + 2GB tethering/Personal 3G Hotspot $49.99/month

Messaging

• Pay per use $0.20 per SMS/month, $0.25 per MMS/month
• 250 messages $5/month
• 500 messages $10/month
• Unlimited messaging $20/month

These seem to be pretty straight forward with the current Verizon smartphone plans with the exception of the unlimited text messaging for $20/month. Current users have been offered 5,000 messages for $20/month but it appears as if they are at least going to offer iPhone users unlimited messages for the same amount per month. It seems like it would make sense for them to switch their smartphone plan to the same but we will have to wait and see.

Why did the information disappear? Maybe someone in Cupertino jumped the gun and posted it a tad early. If they decide to put it back up we will update you so you can check your eligibility and check out the plans for yourself.

[ 9 To 5 Mac ]

AT&T had posted a of YouTube video to help customers transition to Apple’s new iPhone 4 titled AT&T data plans and upgrades for iPhone customers.

It’s fairly straight forward so check it out after the break and let us know if they answered all your questions, and if not, what questions you have left?

YouTube link

During yesterday’s WWDC 2010 keynote, Steve Jobs announced that iOS 4 will be a FREE update for all devices, and the iPhone and iPod touch version will be released on June 21 (iPad version is still slated for fall). The main features include multitasking, folders, spellcheck, unified inbox with threaded messages, iBooks, Bluetooth keyboard support, and custom wallpaper. (Be sure to check out our iOS 4 preview for more details!)

iOS 4 is available for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and the 2nd and 3rd-generation iPod touch. On the other hand, the original iPhone 2G and 1st-generation iPod touch will not be able to upgrade to iOS 4, and as with every big software release, some devices will not get all the new features.

Multitasking, custom wallpaper, and Bluetooth keyboard support are only available for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and the 3rd-generation iPod touch.

In the past, iPod touch users had to purchase big software releases for $9.99. Not this year. iOS 4 is a FREE upgrade for iPod touch. This is huge news for our iPod touch wielding readers.

If you use an iPhone 3G or 2nd-generation iPod touch, do any of these missing features entice you to upgrade? If so, do you plan to go big and upgrade to iPhone 4; or do you upgrade to the iPhone 3GS at the new amazingly low price of $99? iPod touch users, are you thrilled to be able to upgrade for free, or do you believe it should’ve been free all along?

Let us know in the comments below!

[Apple iOS 4 page]

If you haven’t checked your AT&T eligibility date, you may want to. We noticed a couple weeks ago that AT&T was starting to roll back eligibility dates for some users, so here’s another reminder.

I picked up my 3GS on launch day and until yesterday, my upgrade eligibility date said 6/20/2010.  I didn’t expect mine to change if the next iPhone would appear after that date.  Well this morning, looks like I’m eligible right now.  As we all know, iPhone releases are typically done on a Friday. If the iPhone G4 was set to release on the 25th of this month or the 2nd of July, why would they be pushing back those who would already be eligible on that day?

Interesting indeed.  Could this mean an iPhone G4 could land on either the 11th or 18th of this month?  We are thinking that could be the case. What do you guys think?

You can check your AT&T eligibility at any time by either logging into your AT&T account and going to “Check Upgrade Options” on your account overview screen, or you can dial * NEW # (* 639 #) from your phone and you’ll get an automated text.  Check your eligibility and let us know if you see any changes!

We have some good news for those of you who are AT&T customers as it appears the carrier is rolling back upgrade eligibility dates for early adopters of last years iPhone 3GS. I have been keeping an eye on my upgrade date online for the past two weeks waiting for it to change from 11/20 with no luck just yet but a MobileCrunch reader has noticed a change to their account.

“Not sure if anyone [..] has noticed this same thing, but my Upgrade Eligibility date on my AT&T account switched from 11/21 to 6/21 in the last day or so. I bought a 3GS on launch day last year, and my upgrade date read 11/21 since then. A few other folks in my office have noticed the same changes happening to their accounts as well.”

Could Monday June 21st be the actual release date of the next iPhone? We are leaning towards no considering his original update was 11/21 while mine is 11/20 and based off that assumption, my upgrade date should change to 6/20 which falls on a Sunday. All of the speculation will come to an end at WWDC in the beginning of June. Until then, check your accounts to see if any changes have been made and let us know in the comments below!

