iPhone 3.0 OS Update

Give Apple a hand everybody. The iPhone 3.0 firmware gives us a bunch of new features, and a a couple of let downs. This update seems specifically targetted towards developers, which means better apps for everyone :D.

I'm gonna provide a summary for you guys from the live feed from Engadget, so if you guys wanna see the full thing, click on the link.

I'll start off with what we are told we won't get:

• No background processes :( - according to Apple, allowing background processes reduces the battery 80%, so it's not showing up anytime soon, but not to worry, Apple has figured out a way around it, so keep reading to find out.
• No bluetooth song sending/receiving
• that's about it for that...

Anyway, here are the big points from the new firmware:

• 1,000 new APIs
• In-App Purchases - this means you can buy extra features or game levels while inside an application with a "Buy" or "Cancel" dialog box you're used to seeing when you get a text message, but don't worry, this won't be included in free apps, so no "fine print"
• Peer-to-Peer Connectivity (Ad-Hoc mode, via Bluetooth) - this is something I've been waiting for, so you can play games with friends wirelessly without having to have wifi access point, it also uses Bonjour so no configuration to play with a friend
• The ability for apps to be able to interact directly to hardware accessories. They give the example of being able to control the volume on a speaker, or using a blood pressure pump and get a digital reading on-screen - I see unlimited potential in that. BTW, the connection can be made via Dock-connector or Bluetooth, so you can use wireless accessories too.
• Google Maps API - allows developers to embed Google Maps in an app, simply by calling an API. Wouldn't it be nice if you can use that inside a shopping mall, just get turn-by-turn directions straight to the nearest bathroom, sounds nice, huh?
• Speaking of turn-by-turn directions, that has been enabled for core location, yay! Unfortunately, due to licensing issues, you can't actually use Google's maps :(

Now here's a biggie:

•  PUSH - that's right, we finally get push notifications. Remember when I said that Apple makes up for the lack of background processes. Well according to Apple, background processes reduce battery 80%, but Push just reduces by about 20%. Push will allow you to use IM apps without them being open. You receive IM messages just like SMS messages. Looks nice!
  
• New Audio/Video Streaming API - this allows for features like In-Game Voice.
• COPY & PASTE  - Another biggie everyone's been waiting for. Easy to use interface, double tap on text, select the text you want and it prompts you to Cut, Copy, or Paste. It also comes with a new magnifying glass.
• LANDSCAPE MODE - Finally landscape mode comes to more native apps, including Mail, Notes, and SMS, nice! A few Blackberry users have been teasing me about this. I'm gonna have to kick 'em in the nuts after this! :P
• SMS Features - You can now forward and delete SMS messages, not that big of a deal to me, personally, but I know a lot of people have been waiting for this.
• MMS MESSAGING - YAY! We can now send picture messages, like I said in my previous post, it's been included in my plan, so I finally get to use it, YAY! And that's not even the best part. You can send and receive Contacts :D, Audio :D, Locations for Maps :D
• Voice Memos - here's another one that everyone says should have been included in 1.0, but now we have it. Looks like another icon on the homescreen.
• CalDAV - calendar syncing over servers, useful if you can use it
• Subscription Support - not much said here, except it's in .ics format, very convenient though
• Stocks update - allows for news stories and details at the bottom of the Stocks app, as well as landscape view 
• Search - allows you to search through mail, and it'll check the server if you can't find it on your phone; search in calendar for appointments; iPod for songs.
• Spotlight - another icon on your homescreen to search through the entire phone, looks nice
• There are many new features that are in the pictures, that weren't explicitly said, but must be mentioned such as Notes Sync, Shake to Shuffle, Stereo Bluetooth, Auto-Fill, Creating meeting invitations, live streaming, and many more :D

Now you must be wondering when it'll be out, well the developer beta is already out, but the official release was said to be "in the summer" ... such a long wait :(

I don't know how anyone will plan to live through the long wait, but I suggest hibernation.

Anyway, I'm gonna see if I can score the beta with my developer account ;)

Adios.

UPDATE: Apparently just having a developer account isn't enough for the beta, you have to be enroled in the Apple Developer Program to get access. Fortunately I'll be a member soon enough ;)