Filed under: iPod Family, WWDC, iPhone
iPhone 3.0 Firmware Antici...
With WWDC just a short while away, iPhone users everywhere are looking forward to the upcoming 3.0 firmware release promised back in March. So when will 3.0 debut? Apple hasn't said[In March, Apple promised that 3.0 would appear this Summer, causing pundits to speculate that the firmware and a refreshed iPhone line might hit the streets in early July, around the one year anniversary of the 3G model. July 11 marks the date that the 3G iPhone and App Store finally launched.
Rumors have been flying in recent days that 3.0 might bow as early as next Monday. The recent release of iTunes 8.2 supports that idea, indicating that Apple may be closer to a 3.0 update than originally thought. TUAW readers point out that apps which have publicly announced remote notification support have begun appearing in iTunes, albeit in 2.x releases.
There's no reason I can think of that Apple should have to wait for new hardware before releasing the 3.0 firmware to the general public. In fact, I'd greatly welcome an earlier release for enthusiastic reasons I cannot expand upon due to the ongoing NDA. Others have pointed out that a staggered software/hardware release might avoid the iTunes server capacity issues that plagued the 2.0 firmware release.
So when do you think Apple will start shipping 3.0? Let us know in the comments and cast your vote in this handy poll.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
AriX said 9:05AM on 6-04-2009
Good to see you back, Erica!
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cysouw said 9:20AM on 6-04-2009
Same from me too. I had already wondered why ArsTechnica did not have any new insights from you lately...
Cycomachead said 9:45AM on 6-04-2009
Yes! I've been thinking both your thoughts lately!
hzink said 11:04AM on 6-04-2009
Oh, I guess she got kicked out from ars, and now has crawled back to TUAW.
Pity.
AriX said 1:37PM on 6-04-2009
Are you kidding? I only started reading TUAW for Erica's articles.
pjones said 2:33PM on 6-04-2009
Indeed, great to have you back writing at TUAW!
BuffaloPundit said 9:07AM on 6-04-2009
Well, considering people like me who bought the first generation iPhone have their contracts expire on June 29th, I'd expect the next iPhone to be in stores within a week of that date.
If I had to guess, I'd say Friday July 3rd or 10th, since the 1st iPhone went on sale at 6pm on a Friday.
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Andrew Hammond said 9:07AM on 6-04-2009
Soon... please. Soon.
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iNEEDaniPhone said 9:18AM on 6-04-2009
It has already been released online for the [Link Removed] if you haven't used it already.
But WWDC would be the perfect time to release even though Beta 5 came out over a month ago.
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puhsitch said 10:51AM on 6-04-2009
Well, no...is hasn't really
Bloobie said 12:21PM on 6-04-2009
Quit spamming every tech news site already.
Adam Curtis said 9:19AM on 6-04-2009
I was in an Apple Store the other day and the tech helping me out told me that watch out for the new iPhone carrier update on June 10th. He said there was 100+ new features to look out for, etc and when I mentioned I already had OS 3.0 (developer) he just said "ooh... nevermind..."
My guess is that the carrier update will coincide with Apple's OS 3.0 update..
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"Bob" said 9:46AM on 6-04-2009
Apple store employees don't know anything more than you or I. Trust me on this, they read the same rumors sites we do, and (at MOST) find out about something the morning it is to be announced, never sooner.
Adam Curtis said 10:17AM on 6-04-2009
Sorry, I meant I was in an AT&T store when they told me this... They at least know when carrier updates are being passed along.
Gene Cowan said 10:31AM on 6-04-2009
Sounds like this would be the AT&T carrier update that enables MMS for iPhones, a necessary step *before* 3.0 is released...
Michael Jones said 11:26AM on 6-04-2009
@Gene not necessarily... the carrier updates can be installed at any time. The base update required for MMS & tethering will likely be a part of the final 3.0 software anyways, but could easily be installed after upgrading as well.
When one of the 2.x revisions came out, my phone updated it's carrier settings file at the end of the update. I'd venture that at minimum the 3.0 update could do the same, although I'd be more willing to bet that the required carrier settings will be included directly in the firmware so that all of the announced features are available "out of the box".
D. Rich said 9:21AM on 6-04-2009
That doesn't count. That is just an iPhone Simulator. They are talking about the actual firmware for the iPhone.
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Justin said 9:24AM on 6-04-2009
Yay, Erica posted again. :)
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odaiwai said 9:24AM on 6-04-2009
It's just a step to the right...
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THJ said 6:02PM on 6-04-2009
This blog would suck without audience partici...