[MobileCrunch]

AT&T has unveiled plans to upgrade their 3G network to 7.2 HSPA in various markets across the US by the end of the year. What cities happen to have all of the luck on their side? Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami.

If you don’t live in any of those cities don’t worry, I will let you all know how it works here in Chicago. Unfortunately for those who are not so lucky, the wait for HSPA 7.2 will will take a bit longer as AT&T is only planning on having 25 of the nation’s 30 largest markets upgraded by the end of 2010. John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations:

“Our deployment of HSPA 7.2 and supporting backhaul connectivity will enable our customers to continue to ride the leading edge of emerging devices and thousands of mobile applications, our network is based on the predominant technology platform used by operators worldwide and has been tested by today’s most popular devices. That experience gives us an important advantage in developing and deploying new technologies to meet customers’ future needs.”

Who knows, maybe as these network upgrades are taking place we will slowly start to see apps such as SlingPlayer Mobile get rid of their Wi-Fi-only chains? Only time will tell.

Jeremy and Chad both gave excellent, compelling reasons for why they ARE SO or ARE NOT upgrading to the iPhone 3G S. For certain, intelligent people will have different yet equally valid reasons for choosing to upgrade, or not to upgrade. For myself?

Apple had me at speed.

As anyone who ever managed to snag NetShare before it was yanked off the App Store, or anyone who has ever spun up PDANet, for anyone who has tethered under the iPhone 3.0 beta knows — 3G networks are a lot faster than the iPhone 3G lets on.

See, internet connection speed is only one factor. CPUs (and/or GPUs — where’s my OpenCL ES?) need to render HTML, CSS, and — the killer — JavaScript. Doing that takes a lot of crunch power, and that’s the bottleneck on the current iPhone 3G.

The new iPhone 3G S, however, has 150% of the CPU power and 200% of the RAM.

Remember a few years back when you bought a new laptop or desktop and it had a better CPU and twice as much RAM, remember how that new experience just flew. And remember going back and trying to use your old computer again, and how it just felt so slow?

Yeah, that feeling, that’s what I’m talking about.

Not only will web pages render faster at current 3G speeds, iPhone 3G S will use 3.5G/3.75G 7.2Mbps HSPA to really give them a turbo boost in areas where it’s available (hurry up, AT&T!)

And all of that is in addition to the faster task/app switching, load speeds, OpenGL ES 2.0, and other, tangible, perceptive speed boosts that Apple averages out to being TWICE as fast on the iPhone 3G.

Imagine if your new car suddenly went twice as fast.

For some people it won’t be worth it. For some the iPhone 3G wasn’t worth upgrading from the 2G either. It depends on what you value. On a tiny screen, seconds matter to me. Waiting for a page to render or apps to switch is dead time, and I’m trying to fill the interstitial moments, not just fracture them into smaller bits.

I know expectations were impossibly high for the third generation iPhone’s debut at WWDC 2009. Sites like TiPb and the rumors we all love so much didn’t help. But complaining about the iPhone 3G S not being improved enough — what did you want, a built-in espresso maker?

Apple puts new CPUs, GPUs, and RAM into their iMacs, MacBook Pros, Mac Pros, etc. all the time. Much more often than case changes (hello G5 = Mac Pro!). Fashion is nice when we get it, features perfect when they make sense (I expect that Mobile iChat one year!) but it’s power that will still drive mobile adaption. Performance size matters.

So I’ll be lining up on Friday for a new 32GB iPhone 3G S. (No pre-orders on my carrier). And when I start using it, when web pages just pop up, when apps launch in a heartbeat, when I hit HSPA 7.2, when I load up my first OpenGL ES 7.2 game…

Well, let’s just say I won’t be able to go back.

[TiPb vs. TiPb time! In the blue corner we have Jeremy who tells us why he IS SO upgrading to the iPhone 3G S. In the red corner, Chad who tells us why he IS NOT upgrading to the iPhone 3G S. Two writers, one issue. Check them both out and tell us who's side you're on!]

