iPhone roundup: Apple seeds 2.1 with new GPS features, possible copy/paste, also completely out of phones

Your morning iPhone news fix: looks like Apple's seeded a beta of firmware 2.1 (not to be confused with the supposed 2.0.1 that will fix the myriad bugs and issues with 2.0), which may have some new GPS features that would imply turn-by-turn directions. No argument from us if Apple really is including new Core Location hooks for tracking your direction and speed, which would both be needed for doing proper GPS navigation.

Another bit which may or may not make it into 2.1 is copy/paste. We're still both hopeful and skeptical, but supposedly in the new version of the WebKit framework exists commands for "plugins," "copy," "paste," "cut," and some others. We can't confirm if these really exist (and if they do, we don't know how they've actually been there, or if they're simply holdovers from the desktop WebKit frameworks), so don't hold your breath. Also supposedly making its first appearance in the 2.1 beta code: Apple's push notification service.

Oh, and by the way, if all this has whet your appetite for the device, sounds like today will be a bad day to try and snag one. Apple's retail site shows absolutely zero iPhone availability in the US, so if you're jonesing then check out eBay or the seedy looking dude on the corner with the overstuffed trenchcoat.

Update: Looks like the stores have been updated in the last hour, many have stock. Game on!

[Thanks to Cameron and everyone who sent these in]

Read - Apple all out of stock
Read - New GPS features seeded?
Read - 2.1 getting background push?

[lu1de @ Jul 25th 2008 9:01AM]

COPY

[Daviesifier @ Jul 25th 2008 9:02AM]

Paste

[Engadgetluvsappl @ Jul 25th 2008 9:05AM]

Will still be useless without true multi-tasking,

[Kris @ Jul 25th 2008 9:39AM]

I, as a man, have survived very well up till now.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 25th 2008 11:16AM]

OMG. If they keep improving this handset, they'll never keep them in stock. I'm getting annoyed at seeing a couple of hundred people standing in line every day. Copy/paste or not, the iPhone is in too high a demand.

My avatar keeps telling me I should use a WinMo handset like he does. He says almost nobody wants them so they always have plenty in stock. I told him that chimps are different from humans. I told him that intelligent primates aren't willing to settle for anything less than an iPhone. He got pissed and nearly tried to pull my arm out of it's socket until I tossed him a few bananas.

[Zach @ Jul 25th 2008 11:48AM]

@Steffen

Dude, your just a riot. Have you ever considered a career in comedy? You could get up on stage and just stand there and tell the same joke like a thousand times for a couple hours. You wouldn't even have to think up new jokes! Oh, and I got a stage name for ya : Steffen "Beat the Dead Horse Jobs". Anyways, you should definitely quit your job and go for it dude. You'll be great. That's assuming your older than twelve and you have a job. Which is pretty unlikely.

[OneLove @ Jul 25th 2008 12:01PM]

Can anyone tell me why copy and paste is so hard to add to the iphone? I just don't get it? Isn't that a basic function in any user interface?

[hans @ Jul 26th 2008 4:02AM]

@OneLove: It's not hard to just add it, it's hard to add it right. If you've used an iPhone, you know the interface is thought from top to bottom and through. It's near impossible to add a new workflow to enter Cut/Paste "mode", select and get out, while being consistent with the rest.

For example, how would you do it in Safari? Mail? Every other Apps in AppStore? In a _consistent_ (read: same for all) manner?

In fact, I'm really intrigued to know how they did implement it. Tap&Hold maybe, or 2-finger-tap...? They already used Tap&Hold for something though...

[Rob Pereira @ Jul 25th 2008 12:53PM]

@hans:

My thoughts are they could have one finger held down for a few seconds to enter a text zoom mode to find the start position in the text then put down a second finger and drag just that finger to the end of the text. If you were to have a rather large thing you want to copy you could probably implement a lock on the first position by tapping twice with the second finger and then double tapping at the end position.

