As rumored, Apple has used today’s WWDC keynote address as a launchpad for a new iPhone model dubbed iPhone 3GS (”S” stands for speed). Is it any good?

Taking the stage during today’s WWDC keynote presentation, Apple’s marketing honcho Phil Schiller unveiled the iPhone 3GS, a new iPhone model that extends the iPhone family. While the handset looks almost the same as the current iPhone 3G model, bar a few cosmetic changes, it comes with more substantial under-the-hood hardware changes, although nothing that the rumor mill hasn’t predicted.

First, the storage is now doubled from 8GB/16GB to 16GB/32GB. The phone packs newer chips that support the speedier 7.2 Mbps 3G standard that AT&T is currently rolling out mostly by upgrading cellular tower software.

Speedier processor and graphics

As predicted, the iPhone 3GS features a faster processor and GPU that supports OpenGL with Environmental Shading 2.0, meaning the handset should keep doubling as a viable mobile gaming gadget. Schiller said that the new iPhone launches Messages app 2.1 times faster than the iPhone 3G, rendering an Excel attachment 3.6 times faster. A faster processor also means speedier loading and rendering of web pages which will get a 2.9X boost. Apps loading should also be accelerated by the same factor. For instance, Schiller said that the iPhone 3GS loads SimCity 2.9 times faster than the iPhone 3G.

Feature-packed camera

Although the handset lacks a rumored front-facing camera for videoconferencing, it does have a higher-resolution 3 megapixel camera on the back. The camera features auto focus and video recording functionality, in addition to an auto-macro mode at up to 10 centimeters away. The camera automatically adjusts for optimal exposure and white balance. Paired with improved sensitivity in low-light conditions, these features should enable crisper images in less than perfect conditions. Another interesting detail is the tap-to-focus software support, meaning the Camera application lets you simply tap on any part on the photo and the camera will automatically focus it.

An accompanying Photos app has been enhanced to handle both images and videos. The application also lets you scrub and trim videos, supporting video sharing via MMS and Bluetooth, in addition to direct video publishing to MobileMe and your YouTube account. The Camera app is also used to record videos, too, by simply tapping a new button that switches the camera between still image and video modes. Apple said that the iPhone 3GS can record videos at VGA resolution and 30 frames per second. It will also capture audio and automatically use white balance, focus and exposure features to improve capture quality. The company said that developers can use new APIs to directly tap new camera capabilities, including the video recording feature.

A new sensor: Magnetometer

Joining the accelerometer, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor is a magnetometer sensor that senses your orientation relative to north. Paired with geolocation capabilities via 3G, WiFi and GPS, magnetometer now enables the handset to fully determine both your location and heading in real time. This should allow the iPhone to replicate the feature found in G1 where the handset taps the magnetometer to move the street view in Google’s Maps application as you move the handset around. Apple on its part wouldn’t reveal if iPhone’s Maps application uses magnetometer, highlighting instead a new app simply dubbed Compass that renders a life-like compass and shows your orientation. The program talks to the Maps application, meaning you can double tap to re-orientate the map.

Our pick: Voice control

Although voice control was briefly mentioned in early iPhone rumors, most reports to date made no mention of this feature. The iPhone 3GS features great and seamless implementation of spoken commands. Simply hold down the home button for a second and up pops the voice control interface with a waveform theme that reminds slightly of the voice search functionality found in the Google Mobile App for the iPhone. Apple said a comprehensive set of the handset’s features can be controlled via voice, including the iPod and Address Book applications.

For example, you can say “Call Scott Forstall” to voice dial. If the contact item has more than one phone number, the phone will ask you to pick the one you want, like home, work, etc. Controlling the iPod includes phrases like “play The Killers” that initiate playback of the entire playlist. You can also say stuff like “play more songs like this” and iPod app will create a Genius playlist consisting of songs that go great together with the one that’s currently playing. You can also ask “What’s playing now?” In short, the voice-enabled iPod application is like the VoiceOver feature of iPod shuffle with an added benefit of controlling the iPod directly with your voice.

Nice-to-haves

The iPhone 3GS comes with new accessibility options that use VoiceOver spoken feedback for content and controls. Color inversion, display zooming and mono audio are also part of the feature set for disabled people. The phone also supports Nike+ equipment out-of-the-box. New enterprise features now include instant remote wipe functionality. As an added layer of security, the user data stored on the device is now encrypted, another sought-after feature that has limited iPhone use as a serious business tool in large corporations.

Apple also said that the iPhone OS 3.0 will enable a modem tethering feature where you can share your iPhone’s Internet connection with a PC or Mac desktop or notebook, using USB cable or Bluetooth connectivity. It won’t require any additional software on the PC side but does require support from carriers. Apple said that 22 carriers will support modem tethering when the new firmware launches but AT&T initially isn’t one of them but should join the gang soon. Keep in mind that most carriers charge an extra fee for modem tethering and cap bandwidth.

Juicier battery

Last but not the least, the iPhone 3GS features slightly improved battery life in a nod to users who slammed the smartphone for draining the battery too quickly. Apple claims up to 12 hours of talk time over a 2G network, an improvement over 10 hours with iPhone 3G. Interestingly, iPhone 3GS features the same five hours of talk time over a 3G network like the current iPhone 3G, proving once again that 3G chips are in fact power hogs as Jobs once described them. Video playback time is now extended to up to 10 hours (7 hours with iPhone 3G), while audio now plays up to 30 hours on a single charge (up from 24 hours). Apple also claims up to nine hours of web surfing over WiFi, an improvement over six hours with iPhone 3G.

Availability and price

Schiller highlighted that the iPhone 3GS is the most environment-friendly iPhone to date, featuring arsenic-free glass, mercury-free LCD, and BRF-free internals. The new iPhone will be available in black and white flavors, starting July 19 in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and UK. Six more countries will follow a week later, with the remaining bunch slated during summer.

The iPhone 3GS will be priced at $199/$299 for 16GB/32GB versions for qualifying AT&T customers who sign an obligatory two-year service plan (AT&T remains the nation’s exclusive iPhone carrier). Price points and upgrade policies in other territories may vary and depend on specific iPhone carriers. If iPhone 3G is any indication, than the iPhone 3GS sales policies should not differ much in most territories.

The existing 8GB iPhone 3G remains on the market alongside the iPhone 3GS at a reduced $99 price point (effective today) in an obvious market share-grabbing maneuver that should expand the target group to the lower-income population. Although Apple’s profit on a $99 iPhone 3G is slim, most analysts have predicted that this price point will enable Apple to emerge ahead of some rivals in sheer market share.

[Thanks: http://www.geek.com]