iPhone 3.0 Features Announced
Apple held a preview event today for the upcoming iPhone 3.0 update. The update exposes 1,000 new API features and adds many new features. This update addresses many of the complaints that users have voiced over the past couple of years and makes the iPhone more on par with the features that are found in other smartphones. The update is expected to be released this summer, but developers have access to a beta of the OS starting today.
What’s new/updated?
- In App Purchasing: The App Store will be updated to allow developers to sell add-on content from within apps. Examples include downloadable content for games and an ebook application that allows you to buy new ebooks from within the app.
- Peer-to-Peer: Connect to other local iPhones over Bluetooth to share data or play multiplayer games.
- Application access to hardware accessories: Applications will be able to communicate with hardware connected to the iPhone through the dock connector or over bluetooth. For example, a developer can release an FM transmitter which can be controlled via an app on the iPhone.
- Maps in Apps: Developers can now access the Google Maps API to include maps in their applications. CoreLocation can also be accessed for turn-by-turn navigation apps. Turn-by-turn developers will have to include there own maps, however, due to licensing restrictions on Google Maps.
- Push Notification: It’s finally here. Application notifications are pushed from the server as a badge, text, or audio alert instead of requiring apps to run as background processes.
- Cut, Copy, & Paste: Users have been whining about this for a good long time and it’s finally here. Personally, I couldn’t care less.
- Landscape keyboard: Just like in Safari, the landscape keyboard will now be included in all of Apple’s key input applications, including Mail.
- MMS: The iPhone will finally be able to MMS messages, a feature that has been standard on entry level phones for years.
- Voice Memos: Use the microphone to record voice memos which can then be sent via MMS.
- Spotlight: All of Apple’s applications now include search capabilities. Additionally, a new main screen to the left of the Home screen will house the spotlight search to globally search all applications simultaneously.
- Bluetooth A2DP: The iPhone will finally be able to stream music with stereo Bluetooth A2DP.