TheAppleiPhoneOS3.0run-down-arrivingsoon
7th April 2009 Author: Kinny Cheng - - Views:
It may not sport as many radical enhancements or new features as some of us may have been expecting. But Apple’s presentation of the new - and upcoming - iPhone OS 3.0 at their Cupertino home base was an impressive one, nonetheless.
This time round, it’s not about wowing the audience (us) with those revolutionary new features and services, like how it was with the company’s prior (major) release iterations of the platform. Instead, Apple’s primary mission with “three-O” is to bring further perfection to the overall user experience by introducing a variety of new features, and at the same time “filling in the gaps” on certain areas that didn’t really cut it, usability wise.
On most people’s minds, I believe the more-important items of concern would be the support of various features _still yet to be founded_ on a device (supposedly) as powerful as the iPhone.
Well, I’m glad to say that the overall situation certainly hasn’t fallen on deaf ears, and Apple has granted most of our wishes with the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0 release. The following is a summary of “what’s new” to expect (in no particular order whatsoever):
Cut, Copy and Paste (and undo)
An overdue feature in the eyes of many, this feature has finally been perfected for release.
- For text selection, this is indicated by “grab points” (at start and finish) that can be shifted via the finger;
- Selection of the required operation (cut/copy/paste) appears as a Cocoa control above the selection block, activated by a finger gesture;
- Plain text and HTML-based content are supported by the clipboard, as well as the importing of images from the on-board ‘Photos’ application (for example, it is now possible to copy-and-paste multiple images into a single email to send via the ‘Mail’ application);
- To “undo” (or “redo”) a related operation, simply “shake” the device to bring up a dialog with these commands listed; and
- The system is available platform-wide, irrespective of whether the app is a native iPhone app or one acquired through the App Store.
Improved messaging support, which also includes MMS
Yes, finally we are to see native MMS support on the iPhone - but probably just on the 3G model, because Apple did make a mention that this won’t be included on the slightly-lighter 3.0 firmware for the original iPhone.
- Full MMS support for audio and image content, as well as vCards and ‘Maps’ based location info (sending and/or receiving of videos unknown at this time; first-generation iPhone (2G) excluded);
- Contacts (vCard) and Map (location) info will automatically be detected upon receipt of the message containing it; and
- Now possible to delete/forward individual/multiple messages.
System-wide search (via Spotlight): Similar to its desktop brethren, the new search capability with OS 3.0 will allow iPhone users to go in search for a specific text string within data used by all applications, including both native and third-party apps. A new search page can be accessed from the Springboard, located on the left of the first page of apps and indicated by the typical magnifying glass silhouette (being “a single convenient place to search across your phone”).
Syncing of notes: A missing variable from the overall data syncing equation, this will finally be supported through iTunes (however, no specifics yet as how this will work).
Data tethering: For some of us who have data plans with our devices, this feature is certainly very welcomed. This will be made possible through either the standard USB cable, or over Bluetooth wirelessly.
Stereo Bluetooth audio (A2DP) support: One of the new additions to 3.0’s Bluetooth list of supported profiles, this will offer stereo audio support to A2DP-compatible audio accessories, including headsets/headphones and speakers.
Broader “landscape mode” support: now available to all native apps, and also includes the provision of the wider-and-larger on-screen keyboard.
Parental controls extended: to TV shows, movies, and applications downloaded from the App Store.
‘Shake-to-shuffle’ feature: adopted from the iPod nano product, OS 3.0 enabled devices will allow for an easy, immediate “shuffling” of music via a simple “shake” during audio playback.
Unfortunately, video capture didn’t make it to this list, nor did video telephony (but who honestly gives a crap about video calls anymore these days, especially when the resolution being so darn poor!) Personally, I would’ve liked to have seen a revamped Springboard (the home menu) offering a bit more control over how apps are shown and/or categorised.
- Calendars: New CalDAV calendar sharing support added, plus support for Subscriptions (ICS).
- Mobile Safari browser: anti-phishing and autofill features.
- ‘Stocks’ app: Greater detail, including news stories and headlines are now also shown; landscape view for charts, which allows for the checking of a price at a particular time (one finger), and the “delta” when two points on a chart is (two fingers).
- ‘YouTube’ app: Now supports user logins, which subsequently allows for channel subscriptions and the sharing of content between different Apple-based devices, like the AppleTV for example.