There have been a lot of people out there who are very disappointed with the third generation iPhone — iPhone 3G S. They’re saying that it is pretty much the same phone as the current iPhone 3G, or that the upgrades are not enough to warrant purchasing the new iPhone 3G S. I’m here to say, they’re right – the upgrades are not significant enough!

More after the break!

With all of the enthusiasm surrounding the WWDC 2009 Keynote, it is hard not to be let down; and some of us were. It can be a challenge not to get carried away with rumor and speculation around this silly season. However, beyond the hype and rumor lies the truth: Apple and AT&T are not delivering. How so? Let us look at the iPhone first.

Beyond aesthetics, the iPhone simply does not do much beyond it’s little brother the iPhone 3G (after the 3.0 software update). What are we getting other then a little extra speed?

A digital compass: Sure this helps with Google Map orientation, but is it amazing?

Voice Control: Granted, this will be nice while driving, but beyond that, it isn’t much more than a gimmick.

Video Recording: Now this is a nice feature, however, it is only VGA (640×480) and some of us already have a portable video recorder (like a Flip Mino, etc.)

There you have it, the three “new” features for the iPhone 3G S. Oh yes, there is the speed and battery life. True, things could be faster, but software 3.0 is already enhancing the speed of the current generation of iPhones and I am satisfied with the battery life of my iPhone as is. Why is this such a big deal? Why am I belittling these changes so? Two reasons: 1) We know Apple is capable of more/better and 2) AT&T is getting a little over-confident with strong-arming Apple to bend to their whim at the expense of customers. Let us look at number one first.

We know Apple is capable of more/better

Apple has filed several patents over the years that specifically references an iPhone interface (you can view some here and here). When are these coming to the light of day? I would really like to have some sort of “today” screen where, without turning on my device, I can see things at a glance; unread email, texts, etc. Oh, and what about iChat? Apple apps can multi-task now, why not an iChat app? Come to think of it, a front facing camera for video chats would be nice, but wait, AT&T doesn’t have the bandwidth for such things… which leads me into point two…

AT&T is getting a little over-confident

I get the contract and subsidy thing, except that AT&T is charging an awful lot for having a slower network by comparison to Sprint and Verizon (sorry T-Mobile). The Palm Pre’s data connection on Sprint’s EVDO Rev A network is close to Wi-Fi in my tests and AT&T is a long, long way from that. AT&T announced that they will be adding the much needed bandwidth later this year, but combine this with the late launching of tethering and MMS, “customer loyalty” discounts for users not quite at the 18month milestone for iPhone 3G S pricing of $399/16 and $499/32, I am not feeling the warm and fuzzies I used to feel.

Who is really to blame here? It is a double whammy. If Apple delivered on a new, “fresh breath device”, I could take the heat from AT&T. If Apple didn’t deliver and AT&T was reasonable on their pricing, that would have worked too. As it stands now, there is failure on both sides. Sure users will be happy if they are eligible, but AT&T just sold a boat-load of iPhone 3G’s within the last year, and now they are all let down, me included.

I am sticking with my iPhone 3G and enjoying the new life it will get with software 3.0. Until the next, great iPhone comes at WWDC 2010. Hey, at least my 2 year contract will be up…

[TiPb vs. TiPb time! In the blue corner we have Jeremy who tells us why he IS SO upgrading to the iPhone 3G S. In the red corner, Chad who tells us why he IS NOT upgrading to the iPhone 3G S. Two writers, one issue. Check them both out and tell us who's side you're on!]

There have been a lot of people out there who are very disappointed with the third generation iPhone — iPhone 3G S. They’re saying that it is pretty much the same phone as the current iPhone 3G, or that the upgrades are not enough to warrant purchasing the new iPhone 3G S. I’m here to say, think again – the upgrades are very significant indeed.

More after the break!

Let me first address one of the biggest — and for some only — gripe: “it looks the same as the iPhone 3G”. True, the iPhone 3G S has the exact same size as the iPhone 3G but is slightly heavier. Is that really a bad thing?

