All About Iphone

Apple highlighted the iPhone and the upcoming iPhone 3.0 firmware update today in a live event in the Apple campus in Cupertino, CA. Some of these features are freaking awesome!

* In-App Purchasing: Allows developers to sell additional content from within applications. Highlighted uses include magazine subscriptions, eBooks, additional levels and items for games.
* Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: Find other devices running the app via Bonjour over Wi-Fi of Bluetooth. Good for gaming, but also other applications for sharing data.
* Third-Party Accessory Apps: Allowing accessory manufacturers to create applications to interface with their hardware accessories.
* Push Notification: Rather than using background processes that hamper battery life, utilize third-party server to push badge, text, and audio alerts from applications.
* Turn by Turn: Apple will allow developers to use CoreLocation for turn-by-turn GPS directions.
* Cut, Copy and Paste: Available across all apps. Shake to undo or redo.
* Landscape keyboard: Available in all key applications, including Mail.
* MMS: Picture messaging now available.
* Voice Memos: Record notes, lectures, interviews, etc.
* Spotlight Search: Available across all applications. Systemwide search available from main home screen by flicking to the left.
* A2DP Bluetooth: Support for stereo bluetooth headsets.


You might notice that tethering is no where to be found in that list, it was addressed in the Q&A section of the event. Apple is building the client side of tethering into OS 3.0, but cooperation from carriers is also required in order for it to be offered.

The iPhone 3.0 update is available to all registered iPhone Developers as a free beta today and it will be fully released this summer. Shame that Apple dropped the details on this amazing update and are making us wait a couple of months before it releases! This update will be free to all iPhone users and as always, it will be $9.95USD for iPod Touch users.
Some of the above features will sadly not make it to the first generation iPhone (iPhone EDGE/2G) because of hardware limitations. The features that wont make it include, MMS and stereo bluetooth. So if you got an iPhone 2G go upgrade! Apple also revealed that bluetooth support can be activated for the second generation iPod Touch.

Apple has posted an iPhone OS 3.0 Preview page listing a few of the highlights. A video of today’s media event will also be posted to the page later today.