After A Week…Some Thoughts on iPhone Beta 3.0
Last week Apple gave us some big news. New upgraded software for the iPhone and iTouch. I was a little disappointed when they announced that it would not be available till June. But then I found out they were releasing a copy to those in the developer program. I was happy again 
So, what’s the big deal? Well, if the software lives up to Apple’s billing, it is the single greatest upgrade for the iPhone since the addition of 3g. Here’s what they are saying it will offer…
-copy/paste
-MMS Messaging (including sharing contacts via MMS or Email)
-Full phone search
-Landscape keyboard in all apple apps that use the keyboard (Mail, Messaging, Notes and others)
-Bluetooth support for device like stereo headphones
-Notes now sync between your computer and the iPhone
These are just a few of the big ones. Some of the features we’ve waited too long to use. Along with these features, that are visible on the iPhone, are many that are not visible as of yet. Apple made sure to upgrade the way apps can be built and how they can be integrated into your iPhone. In other words, applications will be able to do a lot more to connect us to the world around us. It will be interesting to see how software creators take advantage of it.
So what are my initial thought?
#1 This is definitely a Beta software and not ready for public release. It is slow and has lots of little bugs. Also, many of my apps don’t work completely or at all. You all know how much I love PixelPipe. It doesn’t work in 3.0. But I mentioned this to them and they told me they are going to get on it. It should be said that, it is to be expected that many 3rd party applications will have issues. They have all been created to work in the older software environment. Now that 3.o is available to them, they can use it to upgrade their products so that they will be ready for the official release of 3.0.
#2 I really love the search feature. Didn’t think I would, but I find it very handy. There is a complete page on the home screen devoted to it. It searches your entire iPhone database to find exactly what your looking for. Very nice.
#3 I love the little touches. There are so many little redesigns. Every time I open another app, I see something new. It’s like a daily gift party. I like the addition of “locations” under all calls sent or received. This also appears on any popup or screen that references your contacts.
#4 I love the “invite” feature in the calendar. The calendar is a little more Google’esque with that feature.
#5 You can turn off “repeat alerts”!!!! If your an iPhone user, this one is a big deal. When you are notified of a new message, a popup screen appears. In the old software, it would continue to notify you every 5 minutes that you had not checked it. It could get a little annoying, especially if you had multiple messages and no time to look through them all. Well, in 3.0 you can shut it off!
#6 Copy and Paste. This has been the most asked for feature on the iPhone. I am surprised it took this long to get it. It works nicely. It works in any app making use of text input.
Select a location to copy, then hit select
Select the content to copy, then hit copy
Select the location to paste your content, then hit paste
And, there you go...
#7 There are a whole bunch of things, like tethering and video that were not addressed in this upgrade. I have no idea why. My assumption is that both of those additions would lead to a possible data issue with AT&T. Maybe the whole “weak link” in this process is not Apple, but AT&T. I would definitely subscribe to that theory! To support my theory, Beta 3.0 does not allow MMS messaging yet. AT&T hasn’t turned it on…
Anyway, this writeup is by no means complete. There is not enough space. So, I thought I’d take the next couple of weeks and highlight a feature. Tell you my thoughts about it and maybe some of you can teach us some things as well.
So, are you trying out the beta? Are you looking forward to this upgrade? Are you disappointed?
Maybe you just don’t care
People have found some bits of code pointing to video integration, but it seems to indicate that it will be used in a new generation iphone. kinda lame, but the reasoning I heard was because the camera on the current 3G delivers such crappy video that they won’t integrate it until the next gen.
Mark, I suspect that to be true. I’ve seen talk of that code, as well as tethering and MobileMe features that are hidden right now.
I will be curious to see what the new hardware will be. My guess is we will see a new iPhone in fall.
Yep, now the trick will be to convince JudiFree into letting me upgrade…with a newborn baby on her hip!
Mark Thomas´s last blog post…still a blizzard outside! and no sign of stopping [Flickr]
Here’s some options to help Jduifree out
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2008/09/19/iphone-app-for-nursing-diapers-wedding-day.aspx
http://www.supercoolbaby.com/archives/2008/11/iphone_apps_for_parents.php
http://www.fitpregnancy.com/blog/news/40480867.html
what?
your awesome wife´s last blog post…Thursday Swap
I love you, Tam! bwahahahah!
Jenni´s last blog post…All In A Week
Can you hear me now
So am I just not looking in the right place? I can’t find a “free” beta to download and test. You got a link?
Justin, sorry if I didn’t make that clear. The Beta isn’t open. only available to those a part of the developer program. you have to buy into it. The link on my post can take you there to get more info.
“Maybe you just don’t care?”
I would not say i don’t Care.
I don’t own an iphone though and cannot see myself ever changing this so draw your own conclusion there
I DID want you to know though that i admire you helping to ‘develop’ your love further and as a result ‘dropping’ (temporarily?) the jailbreaking thing.
i do admire that!
i hope that i-phone (and their ‘kind’) users do bear in mind that these tiny little things are trying hard to be all things (that a computer is) to all people, but there are limitations owing to size that means they will never FULLY make it.
Don’t forget that as well as the functions you all want the developers have to ensure such things as ’security’, privacy, copyright, inter-operability issues and the limits of what chipsets can currently do and not melt in the process! (all both ‘legally’ and physically’ while trying also to ensure they get a good company profit for their vast expenditures in the process).
Sometimes in our ‘eagerness’ we may ‘forget’ such concerns or to remember that there are other phones doing other things in different ways from other competing companies all trying to build and sustain market share by being in some way ‘individual.
<B
love´s last blog post…B Thankful Thursday
You bring up a point that is well taken. The iPhone can’t be all to all people. There is a reason that there are Blackberry’s and Palm Pilots. Each product does something better than the other. In my opinion, the iPhone does that by being intuitive and an amazing resource for 3rd party programming. Some of the other features that we have grown to expect, may come or may not. That is fine either way.
As to privacy, I am convinced that all technology is a danger to privacy in someway and it is our duty to set the standards for ourselves and only allow technology into aspects of our lives that we wish to be known or public.
AHHHHH!!!! I’m excited! Mostly about cut & paste and being able to invite people in my calendar. That’s gonna save a lot of FREAKIN’ time. However, Pixelpipe??? I’m not sure I could live without that.
They have till June!
BTW… you apparently call me a lot. Stop stalking me, already.
Jenni´s last blog post…All In A Week
Ya. So. One of those calls was to you and one of those calls was from you
Ans I am sure Pixelpipe will be ready to go very soon. Even before the release is out.
Looks awesome. Great, in-depth review. I’m curious to see how the copy/paste functionality works. Like you, I’m surprised it’s taken them this long to implement. Looking forward to checking it out.
Brad Ruggles´s last blog post…I Can Ride My Bike With No Handlebars
Copy/Paste works really well. I haven’t messed with it much on other mobile devices, but this seems pretty solid.