Latest iPhone beta firmware does full screen captures, saves web images

You might have heard that the latest iPhone 2.0 beta firmware allows users to save web images to its running camera roll for later download to its host machine (or sharing via email). Well, a reliable source let us know that the image capturing good times don't end there: the iPhone now capable of taking full screen caps (like the one above) simply by holding the sleep button, then tapping the home button. We haven't personally tested either technique (we already know what you're thinking: we can't say whether it captures screens from a video), but apparently it flashes white to indicate the cap's been taken and the image has been added to your roll. Let's hope these two neato features make it to the release firmware.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 6:21PM]

And that automatically means that the OS on the Helio is not, in fact, a total heap of crap, is that it? Or what was the point you were trying to make there? Yes, the iPhone got the OS right, for the first time in cell phone history. That's why people like it.

Nobody is claiming Apple is the first to do it, so it seems to me like you're responding to a statement nobody made. The Ocean is old news buddy, and so are crappy phone OSes.

[hey buddy Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:01PM]

Yes... And that is exactly why they need to keep adding things. Cornball phones have features that the iPhone does not. Improve it. I'm all for it.

[iRonin Posted Apr 15th 2008 12:36AM]

Artie Macstrawman strikes again!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 12:39AM]

Don't mind me... I'm just here to say that the iPhone is ALWAYS the most feature rich phone EVER.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 6:13PM]

Hmmmm. Apple doesn't believe in scrum/AGILE/product backlogs/etc, do they? This is the first time I've even heard of this kind of feature, let alone a want for it. What about:

- landscape keyboard for e-mail/text messaging?
- support for MMS messages?
- copy/paste functionality?
- making Safari stable enough to support more than one active window? (which crashes 50% of the time when browsing multiple pages, in my experience)
- ability to open links into separate windows instead of navigating away?
- Flash/Silverlight/(name you RIA tech of choice here) support?
- additional "nitpicky" features not listed here

(Queue the upset fanboy comments... now.)

[hey buddy Posted Apr 14th 2008 6:55PM]

"(Queue the upset fanboy comments... now.)"

So you can fire opinionated salvos but you attempt to invalidate any return-fire by predicting it? How sporting!

[KarlW Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:43PM]

for somebody calling themselves "obvious", you've missed the obvious problem in implementing copy and paste - that is, how do you do that and retain usability?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 12:54AM]

yeah apple has a long way to go ... just give them time. That's what the updates are for. ;-)

[contempt Posted Apr 14th 2008 6:15PM]

That key combo just shows the iPhone needs more than 2 physical buttons. Maybe iPhone 2 will have that.

[mr2man Posted Apr 14th 2008 6:52PM]

Finally some worth while features.

[Chris8pie Posted Apr 14th 2008 6:53PM]

You guys know that you can just download screenshot from installer which does the same thing..well it only takes a snapshot of whatever your doing but it should be enough to keep people till 2.0 actually releases.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:03PM]

Yeapp...it works. pretty neat

[KarlW Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:32PM]

This is probably for 3rd party developers to take promo pictures to put on their website or whatever. Not meant for your average user. Some things won't work very well in the simulator (stuff that relies on your current location, for example), and have to be run on actual hardware for a good shot.

And full-screen capture is old news. All iPhone firmwares have had it. It requires a special .plist setting and odd button combo, so it's only been for Apple's in-house promo pics so far.

Either way, it isn't really a feature. Don't expect it to be really well publicised (the changelog for v2.0 is gonna be huge!)

[Mindfield Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:33PM]

Yeah, the screen cap has been there since 1.1.3 with the HOME+Vibe toggle. The images it saves are a bit on the soft side though, so I still use Capture to take screenshots for the blog.

[Mindfield Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:35PM]

Forgot to mention, they changed the key combo so it will work on the Touch.

[Neebs Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:45PM]

Is that the default homepage for the iPhone browser?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 7:48PM]

I can personally confirm that this works, on the new version (beta 3) of the 2.0 firmware. I can upload the screen captures I've got if you like.

It does capture screens from a video - at least from a YouTube video, I haven't tried it with an iPod video, but as I think it is basically the same API they use, it should. I have shots from a YouTube video about sandcastles.....

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 9:25PM]

now they just need to work on usefull features like Bluetooth obex and a2dp support, and a universal im client.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 8:15PM]

Dude can you all like idk CHILL OUT! No the iPhone isn't perfect, it doesn't have all the features you want. BUT for a first generation phone it is pretty darn good, and the fact that added functionality is coming in the form of free software updates is kinda one of the coolest features of the phone.

[Darkest Daze Posted Apr 14th 2008 8:14PM]

Much better than MMS.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 12:51AM]

It is nice that they are adding all these extra features , but how about getting the basics right? MMS , Video , Bluetooth tranfers , wifi sync etc...

But I will say one thing. Despite all the drawbacks, the iPhone may just be the best the phone I have ever had. (^.^) I just love these updates. The only question is which update will get these things done?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 9:21PM]

1.1.3 already has a screenshot-taking capability (and i would think 1.1.4 also does), just hold the home button and toggle the mute switch

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 8:52PM]

personally i hate the iphone, but with concerns to all the bickering...

has anyone ever had a device that can do EVERYTHING they want it to do? i mean there will always be things device x will be missing...

[rackley Posted Apr 14th 2008 9:14PM]

Yeah, I so wanted this instead of something I might *actually use in real life* such as a SPP bluetooth profile...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 11:20PM]

I can save images wit my JB'd touch.. And open new tabs...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 22nd 2008 10:14AM]

I think it would be better for single quick tap to just automatic open the link of URL/Images.

To save images or open URL in new tab requires tap and hold and then the menu in the image come up.

Not everytime i want to open in new tab and definitely save that extra tap on screen.

Oh i also would iphone to handle compressed files.

Hopefully we can save the PDFs that we download n view on safari too.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 12:41AM]

Who cares. What I really want to know is..... when the hell is iPhone formatted Engadget coming?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 3:57PM]

Ask and ye shall recieve...

http://getallthe.com/tech-1

The nice thing about this site is that it loads engadget without all the pics. Of course the pics are important, but if all you're looking for is the info, this is it.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 3:19AM]

What i would like to see is not only making snapshots but record movies. Or is that confirmed for 2.0?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 5:15AM]

cool

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 9:10PM]

You are neglecting this is beta software, I would suspect that this feature is really a limited debug tool, If a beta tester thinks something is not showing up the way it is suppose to then send a screen shot as opposed to trying to describe I.

I don't see much of a use for a feature like this and would not be surprised if it is removed from the final version.

[LiqwidZero Posted Apr 15th 2008 10:17AM]

We better be getting picture messaging, soon. That's my dad's only complaint about his iPhone as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2008 10:44PM]

Hopefully this does come to the iPod touch, and the 2.0 update includes a camera roll or something similar. Right now there is no camera roll, so any application (right now, just ones from a jailbreak) that wants to store photos to the iPod and have them be immediately viewable uses the camera roll. Each time I take a screenshot with Capture, I have to FTP into the iPod and browse to an obscure location in order to retrieve it. Now, I know there won't be jailbreak apps to factor in, but what would a drawing app do to save images?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2008 5:14PM]

I have a question. I have AT&T right now and want to get the iPhone 2.0 when it comes out. Is there any way for me to use the iphone as a phone, ipod, and web browser w/out upgrading my texting plan or unlimited data plan. I only use wifi and dont care to use edge. I know alot of people have said just type in 999999 for my SS but then it turns as a pay as you go phone so I think that's technically changing my plan. I want my plan to remain the exact same but i just want to use the iphone. Thanks