iPhone 3G: Five things you never knew

Apple’s all-powerful iPhone 3G is out. It’s in the hands of (lucky) new owners, and you’d be forgiven for thinking all the facts about this touchscreen wonder were already known. Think again. Here are five facts you won’t have heard before.

1. Boxing clever
Not only is the box the iPhone comes in extremely eco-friendly, its design is fiendishly clever. The American version was engineered so that, when the two halves are put together, the top section will descend in precisely six seconds. Why? We’ve no idea, but the UK version doesn’t behave the same way, because of the larger mains plug inside.

2. Laser etched accessories
Open the cardboard wallet inside the 3G iPhone’s box and you’ll find a special “poking stick” made from aluminium. It’s designed to help you pop the phone’s SIM tray open, but it’s no cheap accessory. Apple carves each one from a sheet of metal using laser etching, so it’s a perfect fit every time.

3. Fantastic plastic
The iPhone 3G’s new plastic back doesn’t just look spectacular, it’s actually a technical necessity. See, inside the handset are 10 radio transmitters and receivers, serving up mobile connections, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The plastic back lets signals pass in and out easily, giving a good connection, and super-fast GPS locks.

4. Samsung inside
Apple’s flagship handset isn’t entirely their own work. The processor doing all the hard work inside is actually made by Samsung. The Korean chip-masters provide the iPhone 3G’s application processor and memory.

5. Screen genius
The 2G iPhone was built with an all-in-one screen and cover. That meant replacing a cracked shell was expensive, as the screen would need replacing too. Not any more. Apple’s revised its design with the new iPhone, making the two components separate, so if you smash it up, getting it fixed is a quick and easy affair.

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