Sadly we live in a world that has major hang ups on looks and status. Sure Apple could have changed the glossy back to a matte finish. Or perhaps they could have done away with the chrome bezel and raised the phones headset speaker up a bit, etc… Those small changes may have been just big enough to require different accessories like cases and battery packs, rendering previous items useless and causing you to have to go out and spend even more money.

The next thing I’ve been hearing an awful lot is “there are not enough updates to warrant me upgrading” or “I expected a lot more from Apple”. I think that too many people expect Apple to revolutionize the cell phone market every year with an entirely new iPhone. Wake up call — it’s not going to happen! They did it once with the first generation iPhone that revolutionized the market and each year since then they’ve improved upon it. And the improvements are not irrelevant like some of you may think:

• 3 megapixel camera with capability to record VGA resolution video at 30 FPS
• 7.2 HSDPA (up to twice as fast as 3G)
• Improved battery performance
• Faster processors
• Double the amount of RAM
• Up to double the storage capacity (32GB)

According to Apple, the performance difference between the 3G and the 3G S alone is on average 2x. That is not to be overlooked. It’s no different than someone who says a normal DVD is fine for them and see no need for a Blu-Ray player — that is until they actually watch a Blu-Ray movie and are blown away. That’s how I feel current 3G owners who are not going to upgrade will feel once they get their hands on a 3G S. Blown away.

Now don’t get me wrong, for a lot of people the iPhone 3G is perfectly fine. And why not, it is a great phone. This is geared more towards the people out there who feel Apple has just put this phone together simply to get a phone out there without making great improvements. You my friends, could not be further from the truth. Looks don’t mean everything.

Ok, so that list right there is why I am upgrading and by no means is it a small upgrade in my book. If you’re upgrading, tell us why in the comments. And if you’re not, tell us why not as well.

When Apple first announced it was going DRM-free at Macworld 2009, they set up a system where users who previously bought the old, lower quality, copy-protected music could upgrade to the new, higher-quality, non-protected music for $0.30 per single track.

Problem: it was all or nothing. If you had 100 tracks, you had to upgrade every single one of them, all at once, which would set you back $30 (or $300 for 1000 tracks). Now, Macworld (via TUAW) says Apple has seen the light, bowed to pressure, or otherwise fixed the lame, and is allowing users to pick and choose, and upgrade only the music they want on a per track basis.

So, head on over to iTunes to see which of your music tracks [iTunes link] are eligible for upgrade, but make sure you have 1-Click enabled (for now, to avoid some sort of glitch in the system).

Seems like a great step in the right direction for us. Anyone more likely to upgrade now that we don’t have all-or-nothing dangling over us?

Click the “Upgrade My Library Link” from the QUICK LINKS section of iTunes

This link brings you to a screen that displays the Audio and Video tracks you have that are eligable for iTunes+ upgrades. Once you decide you want to upgrade, click the BUY link

 

Next you will get a confirmation dialog box asking if you want to purchase the upgrade (assuming you have not disabled this feature)

Apple then tells you that the files in your iTunes library will be replaced. The cool thing is Apple gives you two options: delete them, or move them to a folder on the desktop. I strongly recommend option #2!

Once they conversion is done, your files are replaced and iTunes tells you that you have nothing left eligible to be upgraded.

Afterwards, as songs become available for upgrade, they will automatically show in the QUICK LINKS section

I found the entire process of upgrading my library very easy. I am looking forward to the rest of my purchases to be eligible in the near future. Unlike some stories I have heard, it did not take long at up to upgrade, probably 5 minutes. iTunes simply exports the DRM content to your desktop and downloads DRM free content to replace it; simple!

With the Apple’s early morning release of the iPhone 2.2 firmware update, that’s the exact question many people will be asking. Hey, we at TiPb asked it ourselves — and then blindly pushed and shoved our way to the iTunes tethers!

So what’s new in iPhone 2.2, is it awesome enough for you to update, and who should stay clear at all costs?

Answers after the jump!

What’s in the 2.2 Update

According to Apple, iPhone version 2.2 includes the following:

This update contains many bug fixes and improvements, including the following:

• Enhancements to Maps
  • Google Street View
  • public transit and walking directions
  • display address of dropped pins
  • share location via email
• Enhancements to Mail
  • resolved isolated issues with schedule fetching of email
  • improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

Products compatible with this software update:

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G

In addition, there have been some minor UI tweaks, which you can check out in our new iPhone 2.2 Screenshot gallery.

