Filed under: OS, Other Events, Software Update, iPhone, Liveblog
iPhone OS 3.1 adds new features and functionality
One of the first surprises out of today's Apple event, other than Steve Jobs appearing on stage again (!!!), was the announcement that iPhone OS 3.1 and iPod touch OS 3.1.1 were available. We're still waiting for the download to complete, so this won't be a hands-on review, but we do want you to know what the new features of 3.1 are:- Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos
- iTunes U content organization
- Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store
- Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store
- Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
- Option to Save as new clip when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS
- Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on
- Remotely lock iPhone with passcode via MobileMe
- Use Voice COntrol on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets
- Paste phone numbers into the keypad
- Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS
- Warn when visiting fraudulent websites in Safari (anti-phishing)
- Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling
- Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly
Apple's security info page will be listing the security content of the OS updates shortly. The new versions include 10 security fixes, including patches for SMS vulnerabilities, Exchange passcode lock workarounds, and Unicode character spoofing flaws.
We'll have a hands-on review later!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Jash Sayani said 3:18PM on 9-09-2009
If I can arrange icons with 3.0, then I am not upgrading...
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Matt said 3:39PM on 9-09-2009
You can't.
Heimbachae said 8:22AM on 9-10-2009
simple fact 3.0.1 able to be jailbroken. 3.1 is not. so, no upgrade for me. not yet at least.
Pamela said 3:19PM on 9-09-2009
I'm curious as to whether OS 3.1 addresses the issue some users were having with photos being saved, but not showing up on the camera roll, after, what, 10K photos? had been snapped. I believe there were some workarounds involving deleting photo folders from the iPhone, but I have not been able to get those to work on my iPhone/Windows computer. I am rapidly approaching the big number of photos, and also rapidly approaching a trip in which I'm pretty sure I'll exceed that number, so I'm eager to see if this issue is still an issue or if the firmware upgrade fixed it. I am especially interested in seeing what bug fixes are addressed in OS 3.1, so would love to see your take on that when you do the hands-on.
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Karl said 3:35PM on 9-09-2009
Still no Bluetooth Keyboard Profile. *sigh*
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Russell said 4:57PM on 9-09-2009
The keyboard profile would be nice, but I would rather see the A2DP finished out with the remote control protocols, and expect that is probably a more common interest.
oliver hart said 3:41PM on 9-09-2009
Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
Can I save videos that I get via email to my camera roll on my 3G?
Please clarify
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Andy said 3:42PM on 9-09-2009
Any idea where you buy and browse ringtones? I see nothing....
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claudeg8 said 3:52PM on 9-09-2009
when you open the iTunes on the phone click on bottom right, MORE and then click ringtones.
Andy said 4:13PM on 9-09-2009
ahhh... I was looking in the Mac app.
Will take a look once my iPhone has finished syncing my lovely new icon arrangements :)
Mike said 11:31PM on 9-09-2009
I just noticed something funny.
Being a Jersey boy I wanted to buy a Bon Jovi ringtone and when I did a search on my iPhone I came across their song Always as a ringtone. What is odd to me is that the full name is "Always (Ringback)"
Can iPhone or AT&T do ringback tones like Verizon does? I imagine they have the technology to do so but I have not heard of it til now.
claudeg8 said 1:36PM on 9-10-2009
ringback? you mean for music to sound when others call you?
If so AT&T does have that its called answer tones. I have that enabled on my iPhone. You have to do it through the AT&T site
nova20 said 3:43PM on 9-09-2009
What about Compilation support? Sure, all my compilations show up in the compilation category, but my artist list is littered with lots of artists that only have one or two songs.
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willie said 3:45PM on 9-09-2009
half of those were features in 3.0:
iTunes U content organization -duh, apple made it a huge deal that is was there
Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store -apple removed from both
Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store -as far as I know that's still there in 3.0
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johnmc said 3:47PM on 9-09-2009
I've been redeeming gift codes on my iPhone for a while - at least on 3.0, possibly before.
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cmuska902 said 5:04PM on 9-09-2009
Yeah, I just noticed the "redeem" button this morning before the keynote...wondered how long it had been there.
Travis said 3:47PM on 9-09-2009
Not sure this is worth the hassle of losing the settings/apps on my jailbroken phone.
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MILE said 3:48PM on 9-09-2009
I was really hoping for better support of A2DP Bluetooth stereo headsets…! Right now none of them seem to be working with the iPhone…!? :(
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BeyondtheTech said 3:54PM on 9-09-2009
I could really appreciate some Folders or Stacks on my iPhone. Thumbing through multiple pages for an app or game is getting ridiculous, and I'm not always keen on pulling out the search and on-screen keyboard for it.
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claudeg8 said 3:57PM on 9-09-2009
What profile did 3.1 come with? Since I updated to 5.0 (which never enabled MMS to function on me) I have not been able to get back to 4.0.
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