So let's just boil down the newly-available firmware 1.1.3 to the nitty gritty, shall we? Here's what Apple's latest juicy morsel is going to do to your iPhone (or iPod touch, if that's how you roll and you have $19.99 to spare) once you can finally reliably get it from iTunes:
- Maps: New hybrid view, same as Google Maps. Satellite imagery and street mapping available on a single view.
- Maps: Location triangulation. Uses nearby WiFi access points and GSM towers (on the iPhone, anyway) to roughly guesstimate your current location.
- Web Clips: Web bookmarks can now be saved as home screen icons, including zoom and location information.
- Home screen: Icons on the home screen can now be rearranged.
- Home screen: Up to 9 home screens can now be created and "flicked" between.
- SMS: A single text message can now be sent to multiple recipients; groups can be recalled for future use.
- iTunes: Movie rentals are now supported.
- iTunes: Support for lyrics.
- iTunes: Option to "manually manage" music and videos instead of synchronizing. Thanks, Vlade D!
Additionally, the iPod touch now features Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather, and Notes, all of which were previously exclusive to the iPhone. Cheers!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bjarke @ Jan 15th 2008 3:34PM
You forgot lyrics for the iPod (and music on the touch) app.
Tav @ Jan 15th 2008 3:56PM
is there lyrics for the touch now?
Boynamedsue @ Jan 15th 2008 3:35PM
i wonder what happens when you try to put it on a hacked touch.
Josh @ Jan 15th 2008 3:36PM
Just bought it but i guess i can't install it yet?
Wes Joyce @ Jan 15th 2008 3:38PM
your iPod has to be 1.1.3 and you have to have the new itunes to get that...
kingofwale @ Jan 15th 2008 3:36PM
I think the most important question for more than a million IPhone users is...
Will it brick my Jailbroken phone?
lee @ Jan 15th 2008 3:37PM
When you update the ipod touch, nothing wil change apart form the dock bar unless you fork out the 12.99 (uk). This seems unfair, maybe i wouldnt mind if it was 2/3 pounds but 12, nah thats bullshit.
Plus i cant move my apps, shouldnt things liek web clips and the movable apps be free for us . I eman WTF!
whatishalo? @ Jan 15th 2008 3:58PM
I agree. Total BS!! iPhone babies received credits after crying about a price drop, maybe if the iTouch users complain like the iPhone users, we will get the update free (as it should be!)
CraigJ @ Jan 15th 2008 4:55PM
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/070510/aapl10-q.html
In March 2007, the Company began shipping Apple TV and expects to begin shipping the iPhone in late June 2007. For Apple TV and the iPhone, the Company plans to provide future unspecified features and additional software products free of charge to customers. Accordingly, the sale of the Apple TV and the iPhone handset are accounted for under subscription accounting in accordance with Statement of Position ("SOP") No. 97-2. As such, the Company defers the associated revenue and cost of goods sold at the time of sale, which will then be recognized on a straight-line basis over the currently estimated 24 month economic life of these products. Costs incurred by the Company for engineering, sales, and marketing will continue to be expensed as incurred.
Jordy @ Jan 15th 2008 5:19PM
they better get rid of the $20 dollars to buy those apps for the touch. at least make it a lot less
Mike @ Jan 15th 2008 6:09PM
Does the update fix the alarm bug on the Touch (ie alarms not working after sync)?
sk8rpro @ Jan 16th 2008 2:55AM
Simple one-word solution: BitTorrent!
Wes Joyce @ Jan 15th 2008 3:37PM
WTF!!!! i paid the same amount for my iPod...and new ones automatically get the apps...does that mean a price jump? NO.....its ok though cause they wont sell as much as they think...cause i sure as heck am not payin $20 for those apps...
Ty @ Jan 15th 2008 3:37PM
One word for all existing iPod touch owners: Extortion.
channy @ Jan 16th 2008 2:24PM
exactly, its a complete joke.
this kind of stuff should have been included from the beginning, and now im being told i have to pay an extra 20 bucks for the privelige?!?
and they wonder why people try to jailbreak their touches...
Bballdude @ Jan 15th 2008 3:37PM
This update is really annoying me. I keep getting "The iPhone software update server could not be contacted." I have the latest version of iTunes and for some reason I keep getting this. I am soooo frustrated with apple. I have never had problems with itunes before in updating. Im on a mac btw.
Boywithhair @ Jan 15th 2008 3:37PM
stop saying ipod touch users get the same thing, we get nothing.
jamma @ Jan 15th 2008 3:37PM
What about lyrics support? And even then it's still £12.99 (or $20) too much!
Josh @ Jan 15th 2008 4:44PM
yah i did too, it just magically worked now though :P downloading the update as i type this... 23 freaking minutes to go.
bballdude @ Jan 15th 2008 5:06PM
Yea, it finally started. It is taking waaay too long though.
aidan @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:11PM
try deleting and then reinstalling itunes
Boywithhair @ Jan 15th 2008 3:38PM
can i downgrade 1.1.3?
lee @ Jan 15th 2008 3:40PM
Pluis no lyric support for the non buying people
richard hawkins @ Jan 15th 2008 3:42PM
the new apps for touch are only for osx 10.4 and above according to itunes 7.6
rip off anyway. didnt stevey j say that the touch didnt have the apps so that it was distinguised from the iphone
bob @ Jan 15th 2008 3:43PM
google locator very accurate even with low signal so far, spot on which road im on.
jalapeno @ Jan 15th 2008 3:44PM
No cut and paste yet?? Kinda weird.