Who Should Update?

While some may feel, especially given recent history, that best practices are to wait a few days for the guinea pigs… er… early adopters to kick the tires and discover any deal-breaking bugs, if you’re already suffering from any of the problems listed above, especially Email fetch woes, crashing Safari browsers, or want the latest security fixes, then bite the bullet and update asap. Likewise, the new Google Maps goodness and direct Podcast downloads had me at beta.

There’s always a risk something might go wrong, but you’re likely suffering immense frustration already, or really want the new features,the benefits clearly outweigh theoretical drawbacks.

Who Shouldn’t Update?

First and foremost: those of you who have jailbroken your iPhone 3G or 2G, or unlocked your 2G need to STEP AWAY FROM THE ITUNES. Read Jeremy’s post for the details, but if you upgrade now, you’re in for a world of hurt and disappointment later. Bottom line: If you’re rolling with a jailbroken or unlocked iPhone, stay clear until you’re given the all-clear. We’ll always let you know right quick when/if there are any developments in that area.

UPDATE: We forgot to mention, whenever new iPhone firmware comes out, some App Store apps will experience conflicts and stop working. If you’re at all worried, or have mission critical apps, wait for others to report problems and make sure all your favs are bullet proof before risking it. (Thanks to everyone who sent this in — please report any problem apps you find in the comments!)

Likewise, if you’re living large on iPhone OS 2.1, and won’t absolutely die if you don’t get Podcast Downloads now, now, now then you have nothing to lose by hanging back and waiting a few days to make sure 2.2 doesn’t crash and burn. Keep reading TiPb, and in a week or so, when confidence levels are high, you can take the plunge — if you feel like it.

Conclusion

So what’s the deal’yo? If you’re happy with your 2.x (or even 1.x!) iPhone right now, save yourself the potential pain frustration and wait to update until there’s a compelling reason to update.

If, on the other hand, 2.1 is giving you nothing but headaches, or the 2.12features are must-haves, go ahead and update now. Things can’t get any worse, can they? Can? They?

Whatever you do, let us know. And if you do run into problems, be sure to head on over to our forums where Bad Ash has the crew in full force!

With the Apple’s release today of the iPhone 2.1 firmware update, that’s the exact question many people will be asking. Hey, we at TiPb asked it ourselves — for all of about 0.1 seconds before diving headlong into iTunes, for the good of our readers, of course.

So what’s new in iPhone 2.1, is it compelling enough for you to update, and who should avoid it at all costs?

Answers after the jump!

What’s in the 2.1 Update

According to Apple, iPhone version 2.1 contains many bug fixes and improvements, including the following: 

• decrease in call set-up failures and call drops 
• significantly improved battery life for most users 
• dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes 
• improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts 
• faster installation of 3rd party applications 
• fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes if you have lots of 3rd party applications 
• improved performance in text messaging 
• faster loading and searching of contacts 
• improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display 
• repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages 
• option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts 
• Genius playlist creation 

Who Should Update?

While some may feel, especially given recent history, that best practices are to wait a few days for the guinea pigs… er… early adopters to kick the tires and discover any deal-breaking bugs, if you’re already suffering from any of the problems listed above, especially 3G connection issues, dropped called, frequent crashes, or severely long backups, or if the latest security fixes are a must, then bite the bullet and update asap. There’s always a risk something might go wrong, but you’re likely suffering immense frustration already, and the benefits in that case clearly outweigh theoretical drawbacks.

Who Shouldn’t Update?

First and foremost: those of you who have jailbroken your iPhone 3G or 2G, or unlocked your 2G. While the 133t hax0rs over at iPhone DevTeam are Scotty-class miracle workers, they will always lag behind Apple and it might take them a few days, or even weeks, to crack whatever Apple’s cooked into the latest/greatest firmware. (Like the iTunes 8 patch they’ve already let loose). If you’re rolling with a jailbroken or unlocked iPhone, stay clear until you’re given the all-clear. We’ll always let you know right quick when/if there are any developments in that area.

