iPhone software found in iPod updater?
By Ryan Block 
posted July 30th 2006 8:23PM
posted July 30th 2006 8:23PM
Yeah, everybody's been grasping at straws (including us) for possible info on the iPhone for, well, the last couple of years now, and the latest adds fuel to the speculative fire without providing any answers. So what else is new? Anyhow, in the June 28th iPod updater package, apparently if one were to analyze a few particular files with a hex editor, one would produce some very peculiar and anomalous commands, like t_feature_app_PHONE_APP, kPhoneSignalStrength, clPhoneCallModel, clPhoneCallHistoryModel, prPhoneSettingsMenu, and so on. They're confirmed to have absolutely nothing to do with the Moto iTunes phone line, which makes sense, and we will concede that such a find seems highly unusual. Still, we'd hardly be willing to call this type of thing nascent evidence of an iTunes phone; on the other hand, if there was one around the corner, WWDC would be as good a place as any for Apple to announce. After all, what better place than Apple's own developer conference would there be to announce a new mobile device platform, hm?[Via AppleInsider, thanks William]
Do the iTunes capable phones (ROKR, SLVR, etc..) use the iPod updater to update their firmware, because if they do, then there is your answer. However, if they don't, let the wild speculation ensue! I just don't suggest getting your hopes up. I'm more looking forward to the sure things (Quad Core Mac Pro baby!)
It could also be a precursor to Bluetooth support, where you could pair your iPod with an A2DP headset and a phone, and then when you get a call the iPod pauses the music and the phone takes over, etc.
This is a bit old, but we covered it in-depth. There are at least two possibilities other than direct phone integration that this could represent.
http://www.pcsintel.com/content/view/1433/35/
RE: POST #3 from Christopher Price
Well, you did have an article dated from July 19th, but there's nothing it it! In-depth? Bah! You wrote that AppleInsider has a story about the software update and that it was unclear what it was for. I'd hardly call that in-depth.
I recommend others skip the link, as he's probably just trying to drum up traffic.
LETS GET THE BOY GENIUS ON THIS ONE!!!!!!
Kory, we simply don't want people to get their hopes up, and we also covered the technical reasons why an iPod phone would be difficult with the current post-PortalPlayer firmware. We are comitted to providing news links only when we think they contribute to the discussion, you are welcomed to disagree.