Apple announced today the final version of the 3.0 firmware for the iPhone and iPod Touch with a full feature list, including some much anticipated additions over the 2.0 firmware including Cut, Copy, Paste and Undo support. Apple has also announced the the 3.0 firmware will be released on June 17, and be free for iPhone users and $9.95 for iPod Touch users.There is also an improvement in the messages including landscape texting support, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) for picture messaging to your friends and family. Apple also includes Tethering in the next firmware to connect to your laptop or PC on the go. Spotlight is another feature that enables you to search your entire iPhone for keywords, including applications.
List of carriers that support MMS:
(image courtesy of: gizmodo.com)
List of carriers that support Tethering:
(image courtesy of: gizmodo.com)
Some more highlights from the event include HTTP audio and video streaming. TV shows, music videos and audio books can all be streamed over the 3G network to your iPhone. Apple also included iTunes movie rental directly to your iPhone with parental controls, so parents are lock their child to only be able to watch G or PG films.
Apple also introduced 'Find my iPhone' which can locate your iPhone anywhere in the world using MobileMe. A message can be displayed on the iPhone with a custom message such as "Help, I have lost my owner, if found, please call (555) 123-4567. The iPhone also comes with a 'kill switch' which allows the user to destroy all the data on their iPhone remotely if not found, cleaning personal data off, which can be restored through the backup on iTunes later.
Some other announcements include auto-fill on forms fields for web sites, which can automatically fill in user data, such as name, address, telephone number and more. A long list of supported languages will also come when the 3.0 firmware launches. Push notifications and application accessories that plug into your iPhone or iPod device were also re-announced.
TomTom GPS was also announced to include it directly onto your iPhone for navigation. No more will consumers need multiple devices in their car, but a charge kit and their iPhone to navigate their home streets. Consumers can also purchase the car dock, with a recharger to mount in their vehicle to hold the iPhone.
TomTom mounting for vehicles:
(image courtesy of: gizmodo.com)
Apple also introduced zipcar, a neat application that shows you a map of available zipcar locations. The application also includes a horn and unlock feature, that actually activate your cars horn and unlocks your doors with a click of your iPhone or iPod Touch.
Zipcar unlocking feature:
(image courtesy of: gizmodo.com)
30KB/sec is far from dial up speeds.
The Pre's interface is good but everything else is a let down.
lol, you are soo wrong. You can't even multitask on your iPhone, what a let down.
LOL! Aww did someone get bought a Pre when they wanted an iPhone? Aww don't cry little one, your little phone is good too!
The iPhone :
1. Starting apps = Almost instant for a lot of apps.
2. Can remember where you were when you closed the app (it does it in default apps, some devs also do it)
3. Push notifications
(4. You're not draining your battery)
I know it's not multitasking support, but it's more than halfway there IMO.
I don't think he's crying, just realizes the iphone was cool about the first month it came out. Then the hype just died off.....
Unless you have a valid argument, give it a break son?
Eh? Hype died off? They've sold nearly 18 million iPhones. I'd say that the hype is still there frankly if they've shifted that many units personally.
I've tried before so many times rounding on these trolls who just post up stupid flamebait comment with absolutely no attempt to explain their opinion but they just ignore you and move on to the next troll thread. I think it's because they're incapable of rational discussion.
God I hate apple. Why do they need to charge iPod users $10? Greed!!!!
This has been covered many times. You don't have to upgrade.
Apple are mandated to charge for their own software updates? That's new...
I didn't read their whole 66 pages document, so I cant tell you more really, but since you buy the iPhone with a contract, you can still be covered for free with the updates. Otherwise, apparently you're not.
I didn't read their whole 66 pages document, so I cant tell you more really, but since you buy the iPhone with a contract, you can still be covered for free with the updates. Otherwise, apparently you're not.
Point me to the section of Sarbanes-Oxley that says a company can no longer choose to give things away free? Also, the contract for the iPhone is between the carrier and the user not Apple and the user. Unless you mean the EULA, but that also applies to iPod Touch users I'm sure.
I read laws very throughly and I don't remember Sarbanes-Oxley being anything more than a record keeping law for public companies.
http://michaelmistretta.com/2008/why-apple...-touch-upgrade/
Good explanation of it there and also sits fairly on both sides of the fence, questioning whether they actually needed to charge as much as they did, etc the first time they did one of these paid for updates on the iPod Touch.
Greedy *******
I've been a happy owner of an iPod Touch since it was first released last year and it kind of sux a little I have to pay for a firmware upgrade.
I've been a happy owner of an iPod Touch since it was first released last year and it kind of sux a little I have to pay for a firmware upgrade.
Then don't upgrade, no one is forcing you to.
I've been a happy owner of an iPod Touch since it was first released last year and it kind of sux a little I have to pay for a firmware upgrade.
Then don't upgrade, no one is forcing you to.
This argument, quite frankly, is bull****. If it's free for iPhone users, it should be free for iPod Touch users as well.
WTF...i don't have an ipod touch but even i think it's bull**** that Apple charges for a friggin software update!
Does Sony charge for psp/ps3 firmware updates? No.