Likewise, if you’re one of the 98% Apple claims already has a rock-solid 2.0.x iPhone, and won’t absolutely die if you don’t get Genius Playlist functionality, like, immediately, then you have nothing to lose by hanging back and waiting a few days to make sure 2.1 doesn’t blow up in anyone’s faces. Keep reading TiPb, and in a week or so, when confidence levels are high, you can take the plunge — if you feel like it.

Also, Vista users who haven’t yet fixed their iTunes 8 problems are encouraged to do that first, before chancing even greater BSOD wrath with 2.1.

Conclusion

Bottom line, if you’re happy with your 2.x (or even 1.x!) iPhone right now, save yourself the potential pain frustration and wait to update until there’s a compelling reason to update.

If, on the other hand, 2.x is giving you nothing but headaches, or the 2.1 features are must-haves, go ahead and update now. Things can’t get any worse, can they? And ZOMG! you can has Genius Playlists in ur iPhone like nowz!

Whatever you do, let us know. And if you do run into problems, be sure to head on over to our forums and harness a little crowd-sourced help!

Out of the closest iPhone lover Paul Thurrott of the Supersite for Windows got his beige-boxy hands on pre-release version of the iPhone 2.0 software update and the pre-requisite iTunes 7.7 software, and ran the upgrade process through its paces.

His verdict?

[Installing the 2.0 upgrade] is a multi-step and time-consuming process but is largely hands-off. [...] There’s a new App Store icon on the home screen, for example, and the Mail application includes prominent links to Microsoft Exchange and MobileMe account types. [...] The old iPod Games entry in the Source list [of iTunes 7.7] has changed to App Store, for example, though selecting it now, before the July 11 launch, displays only whatever iPod Games you’ve purchased. [...] I’ll have a lot more to say about this impressive upgrade in the weeks ahead. So far, so good.

Check out his upgrade gallery, and massive iPhone 2.0 screenshot galleries.

AT&T customer? iPhone user? Eligible for an upgrade to the brand-spanking new iPhone 3G?

Yeah, we have no idea either, but in an unexpected and appreciated step towards being slightly less confusing than usual, AT&T has gone and created some website goodness to help everyone find out in three easy steps:

(We’ll leave out Step 4, hold your breath and pray the stars are aligned just so… for now).

If this works for you, please let us know!

(If not, let us know how you’re doing saving up for the rumored $600 unsubsidized, non-upgrade price…)

Read

Now that the iPhone 3G has been officially announced and the details have been released, we are holding the first ever: TiPb vs TiPb. In the two articles we will detail reasons why we SHOULD upgrade and why we SHOULDN’T upgrade to the iPhone 3G. No hard feelings, No blood spilled, just good old fashioned point-by-point debate.

My first computer was an Apple II. Sure, I flirted with DOS (KDS 7860!), then had a fling with an Amiga before falling in with Windows 3.1 through Vista (now tucked safely away in a VM). But even in the Dark Days, I had a Mac Performa for a while, and now for the last year, I’m back on Mac full time. I say this to show that I don’t believe in being loyal to company that just sees me as cash. I believe in a company being loyal to me if they want my cash. They have to earn it. And the moment another company, platform, car manufacturer, game system developer, or cola maker does a better, more innovative job earning my cash — they get it.

So, for me, just because Apple released a new iPhone didn’t mean they “had me at 3G”. If they wanted my cash (and my enslavement to a carrier — more on that later), they had to wow me.

And wow me they did.

Read on the top 5 reasons you SO need to upgrade!

5. Tech Waits for No One

Usually I’m not the guy that rushes out and buys every new toy to come down Tech Ave. Usually I wait until a new release, Apple or not, and then buy the last gen, often refurbished, so I don’t suffer any first-adopter tax or retail premium.

Sure I write for an iPhone blog, but I really, truly love me some iPhone, and here’s why: it’s the next big paradigm shift for computing, every bit as much as the Apple II or the Mac, and I want in. Sure, 2.0 will run on the last gen device, but there are some tiny little hardware features to consider, like, say 3G HSDPA speeds, GPS location services, a flush headphone jack(!), among other things, not to mention the App Store apps which will certainly take advantage of, if not demand, an iPhone 3G, and being on the bleeding edge for this ride seems like a no brainer.

