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Up here in Toronto, things weren’t nearly as crazy as they were in New York City. I thought they would be, so I showed up at my local Fido at 6:30 a.m. expecting to be maybe tenth or so in line. I was second. And the guy ahead of me had been there since 3:00 a.m. that morning. So, long story short, I got my hands on a brand new 32GB iPhone 3G S, and this is what it looks like.

Check out the gallery at the end of the post for more unboxing photos, though I will warn you, if you’ve seen the 3G, there won’t be much that surprises you. Slightly smaller packaging, though, in keeping with Apple’s attempt to greenify their image.

I was giddy enough about opening the thing up, but actually taking the new camera out for a test drive was what I was really excited about. That, and the speed boost, were the two main reasons I even bothered to pick up a 3G S.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of essentially the same photograph taken with my iPhone 3G and my 3G S. Note the considerable absence of trademark iPhone static in the photo on the right, and the sharp focus despite it being taken at very close range. The tap to focus feature works remarkably well, and I can already tell I’ll be much more of a photographer with the new hardware.

Using the 3G camera

Using the 3G S camera

As for video, here’s a clip I shot of Sackboy, my typewriter, and the window, because my apartment is a mess and nothing else seemed that interesting. The quality is good, considering this is still a phone, after all. I’d even go so far as to say usable for things beyond embarrassing your drunken friends on Facebook, although that’s definitely still an option. I was especially impressed with how efficiently it refocused, and with how it dealt with significant changes in light conditions, as when I recorded the view from my window, and then back to my dingy, poorly lit apartment.

The camera isn’t the only thing that’s new. Speed is much improved. I couldn’t believe how quickly Mail.app downloaded my MobileMe messages. It seemed like at least two or three times faster than when setting up a new account on the 3G. And then there’s the digital compass, which is very accurate and actually fun to watch adjusting in real-time as you turn. Clicking the locate icon in Maps a second time also puts you in to compass mode, which shows which direction you’re facing in addition to where you are, also updated in real time. Check the gallery below for pics of that, and the new camera interface.

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I’ll be taking a look at the packaging, unboxing the iPod shuffle, and offering my thoughts on the hardware and software bundled with the gadget.

Unboxing

Apple seems to be continuing down the road of shrinking packaging material, and the box for the iPod shuffle is really small. It comes presented with the shuffle center stage, containing a simple manual, 3.5mm audio to USB adaptor, and the headphones.

Initial Impressions

The first thing to note, as you’d expect, is that the iPod shuffle is absolutely tiny. I’m fascinated to see where the constant shrinking of the shuffle will ultimately lead to, and I don’t think it’ll be long before you’ll struggle to find it in your pocket. The build quality is also remarkable, with the aluminum construction feeling bulletproof.

As with the previous generation, the entire device is fashioned into a large clip. You can easily attach it anywhere, and it’s sturdy enough that I wouldn’t be concerned about it falling off when running. The top of the shuffle sports a small switch which toggles between shuffling tracks or playing music sequentially.

The headphones are (unfortunately) exactly what you’d expect. They’re standard iPod headphones, albeit with a new and sleek in-line track/volume controller. They have the same ‘rubbery’ feel as recent iPod model earphones, and offer the same reasonable level of comfort and sound. Don’t expect to be blown away, though Apple should be working on an adaptor to allow you to use your own earphones in the near future.

iTunes Connectivity

Connecting to iTunes is as simple as ever, and includes a few options which haven’t been present before. Upon connecting, you’re asked to register your iPod (with a nice new graphic to show the new shuffle in the lineup):

Registering the iPod Shuffle

When setting up, you’re asked if you’d like to enable VoiceOver. This works by generating spoken audio for the names of your tracks on your Mac (or Windows machine), before transferring them to your iPod along with the music. Because of this, you’re asked if you’re happy to install the VoiceOver desktop software.

Installing VoiceOver

This integrates silently into iTunes, and you don’t really notice anything is occurring. A short downloading status message appears, and then syncing music is handled as normal. You’ll be pleased to know that disk mode is supported as before, allowing you to transfer other files on the iPod. If you’d like, you can also set a volume limit and automatically reduce the quality of audio when syncing to fit more on the device.

iTunes Settings

Track Navigation & VoiceOver

There has been a decent amount of debate over how usable the headphone remote would actually be for skipping between tracks. I’d say it’s probably the least user-friendly interface that Apple has created for the iPod to date, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still function very well.

The annoying aspect of VoiceOver is that it isn’t the quickest method of navigating your iPod’s content. There’s quite a bit of waiting involved, and it’s tricky to skip through what is being read out. Not a problem if you have two or three playlists, but increasingly annoying as you add more. While the new computer voice in Leopard was noted as a decent improvement, I still think that artificial computer vocals have some way to come before they’re anything like the real thing. ‘Alex’ is perfectly coherent, but it’s a little odd to have your track information spoken to you by a digital voice.

Commendations, Complaints and Caution

On the whole, the size reduction and multiple playlist support do make the iPod shuffle a decent improvement. It’s brilliant if you’re exercising, and the controls do allow for simple track control without fumbling with the iPod itself. I’d really appreciate a way to use my own headphones with the shuffle, and look forward to some form of adaptor being released.

It is possible to trick the iPod, by setting the track and volume playing with the default phones and switching across to your own. Far from ideal, and doesn’t allow any subsequent control of the player. If you’d like to buy a better pair of supported in-ear phones, you can do so from Apple.

However, the general fact is that most shuffle owners don’t want to carefully select specific tracks to play; there’s been no way to do this in the past (even lacking multiple playlist support), so in many senses the new version is a step forward. I’ll certainly be happy with being able to use the new navigation method and appreciate the ability to flick through playlists.

Ultimately, the new iPod shuffle is a decent looking flash drive, backed up with a seasoned and fantastic piece of software — iTunes. The player has a few areas in which improvement is needed, but represents a solid advancement of Apple’s iPod device.

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Initial Impressions

The look and feel of the new MacBook Pro is one of luxury. The aluminum shell has clearly enjoyed hours of planning, thought and tedious design work before being unleashed. It’s hard to fault the physical make-up of the new machine, with the only arguable exception being the glossy display. From the short time I have spent using the MacBook Pro so far, the screen really doesn’t seem to pose a problem — it is by far bright enough to offset any reflection or glare.

The packaging is clearly reduced from the predecessor, but there’s still plenty of room for all the box contents. It goes to show the amount of wastage which is common in computer packaging.

We’ll spend a little time getting to grips with the new machine, and will follow up shortly with a full review.

Check out the full gallery below.

 

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