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iPhone 3.0 feature roundup

by Cory Bohon Mar 17th 2009 at 3:45PM

If you've been listening to all the clamoring on Twitter, or perhaps have seen the updated Apple page, then you know there was an iPhone event today to discuss a new version of the iPhone OS, version 3.0. While you will have to wait until the summer to get the new version (unless you join the developer program), Apple showed off over 100 new features that we're all excited about. iPhone developers are also getting some love from Apple with over 1,000 new APIs.

Some of the biggest updates include:
  • Push notifications will be standard in iPhone 3.0. Apple claims that there was a scaling issue when they first announced this feature last year, with thousands of developers clamoring to use it, so it had to be delayed. Developers will be able to build message, sound, and badge alerts into their applications.
  • iPhone will support cut, copy and paste -- copy text and pictures, then paste them in any application on the device. If you change your mind about the newly pasted data, just shake to display a menu asking if you wish to undo the paste.
  • In-App purchasing -- developers will have the ability to charge a fee from within the application for more levels in a game, magazine subscriptions, eBooks, etc. This solves the problem of the 20 ebook readers that only allow you to read one book each.
  • MMS -- you'll be able to use MMS on your iPhone 3G (yes, 1st gen iPhones will not get the fortune of using MMS due to the use of a different cell radio). The new Messages application will be taking the place of the SMS app and will allow you to send voice memos and pictures to your friends.
  • Peer-to-Peer connectivity -- allows iPhone apps the ability to find other iPhone users over WiFi or Bluetooth. This can be using for anything from gaming to sharing data.
  • Third-party Accessories -- app developers can now access third-party accessories attached to the iPhone. This could allow for developers to interface with their own accessories to create a truly unique experience on the device. One of the demonstrated uses was a prototype blood glucose meter for the iPhone, from a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, which is already getting attention from our readers; it's not for sale yet!
  • Apple will now be allowing applications the ability to get GPS coordinates from Core Location and turn that into software that provides Turn-by-Turn directions for iPhone users. However, due to the terms of use with Google maps, developers will be required to license their own maps for this use (meaning that Turn-by-Turn GPS applications will almost certainly be paid apps). This isn't a problem for vendors like TomTom or Telenav, who already have licenses for their map data.
  • A landscape keyboard option is now available in all iPhone applications, including the infamous Mail.app.
  • Voice memos will allow iPhone users the ability to capture audio and then email it, or send it through the Messages application as a multimedia message.
  • System-wide Spotlight searching is built right into the home screen. To the left of the first home screen, there is a magnifying glass, so by flicking to the left of the first home screen will show this search app. You can search for anything, including mail, music, and notes. There is no word yet on how this will interface with third-party applications.
  • Stereo Bluetooth audio devices are now supported through the use of A2DP technology.
iPhone owners should note that A2DP technology and the use of MMS will not be available on 1st generation iPhones. This is probably due to the iPhone Bluetooth spec used, and Apple has confirmed (during the Q&A session after the keynote) that MMS is not available because of the cell radio used.

iPhone OS 3.0 will be available for regular users "this summer." iPhone developers will be able to get the beta of OS 3.0 sometime today -- Apple is still busy updating their iPhone Dev Center, but we'll let you know when it is available.

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If you've been listening to all the clamoring on Twitter, or perhaps have seen the updated Apple page, then you know there was an iPhone...
 

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mmorris

No need to wait for the peer to peer support in OS3.0!

PhotoUpLink for iPhone and iPod Touch is a free, peer to peer photo sharing tool with a unique ability to pick multiple photos to send. Just click on each image you want to send across all your albums and they get added to the list to send.

The app is free, so no problem installing it on your friend's device to receive them. Select your photos, touch WiShare and then any device that is also running PhotoUpLink on the same WiFi network will show up, touch the device name and transfer begins automatically.

http://www.itunes.com/app/PhotoUpLink

Obligatory demo video is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaWJNVckRX0&fmt=18

March 25 2009 at 11:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
AppleMike

Right. Right. Right. Right. Let's set some things straight here. Apple have promised over 100 new features for end users. To use a quote from one of those showing off OS 3.0 '...it's an update that will keep us years ahead of the competition.' I haven't yet seen anything that will keep Apple years ahead of the competition, then again, after poking around, I've only discovered about 15 new features for end users, meaning there's about 90 more to come. Apple must have released its 1000 new features for developers (it would be ridiculous if they hadn't), but there's no way they would showcase all new features in the Beta. There's some big stuff Apple is keeping hidden for the time being.

Oh, BTW Steve Sedlmayer, when asked at the end of the showcase, Apple said 'No comment' regarding flash. No comment doesn't mean no.

March 21 2009 at 3:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steve Sedlmeyer

no flash... FAIL

March 19 2009 at 10:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kontra

The chattering class has a fetishistic indulgence with smartphones bordering on techno-porn.
[...]
While analysts and competitors were busy making feature-level comparisons (of mostly hardware), Apple consolidated its platform lead and laid the foundations of a new growth engine the likes of which the mobile industry has neither yet seen nor fully comprehends.
[...]
While [the iPhone OS 3.0] garnered a collective yawn from the features-fetishists, barring a product introduction disaster, the iPhone OS 3.0 will do to iPhone-killers what it did do to iPod-killers half a decade ago. Apple consolidated its gains, marked its territory of 30M users+25K apps+800M downloads and built a very deep and wide moat around it. A moat so formidable that there’s not a single smartphone player capable of overcoming it.
[...]
By the end of 2009, we expect the virtuous cycle to kick in and the moat strategy to reveal just how difficult it will be to compete with Apple’s touch platform, thereby ushering in consolidation in the rest of the smartphone industry.

iPhone OS 3: The moat strategy vs. features-fetishism
http://counternotions.com/2009/03/19/moat/

March 19 2009 at 6:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kobekes

still no Adobe Flash support ...

March 18 2009 at 5:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
amjadbut

There is lot of blogs i have ever seen but not found good knowledge,only your blog satisfy me a lot in case of information.
http://www.iphoneunlockuk.com/iphone-3g-unlock.php

March 18 2009 at 3:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Galley

I'm "sporting a tremendous woody" at all of the new 3.0 features!

March 17 2009 at 11:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
drummingjack2

Wait. I have a pretty big question (for me). Has apple fixed the thing where you can only read like the first 5 lines of a youtube video's description? Or what about reading comments on said video? I really want FULL DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS! I know they added youtube account integration to 3.0, but did they add that?

March 17 2009 at 9:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pank

I have to say I'm very impressed with the updates in 3.0. It took longer than most of us would have preferred to wait (copy and paste for example), but hey... Better late than never.

I truly hope they come out with a hardware refresh (30GB??) to accompany the software release ;)

March 17 2009 at 7:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to pank's comment
pank

Oh, and I was really hoping for video recording to be in this update. Looks like we'll have to wait for a 3rd party app for that.

March 17 2009 at 7:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jason

Push notification is great, but I'm still wondering about some specific usability problems I've run into.

For example, will anything in iPhone OS 3.0 allow me to check my mail while I'm streaming music from Pandora/Last.fm?

If anyone has insight on this (perhaps silly question), I'd appreciate it.

March 17 2009 at 7:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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