Mobile phone platform's move a lot faster than most other forms of technology, why are you expecting anything different from Apple?
The generation of an iPhone is one year which is a fairly long one in this area.
You want them to remain frozen in some time warp as their competitors attempt to catch up and overtake.
Unfortunately the real world doesn't always work the way you want.
Time is pretty much unstoppable (Apart from impractical fields of quantum physics).
Quote:
Originally Posted by jfanning
Do you have trouble with reading etc?
The PS1 was released in 1994, the replacement was released in 2000.. Six years later, the PS3 was released in 2006, another six years later. The PSP was released in 2004, five years ago. They all play the same games released within their generation. When they are advertised to people (including their games) you can spot the difference, and tell which games run on which console.
The iPhone 3G, the iPod touch 8GB, the iPod touch 32Gb are still on sale now, and will be the models that sell the most, when the consumer is purchasing them, there is nothing stated other than storage space which says, this device will not play the same games as the 3GS, or the iPod touch 64GB version.
The advantage that console (including portable) gaming had is the hardware was consistent, they all played the games within their generation.
If Apple things they can change the generation every year, they are very misguided.
The PS1 was released in 1994, the replacement was released in 2000.. Six years later, the PS3 was released in 2006, another six years later. The PSP was released in 2004, five years ago. They all play the same games released within their generation. When they are advertised to people (including their games) you can spot the difference, and tell which games run on which console.
The iPhone 3G, the iPod touch 8GB, the iPod touch 32Gb are still on sale now, and will be the models that sell the most, when the consumer is purchasing them, there is nothing stated other than storage space which says, this device will not play the same games as the 3GS, or the iPod touch 64GB version.
The advantage that console (including portable) gaming had is the hardware was consistent, they all played the games within their generation.
If Apple things they can change the generation every year, they are very misguided.
the jesus phone is the new standard that all future games will play on for yrs to come
the accellaromitor was what screwed the old models up
i still feel a 9x6 in tablet with powerful componentes will be a gamers fream come true
nahhh
we will gift these old devices and buy
the new ones
apple knows us well
9
I think the tablet is going to be the ultimate casual gaming device. Apple will finally rule gaming as it sees off the PSP, the DS and the whole niche PC gaming rig scene.
Weird to think. But I can see the iPhone and the Tablet seeing off consoles as well. Possibly. If Apple actually put a Radeon 8500 in the Apple TV...it would be goodnight vienna to the opposition with the iPhone/Tablet and ATV.
Apple just need the tablet and atv to link up to the app store with tv subs...to link up the triangle. Game over.
Let's see, how long was it between the the Nintendo DS coming out, and it's replacement that meant the DS couldn't play new games. That's right, it hasn't happened yet.
Now, how long has it been between the Sony PSP it's replacement that meant the original PSP couldn't play new games. That's right, it hasn't happened yet.
All models of the PS1 can play all PS1 games
All models of the PS2 can play all PS2 games
All models of the PS3 can play all PS3 games
Can we say the same with iPhone, no. Apple is happy about this as people have to purchase new hardware, Apple does not understand gaming at all. Especially from a consumer point of view.
Now you?re arguing that doing HW and firmware updates yearly is way too often when I?m pretty sure that you?ve complained in the past that Apple doesn?t update their product line often enough.
If game developers want to make their games work with the original iPhone and Touch HW they can. They also have the option to utilizing the HW that outshines the DS in many ways. Nintendo?s CEO has already stated that they have to regroup do to Apple?s entry into mobile gaming, which they didn?t anticipate. Now they are playing catch up to iDevices on many levels but it seems a little too late for this battle.
I think the tablet is going to be the ultimate casual gaming device. Apple will finally rule gaming as it sees off the PSP, the DS and the whole niche PC gaming rig scene.
Weird to think. But I can see the iPhone and the Tablet seeing off consoles as well. Possibly. If Apple actually put a Radeon 8500 in the Apple TV...it would be goodnight vienna to the opposition with the iPhone/Tablet and ATV.
Apple just need the tablet and atv to link up to the app store with tv subs...to link up the triangle. Game over.
Lemon Bon Bon.
That simply will not happen. Apple may have a gamers device on its hands though not intended, the idea that Apple could unseat traditional consoles is not going to happen. An Apple tablet may be many things after it comes to market, even a gamers device, but consider the price will likely be $599 and up and this is too much to ask for a gamers device.
