With the iPhone 3G S, Apple has taken a good thing and made it better. The latest iteration of the iPhone adds a much better camera, faster processor, more memory and a number of new software features that make it easier to use and more flexible. That's a considerable set of improvements that make the iPhone 3G S a very attractive package, but existing iPhone users probably won't find enough here to force them to upgrade.

19th June 09 - Apple's next generation iPhone has gone one sale this morning. Our experience of buying one near Boston was that the process was smooth; there was only a short line at the AT&T store, and the upgrade process itself took about 5 minutes. We are starting our review process on the new iPhone now; we'll bring you more details on the new phone as we find them.

17th June 09 - Apple has just released version 3.0 of the iPhone operating system, in preparation for Friday's release of the new iPhone 3G S. The new software doesn't need the new iPhone, though; it is compatible with all iPhones from the first generation onwards. It adds a number of new features, including cut and paste and a number of new features that make writing programs easier and more flexible. A full list of the new features is available here. The update can be downloaded through iTunes, and more details are available here.

Planning on upgrading from an iPhone 3G to the new 3G S? You'd better have deep pockets, as AT&T and Apple may charge you $499 to upgrade. That's for the 32GB model; if you want to save a few bucks and go for the cheaper 16GB model, it will cost $399.

8th June 09 - Apple has announced the next generation of the iPhone; the iPhone 3G S. Announced at the 2009 developer's conference, the new iPhone will include extended battery life, and includes a faster processor than previous models. It will also include support for 7.2Mbps HSDPA and has a 3 megapixel camera that include autofocus and which can capture video. The new iPhone 3GS will cost $199 for the 16Gb version, and $299 for the 32Gb model The existing iPhone 3G will continue to be available, but at the reduced price of $99. The iPhone 3GS will be released on June 19th in the US and several other countries.

The Pre, Palm's latest smartphone offering, was announced at CES on January 8. Featuring a 3.1-inch multitouch touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard with an embedded dial pad, the Pre is poised to take on notable competitors like the iPhone 3G, T-Mobile G1, and the Blackberry Storm. The Pre also packs in the hardware features that are key to being competitive, including 3G on Sprint's CDMA Rev. A EVDO network, a 3-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and aGPS. The Pre also debuts Palm's new operating system, dubbed webOS, that is capable of multi-tasking and has a unique way of handling notifications and open applications. How will the Pre stack up in the smartphone arena? Read our First Impressions Review to get our initial take on this new device...

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is the first touchscreen phone made by Nokia and it was an exciting moment indeed when we first heard about it. As a quad-band GSM device with 3G connectivity on AT&T's network in the U.S., as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, and aGPS on board, along with the powerful S60 operating system, we expected great things from the 5800. Alas, the 5th Edition version of the S60 operating system isn't as finger-friendly as it could be and the music player functionality, while good, won't blow you away. At $399, the 5800 does come unlocked without a 2-year contract to tie you down, but it's still pricey relative to other devices that match or exceed the 5800's features and capabilities.

The AT&T Fuze, also known as the HTC Touch Pro, is a Windows Mobile device that packs in everything a busy person will need to stay in touch and on top of a crazy schedule. With multimedia functionality for music and video playback as well, it also promises to keep you entertained, though this doesn't work out all that well in reality, as is the case with its 3.2-megapixel camera with an auto-focus lens and LED flash, too. The Fuze is a quad-band GSM device with 3G connectivity on AT&T's network, with global 3G network compatibility as well. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, and GPS round out the Fuze's package quite nicely. Positives and negatives abound with the Fuze and we've found them all.

The N96 is the current top-of-the line N-series offering from Nokia and it boasts smartphone capabilities combined with multimedia super powers. With 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, aGPS, and 16GB of memory on board, it is certainly well equipped to live up to this reputation. To be even more well-rounded, the N96 has a 5-megapixel camera with an auto-focus lens and a dual-LED flash that promises to post impressive image testing results. Can the N96 do it all? Read on to find out...