One year ago, Apple revealed the iPhone 3G and promised many improvements from the original model. The 3G introduced GPS, but didn’t have a camcorder or the ability to copy and paste. Needless to say, those who wanted a do-it-all phone were a little disappointed.

Just weeks ago, Apple released the iPhone 3G S (the ‘S’ stands for ‘Speed’). The new offerings of the 3G S outweigh its shortcomings, but many gadget-lovers and on-the-go iPhone 3G owners are questioning whether they should pony up the dough to upgrade.

New features

•As the ‘S’ implies, the new iPhone 3G S is faster. Apple boasts that owners can load Web pages and launch applications twice as fast as the previous model. It also promises better graphics for games.

•A camcorder that can shoot quality video in 30 frames per second and allows the owner to trim video by adjusting the start and end points. Then, users can send their videos to their MobileMe accounts or even to YouTube directly from the phone.

The best new feature is the video camera says a manager at the AT&T location at East Hills Shopping Center. It wasn’t available before and it’s really advanced.

-Voice control. Owners of the 3G S can manage phone calls and their music library with their voices. They can ask the phone what song is playing or request a particular song from an artist or an album.

•A 3-megapixel camera with autofocus. The iPhone 3G had only a 2-megapixel camera.

•A built-in digital compass. You know, because iPhone owners spend lots of time getting lost in the woods. Well, it could help in downtown Kansas City.

“The inclusion of a hardware compass is actually really helpful when it comes to doing things like navigating a new city,” says Josh Topolsky, who reviewed the new phone for Engadget.com.

•Longer battery life. Apple promises that the iPhone 3G S can hold up to nine hours in Wi-Fi, 10 hours on video playback, 30 hours on audio playback, 12 hours talk time on 2G networks, and 5 hours talk time on 3G networks.

•The ability to copy and paste. This new feature may mean the most to persnickety iPhone owners. Having copy and paste not only makes it easier to type out text messages and e-mails, but to copy written items from the Web and paste them into notes and word documents.

What’s still missing?

•Mass storage connectivity. The new iPhone can’t connect to a PC for file exchange. Apple says that it has considered introducing a disk mode, such as the kind found on all iPods, but feels that the iPhone’s audience doesn’t require one. That mentality should probably change soon. With the iPhone 3G S available in capacities up to 32 GB, it’s more logical than ever for Apple to allow users to transfer raw data to and from the device.

“Why carry a tiny, easily misplaced USB flash drive for your important work files, when you can store files on your phone, which is less likely to disappear — or go through the washer,” says Melissa Perenson, writer for PC World magazine.

•Improved data handling. Surprisingly, the iPhone 3G S is unable to save text messages. Sure, iPhone owners can copy and paste a message into a note or e-mail message, but they can’t keep an archive of a message thread. Many iPhone users are also unhappy with the Notes application, in which the only way to export a note is to e-mail it to your own phone.

•A camera that’s actually better. Yes, Apple has bumped the camera in the iPhone 3G S up to 3 megapixels, but it pales in comparison to what today’s super-phones have to offer. For example, the Nokia N97 has already reached 5 megapixels. As of now, the 3G S can’t take the place of a point-and-shoot camera.

•Improved iTunes handling. Owners of the 3G S can’t drag-and-drop files into iTunes, and many have problems importing photos into iTunes. It appears the online music store and media player may need an upgrade.

Lifestyles reporter Shea Conner can be reached at sheaconner@npgco.com