Consider you are talking about Apple who has had no interest in gaming until the success of the ipod touch and iphone, I do not see Apple trying to push the Apple TV as a gamers device. Having the Apple tablet and the iphone devices tied to the Apple TV will certainly help the Apple TV product be more appealing but saying that it will see off consoles is an overstatement.
Now you’re arguing that doing HW and firmware updates yearly is way too often when I’m pretty sure that you’ve complained in the past that Apple doesn’t update their product line often enough.
provide a quote please, we all know you like making things up.
Yearly is much too often to be upgrading a gaming platform and making the old model obsolete. The only people to disagree would be a shareholder in the company making the device
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
If game developers want to make their games work with the original iPhone and Touch HW they can. They also have the option to utilizing the HW that outshines the DS in many ways. Nintendo’s CEO has already stated that they have to regroup do to Apple’s entry into mobile gaming, which they didn’t anticipate. Now they are playing catch up to iDevices on many levels but it seems a little too late for this battle.
I don't care what Nintendo's CEO said, if Nintendo brings out a new device that is incompatible with the NDS they will market it as such. I know that I can purchase a game for the NDS now, and it will still work on the NDS I purchased a few years ago, same with the PSP games. How easy is that on the Apple App store, you will start having multiple applications, one for each platform. As shown in the article, developers are targeting the newer hardware, they will continue to do this, further fragmenting the iPhone OS devices
provide a quote please, we all know you like making things up.
I post plenty of links and if you were a different poster I?d go grab some of your posts but your history here shows that you?ll backtrack and state that everyone is taking it out of context.
Quote:
Yearly is much too often to be upgrading a gaming platform and making the old model obsolete. The only people to disagree would be a shareholder in the company making the device
The old model isn?t obsolete if it the HW still works as it did before with the same games one has already purchased. If it gets the new firmware then all the old games are made backwards compatible and a whole new line of games are opened up to the platform.
It truly is amazing that you?re arguing that Apple shouldn?t offer OS updates and shouldn?t offer new HW just so their HW can stagnant. I can assure that Nintendo and Sony are working on new devices that will out perform any iDevice on the market today.
Quote:
I don't care what Nintendo's CEO said, if Nintendo brings out a new device that is incompatible with the NDS they will market it as such. I know that I can purchase a game for the NDS now, and it will still work on the NDS I purchased a few years ago, same with the PSP games. How easy is that on the Apple App store, you will start having multiple applications, one for each platform. As shown in the article, developers are targeting the newer hardware, they will continue to do this, further fragmenting the iPhone OS devices
They have brought out two handhelds since the iPhone OS devices were released. The DSi and theDSi LL/XL, each with better HW over their predecssors. The DSi even loses the backwards compatibility to play GBA games due to a lack of a cartridge slot, yet I?m sure that they?ll evetually allow (if they don?t already) those small games to be DLed and installed.
Bad, bad Nintendo for incrementally making their product better over time. What kind of world do we live in where companies try to sell more products by using newer and better HW.
Dude, reread the article, slowly. This is the Unreal 3 engine being discussed, the same engine used in Gears of War 2. This has nothing to do with older games powered by older Unreal engines. Your initial comment "games like this and Doom Classic which I have played on the Touch are 16 year old technology" is off-base.
I'm afraid it is mobile (phone) version of the engine powering GOW2, Batman: AA and others... same as iPhone OS is mobile version of OSX. Hardly the same thing, name aside.
Considering that latest games on U3 can put a sweat (and then some) on latest and greatest graphics hardware, it would be unrealistic to expect that U3 on phone - any phone - can perform anywhere close.
Still, it could be the best 3D engine on iPhone and make it much more serious gaming platform... but I feel whole process would require Apple to release some sort of holder/cradle with hardware controls and extra battery. 3Gs built-in battery hasn't got much juice for 3D gaming, and if you use it for phoning and music and (you name it) as well, you probably don't have more than an hour of 3D gaming to spare per full charge... which is almost as serious limitation as lack of good quality 3D engine.
I post plenty of links and if you were a different poster I?d go grab some of your posts but your history here shows that you?ll backtrack and state that everyone is taking it out of context.
If I was a different poster? You weren't referring to anyone else, you were referring to me, so stop your backtracking post the evidence, when have I complained that Apple wasn't upgrading their hardware often enough?
