iPhone 3G S Arrives Today: Here Are the Details

On Wednesday, we saw the release of the iPhone 3.0 OS, which brought an array of new features to existing iPhones and iPod touches. However, Apple will one-up themselves on Friday as AT&T and Apple stores everywhere will release the iPhone 3G S, the more powerful, video-capable generation of iPhone.

Do you know what this new iPhone can do? How is it different than the iPhone 3.0 upgrade? And most of all, should you head to the nearest Apple store and get in line to grab the company's newest gadget? We explore the answers to these questions and more in a short but comprehensive guide to the iPhone 3G S launch.

The How, Where, and How Much of Purchasing an iPhone 3G S

The iPhone 3G S goes on sale at Apple and AT&T stores in the U.S. on Friday. Walmart and Best Buy should also have some iPhones on sale. Insanely enough, lines began to form on Thursday in some places across the country. All in all, around half a million iPhone 3Gs have been shipped to stores nationwide.

The retail price of the iPhone 3G S with no contract is $599 for the 16GB version and $699 for the 32 GB model. With the AT&T subsidy however, it drops to $199 and $299 respectively. Originally the subsidy only applied to two year contracts with new customers, but as we learned on Wednesday, AT&T will upgrade existing iPhone 3Gs with the subsidized price until September, if you qualify.

If you're a hardcore fan of the iPhone, you're probably already waiting in line. If you're not, then you'll have your shot at getting a phone rather soon. It may take some effort to snag one, though.

iPhone 3G S: New Features

Jimmy Fallon and Engadget's Joshua Topolsky explore the features of the new iPhone

While the iPhone OS 3.0 software brought copy/paste, Spotlight Search, MMS, voice memos, and push notifications, the iPhone 3G S adds a new layer of upgrades and features that the iPhone 3G simply cannot replicate. While the biggest change is video recording (finally!), it comes with some other upgrades. Here's a short list of iPhone 3G S-specific features:

1. Increased speed: This is the reason, after all, it's called the iPhone 3 G Speed. The RAM is now 256 MB, the MHz has been increased, and there is a new PowerVR SGX graphics chip. Loading times, processing speeds, and more are upgraded.

2. Three megapixel camera: The camera has been upgraded from 2 megapixels and has autofocus. Tap on an area of the screen to help focus.

3. Video recording: It took long enough, but the iPhone 3G S records video.

4. Video editing: To make up for the lack of video in the iPhone 3G, the new iPhone has some nifty video editing software. The software is demoed on the above clip from Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

5. Voice recognition: You can talk to the phone and it'll make phone calls and play music. This is more advanced than your standard "Call Jessica" functionality.

6. Nike+iPod: The Nike+iPod is a version of the iPod Nano that communicates with Nike shoes so you know how far and hard you ran. The new iPhone supports this too.

7. Compass: This iPhone has a real compass that points to magnetic north. Google Maps will also move with you based on which direction you face, which is very neat.

8. Increased battery life: It's supposed to provide 12 hours of talk time, 30 hours of audio, and 10 hours of video. In reality, it seems to be a slight increase, but we'll take it.

There are other features, and we're sure that people tomorrow will comb the iPhone 3G S front and back and find a few hidden extras that weren't advertised by Apple. We're interested in hearing about them.

Is It Worth Buying Now?

So we come to the biggest question of all: is it worth upgrading your AT&T contract for a $199 phone or even shelling out a cool $600-700 for an iPhone 3G S with no contract? We've thought about this for a while, and came up with these thoughts on upgrading:

Upgrade now if: You are a shutterbug, can't wait for video capabilities, like having the newest gadgets, still have the 2G model, or have an iPhone that's starting to break down. The new phone has a lot more power and unique capabilities, so if any of these strike you as important, then by all means get in line at your nearest Apple store.

Wait if: You don't have the money, aren't as concerned about video or photo capabilities, or are happy with your iPhone 3.0 OS upgrade. The new OS makes the iPhone 3G feel like a new phone, and this may be enough for a lot of consumers.

Why you may want to upgrade in the future: We actually think the key factor in upgrading isn't video, but new iPhone 3.0 apps. The iPhone 3G S is simply more powerful, and soon there will be iPhone apps to match. These apps will run great on the iPhone 3G S, but will feel sluggish or be crash-prone on the iPhone 3G model. If this starts becoming the case, or if many apps start coming out exclusive to the 3G S, then upgrading will become more prudent.

Regardless of whether you decide to get an iPhone 3G S today, next month, or opt to keep with your current model, we'll keep you updated with the most important information related to the iPhone 3G S, iPhone 3.0, and the incredible applications that are being put out for these devices. If you have a thought about the iPhone 3G S, or just want to gush about being one of the first to get it, let us know in the comments!

Also See: iPhone OS 3.0 Released: What You Should Know