Apple shows off iPhone 3.0 OS

March 17, 2:52 PMApple Gear ExaminerChad Bonin

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iPhone SDK

Apple has revealed enhancements to the iPhone, in their iPhone 3.0 OS update covered today by Gizmodo.

Apple has upgraded the SDK to allow new features in apps. Accessories that can be controlled via Apps. FM Transmitter with controls on the screen, Equalizer controls for a speaker were the examples, blood pressure displays. Maps can be added into Apps now, as a public API. CoreLocation can be used for Turn By Turn apps. Push Notification is finally available, allowing apps to inform you of updates. In game voice and iPod Library Access, amongst others, will improve gameplay, allowing a stereo to play music the owner already has, and talk to someone they're playing online with. Peer to Peer connectivity will allow basic bluetooth connectivity between devices.

In App Purchase allows for continuing media and other concepts. Video games could sell extra levels, magazines could sell extra issues, etc. These options to purchase would show up in the app, such as a pop up saying "Would you like to purchase ______ for $___?"

New programs taking advantage of the iPhone 3.0 OS include the IM program Meebo, video games The Sims 3, Touch Pet, and LiveFire, music app Leaf Trombone World Stage, business app Oracle, sports app ESPN, and diabetes measuring app LifeScan.

New universal upgrades to the iPhone include Cut, Copy, Paste support across apps, with landscape text input in key applications. MMS and voice memos increase communication, CalDAV is added to Calendar, news headlines are added to Stocks, and search is added to all apps, joining the home screen to the left by the addition of Spotlight, allowing users to search from their home screen, much like Spotlight on a normal Mac. YouTube gets many updates to match it to the online site (subscriptions, accounts, ratings). Stereo bluetooth will allow you to listen to your music with stereo bluetooth headsets. "Text" is renamed "Messages".

The Developer Beta for iPhone 3.0 is available today, to everyone in the iPhone developer program, with the public release over the summer. The original iPhone will be getting a reduced version (no MMS or stereo bluetooth), and it will be free for both generations of iPhone. For both generations of iPod Touch, it will cost $9.95.