Rumor roundup: iPhone 2.2 firmware details
Apple has given developers a taste of the new iPhone firmware, version 2.2 beta 2, and it includes a host of spiffy new features that are making the rounds online.
A tipster shared with us some screenshots of the new firmware, including what appears to be the ability to download podcasts directly to your iPhone (and presumably your iPod touch). This could tidily explain why Apple rejected the Podcaster app last month. The option to "get more episodes" doesn't appear to work in this firmware build, however.
MacRumors' Arnold Kim links to an iPhoneHellas.gr screenshot showing the iPhone software asking for a rating before you delete an application. Kim speculates Apple is looking to increase participation in the App Store rating process.
Om Malik's Apple Blog is showing off screenshots from the iPhoneYap.com message boards, including new Maps functionality. Google Street View will apparently be available by rotating the device into landscape mode. Public transportation support and directions for walking also seem to be included.
In the same report, the Apple Blog's David Appleyard also mentions location sharing via email and SDK support for manipulating line-in audio as part of the seed.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Drew McManus said 1:14PM on 10-28-2008
Please, Apple. Please fix the terrible experience your customers currently have with MMS! I make the case here: http://blog.mcmanus-family.com/2008/09/the-case-for-mms-on-the-iphone.html
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Izzy said 2:24PM on 10-28-2008
I know I don't speak for most people. But of the dozen iPhone users I know, none of them ever used MMS on their old phones.
I don't miss it either as I never used it but once to try it out.
Chris said 2:33PM on 10-28-2008
Another vote for MMS.
xian said 2:48PM on 10-28-2008
Another vote against MMS. I don't want to pay .50 to send crappy little pictures to people. What needs to happen is that other phone mfgs & networks need to support free emailing of photos.
Jason Martin said 4:17PM on 10-28-2008
Count me too as a vote against MMS. Mobile email makes much more sense. Although I was skeptical at first, my iPhone experience has taught me that MMS will soon be obsolete. I don't even use SMS very much anymore. Why pay ungodly fees to do something I can do for free via email?
Focus your attention on other, more important issues, not MMS.
Joey said 5:28PM on 10-28-2008
its called mms2 = email
MMS never worked and its a crappy technology I much prefer email
Mely Mel said 5:58PM on 10-28-2008
I can't believe all the votes against MMS. I had it before my iphone and though not used everyday, I have missed it. SMS and MMS are quick easy ways of communication for the short messages...also it is faster to reply back and forth than email.
I think that they have oth become respected ways of communication and I vote for MMS to be able to have cooler funtions with SMS.
dd said 12:33AM on 10-29-2008
Another vote against MMS! SMS is better than email for quick chats, so that's fine. But I'd rather email than MMS. Plus, everyone I would send anything from my iPhone to has a phone with email capabilities (most have iPhones) so I don't even use MMS.
Kleinias said 5:39AM on 10-29-2008
Yes, although Apple/AT&T has taken far too long, it would still be nice to finally have a basic feature like MMS. I guess I have a different mindset than some people. I would rather have the option of using a feature, rather then have Apple/AT&T keep it from me in order for them to save money. Sometimes I think people take the whole cult of mac thing a little too far.
Justin said 8:58AM on 10-29-2008
Here's another vote FOR MMS. To those who have voted against MMS support because you don't use it: just because you don't use it, that doesn't mean that nobody uses it (read: the world doesn't revolve around you). I have several friends who constantly send me photos via MMS, and the retrieval process is so frustrating that I've all but stopped using it. Embarrassing for a phone that costs $300 with a two year contract, and unacceptable from a company supposedly known for "Just Works".
Ned said 3:41PM on 10-29-2008
MMS basically is e-mail, and you can both send and receive MMS messages on the iPhone when you use phonenumber@carrier.whatever addresses provided with most services. Some people complain that using the e-mail gateway causes delays and sometimes not receiving the messages/pictures at all, but that problem seems to be on the carrier side. I've got a cheap Cricket phone and my MMS to e-mail (and vise versa) works great.
Nick said 1:21PM on 10-28-2008
Podcast downloading will be an excellent addition!
The more features of the iPhone that work independently of a computer, the better!
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timejumperone said 8:30PM on 10-28-2008
I hope this update provides the bluetooth capability of listening to podcasts with your mono bluetooth earpiece. iPhone 1G had it as a software glitch, but the 3G doesn't. The iPhone 3G does allow one to listen to voice messages through a bluetooth earpiece (mono) it's just one step to allow listening to iPod podcasts.
David said 1:24PM on 10-28-2008
If you can also subscribe to new podcasts that will be awesome.
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Jash Sayani said 6:41AM on 10-29-2008
Apple has not been able to get a basic feature like SMS Forwarding after tons of software updates, so forget these things.....
pjcabrera said 4:51AM on 10-30-2008
Jash, it has nothing to do with being able to. Apple adds the features they feel have more priority. Through their actions they've shown that they agree with those that don't want the capability.
Darren said 1:25PM on 10-28-2008
I'm sure glad Apple blocked that podcast downloading app. It would suck for people to pay money for a feature that shows up for free a few months later.
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Aron T said 1:55PM on 10-28-2008
Yeah, freedom of choice does suck.
Almost as much as pouring months into an idea only to have it rejected and stolen by Apple. Not that they would do that, though.
darrell said 11:35PM on 10-28-2008
remember that apple has iTunes as a source for revenue. they also tie in their 'most downloaded' ranking and rating systems into it as well. not saying it's a bad thing to have a choice to use another application but the podcaster app would be directly competing with the iTunes experience overall.
Jeff said 1:26PM on 10-28-2008
No word on notification services?
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