3G iPhone catches up with the rest

Chris Tompkins — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:14:54 -0700

So, the iPhone is finally getting 3G? This brings the data capabilities of Apple's prize product up to speed with my retired, three year old, Razr V3. Granted, a deal with AT&T using EDGE might have been the only way to bring the iPhone to market, and its interface was a genuine step forward, but would have it been that hard to build in 3G support in the first generation, enabling it when AT&T decided to upgrade their EDGE networks?

Maybe, but considering Apple's recent product history this sounds like it's just another step in the company's consistent plan to deny their users general market capabilities, then release them in later generations at an additional cost. And its not just the iPhone.

Dell's 15” XPS model, along with most other major manufacturers' models, have had internal Blu-ray burning capabilities for months now, while not even Apple's MacPro has an HD option, let alone the Macbook Pro.

It didn't used to be this way, Apple's early PowerBooks were some of the first to embrace WiFi as well as DVD burners, so what happened? Does Apple deny its customers the latest technology in order to assure a refined Apple experience, or have they simply found a more profitable route?