Does Microsoft charge for xbox360/zune firmware updates? No.
Does google charge for android firmware updates? No.
Does nokia charge for their phone's firmware updates? No.
The 3.0 update includes many things that should've been on the iphone/ipod touch on day one. It's like paying to catch up with the rest of the world!
@excalpius : You're really misinformed. There will be features even for iPod touch. Go on Apple's site to know more. People who don't do their research and just troll around are a little bit annoying ^_^
From Apple's site http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/softwareupdate.html
The ONLY touch features in 3.0 are...
Buy movies, etc. from the iTunes store - wow, I so want to PAY for that privilege.
Stereo Bluetooth - so, they now have stereo instead of mono support...ONLY if you have the second gen iPod Touch. MOST people, like myself, have the first gen.
Peer to Peer gaming - on an Apple...really? Gaming? So this will only really allow one to play the ap store game-lets IF designed for peer to peer...which I will have to pay for separately. Again, thanks for the privilege of being able to buy more stuff...ahem.
Landscape Keyboard, Spotlight Search, and Cut & Paste - Are you saying I should be CHARGED for beginner's 101 features Apple should have had since day one?!
And, well, that's IT! All of the other features of v3.0 don't work on the iPod Touch. All they get for their $10 is a couple of long overdue software features and the privilege of buying more things from, um, Apple.
That being said this 10 dollar charge is absolutely disgusting. If you look at it pragmatically its basically the right to use your ipod touch with new software as the APIs have changed form 2.x to 3.x
You are being charged not for some of the, ostensibly, useless iphone-destine features of 3.0 but you are also being charged for access to the latest and within a couple weeks the ONLY App Store products.
I don't care about the price either, its just not the right thing to do.
The 1st gen iPhone has been through THREE major software revisions. Value for money I'd say
Um, I think you forget that the iPod Touch users have had to PAY for EACH of those software revisions.
Now they always get less features than the iPhone, but still, this one is just pathetic. All the iPod Touch "features" are either bug fixes/catch-up functionality or just new ways for Apple to charge money...ahem.
I totally agree with you, if anyone can afford to pay $300 dollars for an ipod. I don't think $9.95 is a big deal. Hey better than pay $20 or $30 for the upgrade.
It's not the point, the fact iPhone users get it for free while Touch users have to pay, it's not right. Sure it's a trival amount but it's the principle
Well it is actually not a update as a completely new version. You do get the .x updates for free. When you have a phone you are paying for the "service" and thus that is how Apple makes its money.
This is 10x better than Windows Mobile in that you have to buy a new phone with each OS upgrade. That sucks more!
That sucks man, not wonder why the iphone is the most popular
I would get your facts correct before you post. Some manufacturers have released FREE updates for Windows Mobile for their phones. Others while they don't release them seem to "unofficially support" newer versions on them - if you know what I mean.
Note that's not really MS' fault. It's the hardware environment: it's up to the hardware manufacturer's whether users get those updates.
Not a good situation, but you can't put them in the same boat as Apple who do all of it themselves. The Zune is a better comparison.
This is 10x better than Windows Mobile in that you have to buy a new phone with each OS upgrade. That sucks more!
I am gathering you never have owned a windows mobile smartphone. when 6.1 was launched most phone manufacturers offered it for free. Also when 6.5 is launched most carriers will launch that as a free upgrade to phone wich are capable of running it.
This is 10x better than Windows Mobile in that you have to buy a new phone with each OS upgrade. That sucks more!
I am gathering you never have owned a windows mobile smartphone. when 6.1 was launched most phone manufacturers offered it for free. Also when 6.5 is launched most carriers will launch that as a free upgrade to phone wich are capable of running it.
this argument is complete crap.... if you're that bothered about the OS update (touch users) then there must be something worth having...so pay for it...
Yeah, like the $300+ that windows vista cost, or the $200+ that windows 7 will cost. Just for a software updates! That's ridiculous!
Saying the iPhone is crap without jailbreak but is good with jailbreak, is pretty extreme.
Plus, I bet a million that it WILL be jailbroken and quickly, even if I'm not really for it. (in the end it doesn't really harm Apple that you jailbreak stuff, so I'm not against it either)
What's ironic about making a mistake smartass?
Well if you had used an iPhone then the spellchecker would have solved that for you
o/
English has different accents. It does not have alternate spellings for the word ridiculous. Deal with it.
Ok - I'll reply then. I guess Apple thought that copy / cut / paste wasn't a crucial feature and omitted it. But then they realised that their customers wanted it so they put it in. I personally doubt I'll use it much so I think Apple got it right - most casual users won't really need it, but if you're planning to edit documents on the phone or take lots of notes then you might want the feature.
I think it should have been in there from the start - but I can understand why they didn't bother to include it originally.
Better a smartass than a dumbass...
now to add my 2 cents:
This is a great piece of software for me: copy and paste make my touch an even better pda, the landscape keyboard is great & bluetooth audio is a godsend. I really think they should offer it for free, but since it adds features (such as bluetooth) they can't, so 10 bucks isn't the end of the world.
really? how about making a comment on the issue and not being a smartass...
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