Kiteless @ Jan 15th 2008 3:45PM
Dang I was really holding my breath for A2DP. Anybody know if this was slipped in? It's driving me nuts that this was not in the iPhone from the beginning. Other features look cool. Can't wait to try them out tonight when I get home.
Great job covering MacWorld Engadget. Please keep up the great work!
- Kiteless
Inspector Gadget @ Jan 15th 2008 3:49PM
Me in the UK. ive just updated my touch...1.1.3...now i want to upgrde my itunes to 7.6...anyone know if this will be available in the uk now as well? or just the states?? the uk apple site only has 7.5 to download, unlike the u.s one which has 7.6...?!?!?!?!?
KarlRivers,com @ Jan 15th 2008 4:13PM
Errm...just download the US one, it's exactly the same.
Ryan Pierce @ Jan 15th 2008 3:51PM
Yea, no way I'm paying $20 for this... it should be free.
Pouya @ Jan 15th 2008 3:52PM
Given that 1.13 firmware update was the only iPhone related news at MacWorld, does that mean that there are no plans to release a new iPhone this year?
Boostjunkie @ Jan 15th 2008 3:59PM
Where is the outrage, they are charging $20 for a simple firmware update that should have been the way the device was from the beginning. If M$ tried to pull something like this people would be going crazy, imagine if I had to pay $20 every time my 360 got a new update. This is rediculous.
Pietro @ Jan 30th 2008 4:31PM
you dont have to pay to upgrade the firmware, just to get the apps. first, upgrade (free) then apps...
timatl @ Jan 15th 2008 3:59PM
$20 for something that should have been there in the first place. You going to charge someone $400 for a phone then charge them a addtional $20 to move the icons on the start screen. this is Bull $#!t. this is why i don't buy mac products.
siberdog @ Jan 15th 2008 4:15PM
The update is free for the iPhone.
Kevin @ Jan 15th 2008 4:01PM
Mail and Maps on my iPod Touch! Thank you Jebus!
YouFaceTheTick @ Jan 15th 2008 4:02PM
$20 for ported apps? WTF?
xbit @ Jan 15th 2008 4:03PM
So is there any reason why I'd want to upgrade my jail broken v1.1.2 touch to this?
Neeko @ Jan 15th 2008 4:14PM
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. This is such a freakin JOKE. My jailbroken touch does all this for FREE...FREE i tell u!
I will continue to help my friends jailbreak their iphones/touch.
I WANNA HEAR THE APPLE FANBOYS SPIN BEING CHARGED FOR UPDATES...CMON I DARE U.
Evinyatar @ Jan 16th 2008 8:53AM
Apple is not the thief. It's the cellphone operators' fault! Or, umm wait... record companies maybe? Aw dammit!
psycho joe @ Jan 15th 2008 4:05PM
This is a bit wierd saying this because I like apple products so Im just gonna say it.
Props to Microsoft for the free updates on the Zune. (even for people with the 1G Zune)
Boo to Apple for making Ipodders pay.
Bill G @ Jan 15th 2008 6:07PM
Thanks for the pops psycho Joe.
Michael Kaplan @ Jan 16th 2008 12:32AM
Funny, everyone is bitching about the $20 for the iPod Touch (it seems a bit steep to me too), but no one is mentioning the $70 price drop for AppleTV, and the free software for existing AppleTV owners. Apple giveth, and Apple taketh away...
cloudzilla @ Jan 15th 2008 4:05PM
Oooh, eMail has been updated - it properly supports my GMAIL account now!
brad @ Jan 15th 2008 4:06PM
Does the location based thing work for the ipod touch? I dont think it will and Steve didnt mention that....
also why the heck would I pay $20.00 for some thing that www.jailbreakme.com does for free?
Bassir @ Jan 15th 2008 4:49PM
Yes, you can find out where you are on the iPod touch using cell phone tower triangulation.
WillisOGeeky @ Jan 15th 2008 7:21PM
No you cannot triangulate yourself off of cell towers on a touch, no phone! you can however triangluate off of wifi..... I haven't downloaded as it is obvious the 1.1.2 has much more potential then the 1.1.3....... so..... maybe by friday someone will crack this beeeeeach
Touchy @ Jan 15th 2008 5:50PM
does jailbreakme work on 1.1.2 touchs? Cause im trying it and its not working for me
WillisOGeeky @ Jan 15th 2008 7:52PM
to jailbreak 1.1.2 you must download 1.1.1 somewhere, search and find. With 1.1.1 downloaded and iPod attached to pc and viewing hold right shift and click restore, navigate to 1.1.1 after install cancel a sync for faster time till jb, then load safari at the jailbreakme.com I wouldn't normally post something like this but that 20 dollars is eating at me, I want respect as a customer not leftovers I think everyone who agrees its f'd up to charge should write a how to on jbing if you know how, then we'll print them all out and stand in front of our local mac store
Touchy @ Jan 16th 2008 12:50AM
thanks. I would have never thought I'd be looking for how to jailbreak either, but this $20 business is just ridiculous.