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
The old model isn?t obsolete if it the HW still works as it did before with the same games one has already purchased. If it gets the new firmware then all the old games are made backwards compatible and a whole new line of games are opened up to the platform.
So how does updating the firmware add the extra hardware required for Open GL ES2?
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
It truly is amazing that you?re arguing that Apple shouldn?t offer OS updates and shouldn?t offer new HW just so their HW can stagnant. I can assure that Nintendo and Sony are working on new devices that will out perform any iDevice on the market today.
When did I say they should offer OS updates? That's right, I forgot you like to make stuff up.
The thing is (I am sure you won't understand) is when Sony and Nintendo release new hardware that is incompatible with their previous models, they don't make them look exactly the same as the previous model, and sell them as being compatible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
They have brought out two handhelds since the iPhone OS devices were released. The DSi and theDSi LL/XL, each with better HW over their predecssors. The DSi even loses the backwards compatibility to play GBA games due to a lack of a cartridge slot, yet I?m sure that they?ll evetually allow (if they don?t already) those small games to be DLed and installed.
And the games released for the DSiDSi LL/XL still runs on the DS and DS lite, see I was right, you don't understand.
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
Bad, bad Nintendo for incrementally making their product better over time. What kind of world do we live in where companies try to sell more products by using newer and better HW.
Upgrading the hardware is not the issue, it is how often they are doing it. That is one of the reasons people purchase console gaming over PC games, they don't want to have to upgrade the hardware every six months.
The PS1 was released in 1994, the replacement was released in 2000.. Six years later, the PS3 was released in 2006, another six years later. The PSP was released in 2004, five years ago. They all play the same games released within their generation. When they are advertised to people (including their games) you can spot the difference, and tell which games run on which console.
The iPhone 3G, the iPod touch 8GB, the iPod touch 32Gb are still on sale now, and will be the models that sell the most, when the consumer is purchasing them, there is nothing stated other than storage space which says, this device will not play the same games as the 3GS, or the iPod touch 64GB version.
The advantage that console (including portable) gaming had is the hardware was consistent, they all played the games within their generation.
If Apple things they can change the generation every year, they are very misguided.
What in the hell are you talking about? You can still buy a PS2 if you like, and I'm going to venture a guess and say you can even still buy a PS1. That doesn't mean you can play PS3 games on them.
Are you just trying to say that Apple should make it clear, say by color of case, or some other means, which generation of iPod/iPhone you are holding in your hands?
Apple will, as long as technology improvements allow, upgrade their devices every year at a minimum. Some, such as yourself don't like it. I, for one, do. Keep the bleeding edge bloody, I say.
The thing is (I am sure you won't understand) is when Sony and Nintendo release new hardware that is incompatible with their previous models, they don't make them look exactly the same as the previous model, and sell them as being compatible.
And the games released for the DSiDSi LL/XL still runs on the DS and DS lite, see I was right, you don't understand.
Upgrading the hardware is not the issue, it is how often they are doing it. That is one of the reasons people purchase console gaming over PC games, they don't want to have to upgrade the hardware every six months.
It is tough to take a handheld design like the iPhone and change it so it looks different. Especially for Apple. They carried the PowerBook design well into 2008. Perhaps they should put a generation underneath the memory size on the back of the device though. From a glance you couldn't tell, but after a simple inspection of the back of the device you could easily see which version it was.
Comments
The generation of an iPhone is one year which is a fairly long one in this area.
You want them to remain frozen in some time warp as their competitors attempt to catch up and overtake.
Unfortunately the real world doesn't always work the way you want.
Time is pretty much unstoppable (Apart from impractical fields of quantum physics).
Do you have trouble with reading etc?
The PS1 was released in 1994, the replacement was released in 2000.. Six years later, the PS3 was released in 2006, another six years later. The PSP was released in 2004, five years ago. They all play the same games released within their generation. When they are advertised to people (including their games) you can spot the difference, and tell which games run on which console.
The iPhone 3G, the iPod touch 8GB, the iPod touch 32Gb are still on sale now, and will be the models that sell the most, when the consumer is purchasing them, there is nothing stated other than storage space which says, this device will not play the same games as the 3GS, or the iPod touch 64GB version.
The advantage that console (including portable) gaming had is the hardware was consistent, they all played the games within their generation.