I don’t always need the latest or the greatest, but when Apple combines both those things together in a gorgeously evolutionary little package like iPhone 3G, how can I resist?

The world is moving mobile, and who’s driving that world now? Not Palm anymore, not Windows Mobile, not Symbian, and not even Blackberry. A UNIX box, always online, super fast, location aware, with next generation UI, all in my pocket?

Where do I sign?

4. Price.

$199, even though I’ll probably spring for the 16GB at $299. It’s just that simple. (Actually, it’s not, but I detailed my thoughts on it already yesterday — check them out!)

3. Speeds and Feeds

Steve Jobs’ Keynote demo showed the iPhone’s 3G speeds pasting EDGE and giving Wi-Fi a run for its money, and Engadget’s and Gizmodo’s early hands on helped confirm it for me: the iPhone 3G is a screamer!

Data transfer alone is only part of the picture, however. As we saw with the original iPhone rendering web pages of EDGE faster than some 3G phones could over HSDPA, processing power, HTML and Javascript engines, and a variety of software and hardware integration factors also effect overall speed. And this is where the iPhone 3G nails it.

Ubiquitous connectivity, where you’re online all the time, moving seamlessly from WiFi at home or work to cell data when you’re out and about is hardly seamless when you hit the road bumps that are EDGE. The difference between WiFI and EDGE is just too great, even on the iPhone, not to notice.

3G HSPDA may not be perfect, but it comes tantalizingly close to delivering that seamless experience. And it’s an experience that will be more and more important, and sooner than we think.

Once you go fast, its very hard to go back. iPhone 3G, with its blazing HTML email and web page rendering, means I won’t be going back, not after I upgrade.

2. GPS and the Cloud

I’ve mentioned the cloud before. It’s real, and it’s out there, and some analysts believe Google will use it to make more money next year than Microsoft does with Widows and Office. Google knows it, which is why they’re pumping out Android. Microsoft knows it, which is why they’re hyping Live Mesh even as they dally with Yahoo! and Facebook, and Apple knows it, which is why they’re refreshing .Mac to MobileMe, and putting A-GPS in the iPhone 3G.

Location based services are going to be the Excel and Internet of the next big platform adaption, and the iPhone 3G is uniquely poised to leverage them, with the right guts, the right services, and Apple, who’ve proven to be the best guys on the planet at marrying software, hardware, and now services.

Google Maps on the iPhone was just the beginning; the App demo at WWDC 2008 just the appetizer. The cloud revelation is coming, and I want in now.

1. International Support

I’m Canadian. and that means I’m currently running a jailbroken and unlocked iPhone. I don’t run any unofficial 3rd party apps, and I don’t have any data set up. I simply have to have a cracked phone in order to use it in the country I live. While I take responsibility for my own actions, though Apple who wanted revenue sharing and Rogers who has a GSM monopoly and gouges for data rates to the point that oil companies find them obnoxious certainly need to take responsibility for their (previously?) myopic views as well. (And as of this writing, Rogers has not announced rate information for the iPhone, so there may yet be show-stoppers on my end).

I also don’t have any warranty recourse should my iPhone develop any problems, no easy access to Apple Stores for fixes or even accessories. I’m a vagabond, like Bruce Banner always just one issue ahead of the army that hunts him.

And I’d like to come in out of the cold. I’d like to buy an iPhone in a regular store (I’d prefer an Apple Store, but I’ll take Rogers if I have to). I’d like to have it under warranty and service, and be able to take it in if I have any problems. And I’d like a data plan, a real one I can use everywhere and anywhere, without $0.03 a kb overage charges, and no recourse with Rogers billing for using my SIM on an unsupported device.

For those who want more languages, including the ability to draw out Asian language characters right on the phone will also be huge.

Absent being part of the privileged few nations to have gotten the original iPhone, international support is my killer feature.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, my Top 5 reasons why I’ll be lined up at a Rogers store on July 11th, waiting for my iPhone 3G.

How about you? Will you be lining up somewhere just like me? Or will you, like Casey, be watching us from afar, still content with your 2G? Let me know!