Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Nov 29, 2008
A Russian iPhone site claims to have information on the 2.2.1 iPhone firmware beta, stating that it includes background push notification. Apple first committed to a push notification service for iPhone applications back in June that would allow notifications to be sent to your iPhone even when the applications in question are not running. Apple stated it would be available for developers in September but it was missing from the recent 2.2 firmware update and no official word has come from Apple on the cause of the delay or when it can be expected at this point.
The image below is posted at RussianiPhone.ru but its authenticity has not been verified.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Nov 10, 2008
According to iPhone Hellas, the 2.2 firmware for the iPhone will be released on November 21. It should incorporate the features previously leaked from developers who had access to the first and second beta distributions, including Street View in Google Maps, the ability to turn off auto-correction for text entry, Japanese Emoji, changes to the App Store, and the ability to download podcasts directly in the iPod application.
What still appears to be missing is the push notification feature that was promised for October. There's been no word and few rumors about this feature, but it is still a hotly-anticipated one for many iPhone users. Of course, the iPhone is still missing other highly-desired features like copy and paste and MMS, but we can all hope and dream that Apple will throw something we're not expecting into this release.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Oct 24, 2008
According to MacRumors, developers have received the second version of the 2.2 firmware beta. The first 2.2 beta included elements of Google Street View, as we reported then, and this 2nd beta fully enables this feature.
Street View on the iPhone will make its mapping capabilities very similar to those of the new T-Mobile G1. Street View enables a realistic view of your current location in Google Maps, and also includes a compass function that automatically adjusts the view as you move around on the G1. Street view is currently available on Google Maps online (pictured below), and iPhoneYap has pictures of how it will look on the iPhone in the 2.2 firmware.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Oct 6, 2008
Developers working with the iPhone firmware 2.2 beta that was released a short time ago have uncovered a few new features. These will be a welcome addition to the iPhone’s features, and one in particular should help to increase the iPhone’s appeal in Japan.
Developers uncovered the existence of emoji, small graphic images used often by the Japanese in text messaging, hidden in the iPhone’s firmware. 461 (!) of these were found, and they appear to include a number of smiley face emoticons that texters in the U.S. and other countries have been used to on other phones.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 24, 2008
According to
MacRumors, the 2.2 firmware beta has been seeded to developers for testing. No new features have surfaced yet, though one interface change in Safari has been noticed. In 2.2, the Google search bar is now visible next to the address bar at the top of the screen - see
here for a screen shot.
No reports of the push notification service previously promised have surfaced, though many iPhone users and developers are anxiously awaiting this feature.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 8, 2008
Tagged in:
steve jobs ,
special event ,
Kevin Rose ,
iTunes ,
ipodtouch ,
iPhone software update 2.1 ,
iphone software ,
iphone accessories ,
iphone 3g ,
games ,
firmware ,
EA ,
apple event ,
app store
First and foremost, iPhone 2.1 firmware will be out on Friday, September 12. Steve said it's a big update that includes many bug fixes, addressing dropping calls, crashing apps, long-backups, and battery life. And it's free to all owners! I am quite excited for this update, and have my fingers crossed that it will work as promised and that the issues many users, including me, have been experiencing are addressed.
Kevin Rose was spot on with iTunes 8, including the new grid-like view and Genius functionality. HD TV shows has also come to the iTunes store, though they are only viewable on your computer or through your Apple TV - there goes putting HD shows on my iPhone to output to our home entertainment center! Shoot!
iPods continue to kick ass in marketshare with 73.4%, with "Other" players a distant second at 15.4%. The iPod Classic is now offered in one size only - 120GB at the same price as the previous 80GB model, $249. The new iPod Nano is indeed like the leaked pictures that have been circulating on the internet - tall and skinny with a curved front and back. It features a new UI and has an accelerometer like the iPod Touch and iPhone, allowing you to turn it sideways to switch automatically to cover mode view. And the new Genius functionality works right on the Nano without needing to be connected to iTunes, and shaking the Nano puts it in Shuffle mode.
A nice accessory upgrade is a pair of headphones that have functionality similar to that of the iPhone's - a control button that allows you to double-click to get to the next song, and a microphone that will work with the built-in voice recording function. And it has volume controls! I sure hope those will work on the iPhone too.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 7, 2008
When Kevin Rose
first described what he believed would be released by Apple in September, he listed the 2.1 firmware for the iPod Touch with the version for the iPhone to follow shortly after. Now, others are chiming in to say that we might see the iPhone 2.1 firmware tomorrow as well, not later. I am personally all for that since I've experienced many of the problems with apps not opening, text entry lag, and GPS/triangulation not working, and I want all of that fixed NOW, thank you very much.
Ars Technica has
gone on to say that we might even see new features in iPhone firmware 2.1, such as background push notification and more GPS capability. The background push notification sounds a little questionable, since this was removed from the last SDK beta, but I could definitely picture Apple intentionally hiding this feature so they could do something surprising with it before developers get to see it. Of course, this means that whatever that surprising thing is, it will not have been tested very much outside of Apple, and that doesn't inspire the most confidence in its stability and operability these days.
I normally love new stuff from Apple, but I think that this is the first time in my history as an Apple fan that I don't want new stuff for my iPhone.