If Apple things they can change the generation every year, they are very misguided.
The future of handheld gaming.
i still feel a 9x6 in tablet with powerful componentes will be a gamers fream come true
It?s sure looking that way.
You have to feel sorry for their fragmented user base though, all those people that have the older devices which can't use things like this.
It is like Apple doesn't understand handheld gaming, or gaming in general.
nahhh
we will gift these old devices and buy
the new ones
apple knows us well
9
Do you have trouble with reading etc?
The PS1 was released in 1994, the replacement was released in 2000.. Six years later, the PS3 was released in 2006, another six years later. The PSP was released in 2004, five years ago. They all play the same games released within their generation. When they are advertised to people (including their games) you can spot the difference, and tell which games run on which console.
The iPhone 3G, the iPod touch 8GB, the iPod touch 32Gb are still on sale now, and will be the models that sell the most, when the consumer is purchasing them, there is nothing stated other than storage space which says, this device will not play the same games as the 3GS, or the iPod touch 64GB version.
The advantage that console (including portable) gaming had is the hardware was consistent, they all played the games within their generation.
If Apple things they can change the generation every year, they are very misguided.
the jesus phone is the new standard that all future games will play on for yrs to come
the accellaromitor was what screwed the old models up
i think
9
i still feel a 9x6 in tablet with powerful componentes will be a gamers fream come true
nahhh
we will gift these old devices and buy
the new ones
apple knows us well
9
I think the tablet is going to be the ultimate casual gaming device. Apple will finally rule gaming as it sees off the PSP, the DS and the whole niche PC gaming rig scene.
Weird to think. But I can see the iPhone and the Tablet seeing off consoles as well. Possibly. If Apple actually put a Radeon 8500 in the Apple TV...it would be goodnight vienna to the opposition with the iPhone/Tablet and ATV.
Apple just need the tablet and atv to link up to the app store with tv subs...to link up the triangle. Game over.
Lemon Bon Bon.
I could see myself gaming and surfing on the iTab. 9-10 inches, baby. It's where it's at.
C64 emulator on an iTab. Would rock my world.
Lemon Bon Bon.
Let's see, how long was it between the the Nintendo DS coming out, and it's replacement that meant the DS couldn't play new games. That's right, it hasn't happened yet.
Now, how long has it been between the Sony PSP it's replacement that meant the original PSP couldn't play new games. That's right, it hasn't happened yet.
All models of the PS1 can play all PS1 games
All models of the PS2 can play all PS2 games
All models of the PS3 can play all PS3 games
Can we say the same with iPhone, no. Apple is happy about this as people have to purchase new hardware, Apple does not understand gaming at all. Especially from a consumer point of view.
Now you?re arguing that doing HW and firmware updates yearly is way too often when I?m pretty sure that you?ve complained in the past that Apple doesn?t update their product line often enough.
If game developers want to make their games work with the original iPhone and Touch HW they can. They also have the option to utilizing the HW that outshines the DS in many ways. Nintendo?s CEO has already stated that they have to regroup do to Apple?s entry into mobile gaming, which they didn?t anticipate. Now they are playing catch up to iDevices on many levels but it seems a little too late for this battle.
I think the tablet is going to be the ultimate casual gaming device. Apple will finally rule gaming as it sees off the PSP, the DS and the whole niche PC gaming rig scene.
Weird to think. But I can see the iPhone and the Tablet seeing off consoles as well. Possibly. If Apple actually put a Radeon 8500 in the Apple TV...it would be goodnight vienna to the opposition with the iPhone/Tablet and ATV.
Apple just need the tablet and atv to link up to the app store with tv subs...to link up the triangle. Game over.
Lemon Bon Bon.
That simply will not happen. Apple may have a gamers device on its hands though not intended, the idea that Apple could unseat traditional consoles is not going to happen. An Apple tablet may be many things after it comes to market, even a gamers device, but consider the price will likely be $599 and up and this is too much to ask for a gamers device.
Consider you are talking about Apple who has had no interest in gaming until the success of the ipod touch and iphone, I do not see Apple trying to push the Apple TV as a gamers device. Having the Apple tablet and the iphone devices tied to the Apple TV will certainly help the Apple TV product be more appealing but saying that it will see off consoles is an overstatement.
