IPhone 3G Won't Set World Afire

The iPhone was an industry-changing event. The new iPhone 3G is, well, a lot like the original, writes Walter Mossberg in the Wall Street Journal. It’s now able to access the faster 3G network, of course, and it sports better sound quality and a GPS chip, so it’s a nice upgrade. But the battery life is much worse, and the price drop is a mirage.

The 3G’s price cut is offset by increases in AT&T’s service plan that leave you paying more, not less. Besides, you can get the most exciting improvements for free, writes David Pogue of the New York Times. Apple’s made lots of software fixes, and introduced a store for third-party applications—and existing iPhone users can download both gratis. (More iPhone 3G stories.)