The new iPhone 3G S was announced by Apple last June 8, 2009 boasting of improved performance, a 3.0 megapixel camera with video capability and voice control. It was officially released today in the US and Canada. The iPhone 3.0 OS software update was also announced last March 17, 2009 and was released for download last June 17, 2009. So, new iPhone, should we upgrade our handsets to the new 3G S?

Hardware speaking, the 3G S is almost identical with the 3G. No changes were made in the phone’s design. Majority of the changes were made in the inside. The 3.0 iPhone OS software update is said to have great features such as cut, copy and paste function in text, MMS, landscape keyboard, spotlight search, voice memos, internet tethering, and many more. But some features that are in the 3G S is not in the 3.0 update. The 3G S has video capability, voice controls, compass, and Nike + iPod support.

But personally, the said 3G S features not available in the 3.0 update for the previous iPhone models are not those to die for. I have a 3G and I don’t think I would give it up that easily for the 3G S. Some of the 3G S functions can be replaced by other apps now available for the 2G and 3G iPhones. For example video capability can be replaced by Cycorder, an app available for download in Cydia (if you have a jailbroken iPhone, you’ll have Cydia for sure); Nike + iPod support can be replaced by Runkeeper (which most reviews say is much better than Nike + iPod). Compass and Voice Control, I think I can live without.

The iPhone 3G S is an upgrade necessary for the most celebrated smartphone ever made, but it is not one to get for now, maybe in the next iPhone upgrade more features would be added, not only in the software, but more in its hardware (like a new design and a camera in front), maybe that’s time to upgrade. But for now, I think I would settle with my 3G and take in the 3.0 software update.