Mobile phone platform's move a lot faster than most other forms of technology, why are you expecting anything different from Apple?
The generation of an iPhone is one year which is a fairly long one in this area.
yeah phones do, gaming platforms don't.
If you want to annoy your gaming customers upgrade the device every six months.
Now you’re arguing that doing HW and firmware updates yearly is way too often when I’m pretty sure that you’ve complained in the past that Apple doesn’t update their product line often enough.
provide a quote please, we all know you like making things up.
Yearly is much too often to be upgrading a gaming platform and making the old model obsolete. The only people to disagree would be a shareholder in the company making the device
If game developers want to make their games work with the original iPhone and Touch HW they can. They also have the option to utilizing the HW that outshines the DS in many ways. Nintendo’s CEO has already stated that they have to regroup do to Apple’s entry into mobile gaming, which they didn’t anticipate. Now they are playing catch up to iDevices on many levels but it seems a little too late for this battle.
I don't care what Nintendo's CEO said, if Nintendo brings out a new device that is incompatible with the NDS they will market it as such. I know that I can purchase a game for the NDS now, and it will still work on the NDS I purchased a few years ago, same with the PSP games. How easy is that on the Apple App store, you will start having multiple applications, one for each platform. As shown in the article, developers are targeting the newer hardware, they will continue to do this, further fragmenting the iPhone OS devices
Ignore him, he is a nothing more than a bad troll.
Noted. Thanks.
provide a quote please, we all know you like making things up.
I post plenty of links and if you were a different poster I?d go grab some of your posts but your history here shows that you?ll backtrack and state that everyone is taking it out of context.
Yearly is much too often to be upgrading a gaming platform and making the old model obsolete. The only people to disagree would be a shareholder in the company making the device
The old model isn?t obsolete if it the HW still works as it did before with the same games one has already purchased. If it gets the new firmware then all the old games are made backwards compatible and a whole new line of games are opened up to the platform.
It truly is amazing that you?re arguing that Apple shouldn?t offer OS updates and shouldn?t offer new HW just so their HW can stagnant. I can assure that Nintendo and Sony are working on new devices that will out perform any iDevice on the market today.
I don't care what Nintendo's CEO said, if Nintendo brings out a new device that is incompatible with the NDS they will market it as such. I know that I can purchase a game for the NDS now, and it will still work on the NDS I purchased a few years ago, same with the PSP games. How easy is that on the Apple App store, you will start having multiple applications, one for each platform. As shown in the article, developers are targeting the newer hardware, they will continue to do this, further fragmenting the iPhone OS devices
They have brought out two handhelds since the iPhone OS devices were released. The DSi and theDSi LL/XL, each with better HW over their predecssors. The DSi even loses the backwards compatibility to play GBA games due to a lack of a cartridge slot, yet I?m sure that they?ll evetually allow (if they don?t already) those small games to be DLed and installed.
Bad, bad Nintendo for incrementally making their product better over time. What kind of world do we live in where companies try to sell more products by using newer and better HW.
Dude, reread the article, slowly. This is the Unreal 3 engine being discussed, the same engine used in Gears of War 2. This has nothing to do with older games powered by older Unreal engines. Your initial comment "games like this and Doom Classic which I have played on the Touch are 16 year old technology" is off-base.
I'm afraid it is mobile (phone) version of the engine powering GOW2, Batman: AA and others... same as iPhone OS is mobile version of OSX. Hardly the same thing, name aside.
Considering that latest games on U3 can put a sweat (and then some) on latest and greatest graphics hardware, it would be unrealistic to expect that U3 on phone - any phone - can perform anywhere close.
Still, it could be the best 3D engine on iPhone and make it much more serious gaming platform... but I feel whole process would require Apple to release some sort of holder/cradle with hardware controls and extra battery. 3Gs built-in battery hasn't got much juice for 3D gaming, and if you use it for phoning and music and (you name it) as well, you probably don't have more than an hour of 3D gaming to spare per full charge... which is almost as serious limitation as lack of good quality 3D engine.
I've looked at and used the DS on the sofa. It's too small.
I could see myself gaming and surfing on the iTab. 9-10 inches, baby. It's where it's at.
C64 emulator on an iTab. Would rock my world.
Lemon Bon Bon.
