What Is the Difference Between the iPhone and iPhone 3G?
The iPhone is a range of Internet and multimedia-equipped smartphones designed and manufactured by Apple. The original iPhone was released in June 2007 and was also referred to as the iPhone 2G or iPhone EDGE. Its successor, the iPhone 3G, was release in June 2008 and featured several key improvements over the original device.
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Cellular Data
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A major aspect of the iPhone's usage involves a continual Internet connection, which was achieved through GPRS and EDGE cellular data connectivity on the original iPhone. The device received criticism for its slow connection speeds, particularly on busy cell phone networks. The iPhone 3G introduced--and derived its name from--full hardware support for the faster, superior 3G cellular data connectivity network. Both versions supported the Wi-Fi connectivity standards, however.
GPS
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Although the original iPhone wasn't equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, it was able to acquire an approximate geographical location derived from cell tower triangulation. Despite its reasonable accuracy, this method of determining the device's physical location proved to be very slow. The iPhone 3G's hardware featured full Assisted GPS reception, which improved its locational service's performance to allow for turn-by-turn satellite navigation and the use of accurate mapping software.
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App Store
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The original iPhone was provided with a handful of games and software applications pre-installed on the device, allowing for various electronic messaging systems, Internet browsing, voicemail and multi-touch gestures. The iPhone 3G's release also heralded the launch of the iTunes App Store, which was pre-installed on the device. It allowed new games and applications to be bought and downloaded directly to the handset. A firmware upgrade was eventually released that allowed original iPhone users to access the App Store.
Case
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The original iPhone featured a two-tone aluminium case that was square in shape with rounded sides and corners. The iPhone 3G introduced curved, single-color cases made from plastic after the original handset received complaints about scratches and marks quickly appearing on the aluminum. The headphone socket on the original iPhone required users to buy specific Apple headsets, while the iPhone 3G featured a surface-mounted socket that could be used with any headphones equipped with a standard 3.5mm jack plug.
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