iPhone 3G

Despite the overwhelming success of the first Apple iPhone launch day, Apple and AT&T did have one glaring black eye left shining after the event: countless owners were plagued by activation problems which prevented new iPhone owners from activating for, in some cases, up to three days. An unactivated iPhone is essentially useless, with functionality locked out pending activation. In many cases, this left new owners with no working phone, as swapping their iPhone SIM with their older device didn't work. The whole activation process was, to put it mildly, an abomination. Considering the heat both Apple and AT&T took in regards to the activation process for the inaugural iPhone launch -- we all could have safely predicted that Apple and AT&T would have all their ducks in line for the iPhone 3G launch, and customers would enjoy a problem-free, quick and easy activation. Right?

Evidently not. Reports have been coming in all morning about what appears to be an eerily similar situation developing with activations of new 3G iPhones. Lines at both Apple and AT&T stores

When it was announced earlier this past week that AT&T planned to open its retail locations at 8am for the launch of the Apple iPhone, many were perplexed at the lack of a similar indication from Apple. After all, why would Apple allow AT&T to draw the crowds to their stores and forfeit all those direct iPhone sales -- not to mention the oodles of companion purchases? As it turns out, Apple isn't that stupid (surprise, surprise), and will be joining the 8am party along with AT&T.

Although unannounced, we've just returned from a long overdue 2 week vacation. A lot transpired during the two weeks our offices were closed (and not just in the world of the iPhone). We won't be able to catch you up all on all of it, but we'll certainly get the important things posted ASAP. Speaking of which, how nice to come home to recently surfaced iPhone 3G unboxing pictures. The following pictures, which turned up on the iPhone Portugal forums seem to be the first legitimate unboxing shots of the new 3G iPhone.

If you're like me, as soon as you get your iPhone 3G home and unboxed, you're going to want to slap a full body 3G iPhone invisibleSHIELD on it before exposing it to the elements. My current iPhone has been protected by the invisibleSHIELD since a few weeks after I purchased it on release day last year.

No, as with the first incarnation of the Apple iPhone, there is no pre-order available. If you're hoping to get your hands on one and are worried about limited supply (although this was not an issue with the first iPhone), be prepared to get in line.

We told you earlier that the Apple online retail store went down, in typical Apple fashion, pending an update related to the new iPhone 3G. Like the rest of you, we had hoped that the update would include the release and ability to buy the 3G iPhone, but it was not to be. However, even though the iPhone 3G was not released at the WWDC, the Apple online store was updated with a 3G iPhone information page.

The information page has a large collection of information on the new 3G iPhone, including

Despite the hopeful yearnings of many of you out there, the new iPhone 3G was not made available immediately following its announcement at this years WWDC (world wide developers conference) in San Francisco, CA.

Instead the second generation iPhone 3G will be released on the worldwide launch date of July, 11th 2008.

The new iPhone will be running the new iPhone 2.0 software, which brings a bevy of new features to the iPhone including real-time GPS tracking, the iPhone application store, contact search, and more.

While the first generation Apple iPhone came in only one flavor -- matte silver, the new iPhone will be available in two colors (for now). Both versions have a shiny plastic back, as opposed to a matte metal back. There will be a black version and a white version (ebony and ivory for you Stevie Wonder fans out there).

Apple announced the new iPhone 3G at the 2008 WWDC (world wide developers conference). Here are the specifications for the new 3G iPhone and a list of added features:

The new 3G iPhone is being offered at a much lower price compared to not only the initial price of the first iPhone, but even compared to the last known prices of the first iPhone.

The iPhone 3G 8GB model will be sold for $199.

The iPhone 3G 16GB model will be sold for $299.