- Voice memos: new native application which allows user to make personal recordings via either the internal microphone or through an external one; trimming function allows the audio file to be edited; can be sent via email or MMS.
- Languages: additional support added, along with improved keyboards.
A new SDK was announced alongside the iPhone OS 3.0 release, which will open up greater possibilities for not just developers writing the applications, but also those of us who may find great practical use out of these creations.
Steve Forstall, Senior VP for iPhone Software at Apple, stated that the new SDK has around 1,000 new APIs, further broadening the level of functionality that third-party developers have access to with devices running the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0.
Briefly, some of the more outstanding points in Steve’s presentation included:
Support for in-app purchasing: This will allow purchases to be made within any given app, and not necessarily _just_ from the App Store anymore. To be based on the same revenue generation model as that used by the App Store (70% of what’s collected going to developers), this can allow app developers to sell subscription-based services (such as new e-Books from an e-Book reader app), or even new “levels” within a game, for example.
Peer-to-peer device connectivity: Specifically for use between iPhone OS 3.0 devices, this will allow software apps to seamlessly connect with one another via automatic discovery. This zero-setup system runs via Bluetooth, and utilises Bonjour to pick up other devices within the vicinity. The only condition is that the device must be running the same application for this functionality to work. Some examples of its use include multi-player games, PIM apps that want to share vCard information, etc.
Greater support for hardware-based accessories: Looking at this from a music standpoint, the new SDK will allow third-party accessories makers to write software allowing the iPhone OS to directly control the connected hardware. For example, FM transmitters and speakers can now gain a soft interface on the Apple device, allowing them to make any necessary adjustments. However, this is not limited to just music-based devices, as demonstrated at the OS 3.0 launch (a blood pressure monitor and glucose meter were two of the accessories shown to work directly with an iPhone). This new API will allow for connections done via either the Dock connector or wirelessly through Bluetooth.
New Maps API: Apple has made this a public API now, which means developers can now freely make use of the mapping capabilities found within its own ‘Maps’ application within their own apps - including the different map modes (standard, terrain, satellite), accessibility to GPS data and reverse geocoding, and custom annotations. While the new OS 3.0 introduces Core Location, enabling turn-by-turn guidance systems to work, those apps will need to provide their own maps.
Streaming of audio and video revisited: now uses HTTP, making it firewall-friendly.
In-app emailing: send an email directly from within a third-party app (a common email “sheet” is now available for use by developers).
iPod library access from within third-party applications: now possible.
Proximity sensor API: now public.
“Shake” API: now public.
Apple couldn’t do a runner on this topic any longer. Acknowledging their lateness in bringing this to market, Forstall laid down the reasons to (back-end) architectural issues with the back-end servers running the service. And now that they’ve re-architected it to be scalable, it’s ready to take on the behemoth of applications that will most certainly make use of this unique service.
Not only is the service available to all developers, but it has been optimally designed to work with the data networks offered by mobile operators. This is important and good to know, because the iPhone spends most of its time on 2G or 3G data as opposed to Wi-Fi.
There will be three types of “alert” types for the notification system: badges (showing the number of received notifications); audio alerts, and text dialogs. Whichever one gets used will depend on the developer of the third-party app.
And why this over background processes? Well, the justification that Forstall made in his presentation were pretty obvious, and logical too. By having an application running in the background, this would - in most cases - consume greater amounts of battery power, as well as slowing down the behaviour of other opened apps. In Apple’s own testing, running an IM process in the background brought overall standby time down by close to 80% - while, on the other hand, an IM application utilising push notifications would only reduce standby time by only 23%.
Obviously, not everyone is going to share the same sentiments as I do. But after having viewed the Apple presentation on the new OS and SDK releases, and having let that settle in my mind, it’s clear that Apple are trying to address the areas in its platform that does require some level of attention.
Like the items I listed down in the “wishlist” section - I’m sure that many people have raised some, if not many, of those points in countless discussions on the iPhone. I cannot deny that I have a problem with the current iPhone not having the necessary messaging capabilities, as well as cut-and-paste. But Apple has finally come up with solutions for these, ones that have been thought out and implemented properly.
Again, the 3.0 release may not feel as much as a “major” release, because of the lack of major innovations seen previously on prior “point-0” iterations. Yet, Apple is making this release an important one, one which will possibly change our perception towards the iPhone (and iPod touch) through the now-greater (and possibly endless) capabilities made possible through those to-be-available third-party applications.
It’s no longer just about the device, but the applications that will bring greater value in its use.
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