C64, yuk. Give me at least Amiga emulator and I might be sold. Sega Genesis and/or SNES would be nice, too
I post plenty of links and if you were a different poster I?d go grab some of your posts but your history here shows that you?ll backtrack and state that everyone is taking it out of context.
If I was a different poster? You weren't referring to anyone else, you were referring to me, so stop your backtracking post the evidence, when have I complained that Apple wasn't upgrading their hardware often enough?
The old model isn?t obsolete if it the HW still works as it did before with the same games one has already purchased. If it gets the new firmware then all the old games are made backwards compatible and a whole new line of games are opened up to the platform.
So how does updating the firmware add the extra hardware required for Open GL ES2?
It truly is amazing that you?re arguing that Apple shouldn?t offer OS updates and shouldn?t offer new HW just so their HW can stagnant. I can assure that Nintendo and Sony are working on new devices that will out perform any iDevice on the market today.
When did I say they should offer OS updates? That's right, I forgot you like to make stuff up.
The thing is (I am sure you won't understand) is when Sony and Nintendo release new hardware that is incompatible with their previous models, they don't make them look exactly the same as the previous model, and sell them as being compatible.
They have brought out two handhelds since the iPhone OS devices were released. The DSi and theDSi LL/XL, each with better HW over their predecssors. The DSi even loses the backwards compatibility to play GBA games due to a lack of a cartridge slot, yet I?m sure that they?ll evetually allow (if they don?t already) those small games to be DLed and installed.
And the games released for the DSiDSi LL/XL still runs on the DS and DS lite, see I was right, you don't understand.
Bad, bad Nintendo for incrementally making their product better over time. What kind of world do we live in where companies try to sell more products by using newer and better HW.
Upgrading the hardware is not the issue, it is how often they are doing it. That is one of the reasons people purchase console gaming over PC games, they don't want to have to upgrade the hardware every six months.
Plus There ALREADY is a game supporting the standard on a Windows Phone :
http://www.southend.se/games/electopia/index.php
(Of course, with a 800*480 screen res, leaving the iPhone so far behind...)
Sid Meier's Civilization (Revolution) is on iPhone already. That's what we call game.
- these not only have OpenGL ES2.0, and faster graphics, but also twice the RAM of the 1st & 2nd gen versions
- so they should be able to offer much better graphics than current engines
(even if they were only demo'ing as UT 1999 level)
- which is a run-time interpreted language
- I wonder how Apple will react to this, given that 3rd party interpreters are specifically banned from the App Store
Do you have trouble with reading etc?
The PS1 was released in 1994, the replacement was released in 2000.. Six years later, the PS3 was released in 2006, another six years later. The PSP was released in 2004, five years ago. They all play the same games released within their generation. When they are advertised to people (including their games) you can spot the difference, and tell which games run on which console.
The iPhone 3G, the iPod touch 8GB, the iPod touch 32Gb are still on sale now, and will be the models that sell the most, when the consumer is purchasing them, there is nothing stated other than storage space which says, this device will not play the same games as the 3GS, or the iPod touch 64GB version.
The advantage that console (including portable) gaming had is the hardware was consistent, they all played the games within their generation.
If Apple things they can change the generation every year, they are very misguided.
What in the hell are you talking about? You can still buy a PS2 if you like, and I'm going to venture a guess and say you can even still buy a PS1. That doesn't mean you can play PS3 games on them.
Are you just trying to say that Apple should make it clear, say by color of case, or some other means, which generation of iPod/iPhone you are holding in your hands?
Apple will, as long as technology improvements allow, upgrade their devices every year at a minimum. Some, such as yourself don't like it. I, for one, do. Keep the bleeding edge bloody, I say.
The thing is (I am sure you won't understand) is when Sony and Nintendo release new hardware that is incompatible with their previous models, they don't make them look exactly the same as the previous model, and sell them as being compatible.
And the games released for the DSiDSi LL/XL still runs on the DS and DS lite, see I was right, you don't understand.
Upgrading the hardware is not the issue, it is how often they are doing it. That is one of the reasons people purchase console gaming over PC games, they don't want to have to upgrade the hardware every six months.
It is tough to take a handheld design like the iPhone and change it so it looks different. Especially for Apple. They carried the PowerBook design well into 2008. Perhaps they should put a generation underneath the memory size on the back of the device though. From a glance you couldn't tell, but after a simple inspection of the back of the device you could easily see which version it was.