The review of the iPhone 3GS had a few unanswered questions: how strong is the battery? Does navigation work well on the iPhone? In this blog answers the editorial questions that we received as a result of the review.
Sometimes you have tough choices to make. The editors wanted the review of the iPhone 3GS online before the new Apple smartphone in the shelves would lie: so would also the readers that the new iPhone is already on the day of the release would want to buy it, the review can still read. After we reviewtoestel got our hands on, we are evolving rapidly to testing beaten, with as outcome a comprehensive review of the device.
A few important questions could be in the short test period, however, not be answered. How long the battery lasts, for example, and how the navigation feature does. Because many tweakers still curious as to these properties, we here in this redactieblog some more.
Battery
One of the biggest problems, not only of the iPhone but also of virtually all competitive devices, is the battery life. That was when the iPhone 3G is not impressive and that is with the iPhone 3GS still does not so, all claims of Apple that the battery life has slightly improved. That battery less long than desired, partly due to the use of: iPhone owners use their device often daily to listen to music, email and browse the internet. Those who overdo it, will with a in the morning fully charged battery might just be the evening.
Especially when energiegulzige activities such as the use of gps or running heavy applications, fly the percentage of the battery status, it has been our experience with the iPhone 3GS. Usually, visiting one or two sites already good for a percentage less; heavier applications of sweets, not infrequently, within a few minutes several percent of the displayed battery status. Also call turns out to be a hefty burden on the battery pull.
Who the unit is less intensively used, will be longer with one battery charge can do. In standby it seems the iPhone is barely capability-to-use: after a night on standby the battery is just a little less full in comparison with the night before, but more than five to ten percent that will save not.
Range
The range of the iPhone 3GS is, like that of his predecessor, reasonable, but certainly not excellent. Where many other phones often just a signal to be able to pick up and accessible, hook the 3GS. Added to this is that when the iPhone does not have a network, it may take a long time before he again signal picks up. If the user does nothing and the 3GS in his pocket, then it will take at least a few minutes before the iPhone back in touch with the T-Mobile network.
In addition, T-Mobile is not defined for the 3g network with the largest scope. In addition to this, the 3GS ideal for high-speed internet access: with a gprs-connection takes the calls from a site, or opening the App Store soon twenty seconds to a minute. However, there Is a connection with a wi-fi network available, then this is all in a few seconds, quick and easy. Incidentally, browsing the web with Safari or open applications that need a connection to have quite a rap as the iPhone to a 3g signal. Here comes the extra processor speed of the 3GS.
Photo
The cameracapaciteiten of the iPhone 3GS were already discussed in the review. Below is a comparison of cameras from different phones. The leftmost photo is of the Samsung UltraTouch, made at a resolution of eight megapixels. The second from the left is from the HTC Magic, created at 3.2 megapixels. The third photo was gekiekt with a Nokia N97 at five megapixels. The latter is made with the iPhone 3GS. However, it should be noted that the photos were taken under different lighting conditions, so that the quality of the photos may be affected.
The camera of the iPhone 3GS it seems in comparison with his competitors not as a problem to do. Especially with photos of close to the iPhone 3GS, a lot of difficulty. Photos of objects that are located further from the device work better, but great is not. Below is a comparison of photos of the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Many of the photos were with the 3GS sharper: that area is the camera of the 3GS is indeed an improvement.
Video
Also the video function came up in the review already discussed. Below you can the quality of the recording compare with that of perhaps the best device for movies: the Samsung i8910 OmniaHD, that video at 1280×720 pixels at 30fps shoot. The iPhone 3GS takes movies in vga resolution, 640×480 pixels, with a frame rate of 30fps. As expected the 3GS to take against the OmniaHD: the video looks on the iPhone itself is good, but is fullscreen downright blurry.
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Navigation – the software
With the announcement of iPhone 3.0 was a much desired feature finally arrives to the iphone: turn-by-turn navigation. Navigon, which first navigatieapplicatie in the App Store, it gave us the ability to have navigation software to try out. TomTom we could not test: the software is not yet published.
Enter an address, had more convenient in the olympics: when you get behind the wheel of your car, you want as little as possible types. Navigon is however not easily satisfied with the address: place, street name and number must be in separate windows can be entered. Also the use of a zip code provides little speed improvement: only the numbers of the postal code can be entered, which then become a street name and house number must be populated.
While navigating the software intuitive: in the lower left of the map the next turn reported, with a notification of the number of meters involved. Clicking on that icon leads to a repetition of the current route-designation.
The upper right is a road sign, the maximum speed reported. Central at the top can several things to be shown: the speed, the number of kilometres that have driven, or the estimated time of arrival. Annoying is that not everything on the screen can be displayed: the user must choose one of these parameters. The rijbaanscheiding on the highway looks nice.
The software has various options, such as a 2d and 3d view of the map, look up points of interest around the route, and the settings for the route, using the option ‘Beautiful’ the most. There is in the tested application with little room for personalization. The software however works well: in comparison with a standalone TomTom will remain only a faster address entry and personalization if desired. Navigon gives quick, good routes, and report often on time if the user should turn on.
Navigating with the iPhone 3GS
The iPhone 3GS is perfectly suited to navigate. Tweakers.net tested the software on a sunny afternoon, but despite the bright light was the content on the screen is excellent to read.
The gps reception in the car was good, but not excellent: the iPhone was the gps signal every few minutes and a few seconds lost. Annoying was that the unit picked up the signal quickly, so that the driver does not suffer from the hakkelende gps reception.
The gps seemed to be the tour, however, is not always on legs: the software gave arranged that the car is still not around the corner, as the bend really is already taken. Also the estimate of the speed didn’t always. During braking, turned out to be the iPhone arranged to have the idea that the car still forty kilometres per hour was driving, while in reality all stopped. The delay of the gps was longer than one also in the car-present TomTom.
It is perhaps not relevant for everyone – motorists are often about a car charger – but navigating with the iPhone it asks a lot from the battery, if it is not excessive. Although it is part of the software will hang, turned out to be the battery after a half hour of navigating, one-fifth of its full capacity to have lost. On a full battery would make the iPhone about two to three hours to navigate.
