First iPhone 3G Reviews up from the Usual Suspects
Much like they did a year ago, Walt Mossberg and David Pogue had to show off just how much more important they are than the rest of us by publishing their reviews of the iPhone 3G a couple days early. Mossberg has the more in-depth review with grittier hands-on details (hint: battery life is a serious disappointment) while Pogue talks up the App Store (hint: “dazzling gaming platform.”)
You’ll want to read both, of course, but our take: the iPhone 3G isn’t so much “second coming of the Jesus Phone that brings about the end times and rapture for us all” as it is “the Jesus Phone showing up 3 days and helping you believe by touching its wounds.” Those wounds: continued lack of common smartphone features like voice dialing, cut and paste, and task or note sync.
(A reminder: yours-truly is lining up at the Apple Store in Providence, RI starting early in the AM on Friday (or Thursday, if some bugger wants to get it started earlier). Stop by, say hi.)
Update: the Poguester himself notes in the comments that he’s not the one who decides when the review goes up. Good point, we’re sure that the NYTimes, WaPo, and (here’s another review [via]) the USA Today worked out a deal with Apple to get their reviews up before the release directly with Apple. That’s who I meant to direct my inferiority complex at, not Pogue; mea culpa. Besides, anybody who can belt out show tunes like he can deserves better. 
July 8th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
“Walt Mossberg and David Pogue had to show off just how much more important they are than the rest of us by publishing their reviews of the iPhone 3G a couple days early.”
I can’t speak for Walt, but I don’t decide when my column runs. Must be my EDITOR, then, who things he’s more important than the rest of us….
–Pogue
July 8th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
LOL. Fair point, post updated.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Dieter Poguwnd! LOL!
I’ll be lining up somewhere outside Montreal — once I figure out where I can get the dang thing! Help!
July 9th, 2008 at 12:03 am
About the battery… turn off the 3G if you don’t need it to compare with the original and the battery life doubles, going to 10hours talk time opposed to the 8hours on the original, according to Apple.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html (the comparison between the two comes from the WWDC2008 video here- http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/0806wdt546x/event/index.html)
July 9th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Aside from the battery tests that Walt did, there was not really much news to report. Most of what they said and more has already been reported in more detail here and at other sites. I guess only those few unfortunate souls who depend on the WSJ and NYT for news are waking up today and finding out about the iPhone 3G’s capabilities. Thanks to the folks here for getting the information out early and often.