[rock99rock @ Jul 25th 2008 1:29PM]

RE: UPDATE

"Select your state and then check the list to see which Apple Retail Stores currently stock iPhone 3G.

Return after 9:00 p.m. to check iPhone 3G availability at your local Apple Retail Store."

And just like that, they were gone :)

[rock99rock @ Jul 25th 2008 1:41PM]

"kid_blue @ Jul 25th 2008 1:35PM

setting your system time to 9pm allows you to check the availability of the stock online.

Also... I check my state (which is PA) and two malls still have stock.

I live in the US... and i doubt that they are 100% out of stock.

Fact or fiction? I'm thinking fiction."

DOH!

[OneLove @ Jul 25th 2008 2:56PM]

@hans: Thanks for the reply. I guess I haven't really used the iphone gui extensively.

On my HTC mogul you can select text by moving the pen/finger across the screen (the target gets a shadow to indicate selection) and when you raise your pen/finger, a drop down menu appears with "copy" as an option.

I find it hard to believe apple created the iphone but it cant solve the "cut and paste" conundrum?

[Jaz @ Jul 25th 2008 4:41PM]

copy and paste would be a nice feature... but for heaven's sake... LANDSCAPE TEXTING, pretty please

[Cassini @ Jul 25th 2008 8:13PM]

Hey Apple! Take a look at something...

Down below, I have a sentence in quotes. I'm going to copy and paste that sentence further down in the body of this post. I know by simply reading this post, you won't be able to actually witness me do it, but at least you'll see the results of copying and pasting when someone is equipped with the ability to do so, and I promise you, the sentence was, in fact, copied and pasted, not just merely retyped. Now look closely:


"This sentence has been copied and pasted."



"This sentence has been copied and pasted."


See how cool that is? And what's even cooler about it, is how quickly info and data can be duplicated and placed into other programs, applets, and files, or wherever else, without having to retype it all over again from scratch. You can also do what's called "cutting", not just "copying", prior to "pasting". And what's more, there are so many times where this whole cutting, copying, and pasting business would come in handy that I couldn't POSSIBLY list all of the reasons why.

It's a totally sweet feature that saves time and increases efficiency and I really seriously think you should add it to the iPhone. Yep yep! I really do!


Because Apple, sarcasm aside, waiting on you guys to add this feature is like watching someone stand and stare at a toilet for years, while frowning and rubbing their chin and tilting their head back and forth and hemming and hawing, and never reeeeeally deciding whether they should just go ahead and add that "pesky little toilet paper dispenser" after all. Well, isn't it obvious? Wink, wink... nudge, nudge... DO IT ALREADY! Sheesh.

Oh, and I know I don't speak only for myself when I say, "Thanks!" (Even if it may be presumptive. I have faith.). Smile!


*** In next week's episode (whenever that will be), we'll be addressing other "long overdue" and "obviously needed" features. Stay tuned...

[Dominick @ Jul 25th 2008 10:18PM]

I guess they're back...

http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/availability.html

Ahaha.

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 25th 2008 11:59PM]

@engadgetluvsapple

"Will still be useless without true multi-tasking"? What the hell are you talking about. First of all, let's remove the copy/paste issue for a second and focus on multi-tasking.

Without even getting into the myriad issues related to multi-tasking and drained resources and poor performance (*Ahem* Windows mobile), Give me a legitimate use of multi-tasking that a simple notification framework can't resolve? When you need to switch apps, they close and save their state. Then you switch back, and they boot up quickly and restore their state.

Applications that would usually need to run in the background to maintain a stateful real-time connection to a server (think Instant messenging) can use the iPhone's notification service to maintain these connections. When data comes in, a notification is created and sent to the app which then can alert you to the new data. For listening to music or accessing the phone features while you are typing email or web browsing, the built-in apps have access to background multi-tasking.

Really the only conflict I can readily think of will occur when you are using a future WiFI VOIP app to chat to a friend and suddenly you need to pull up your address book/contacts/notepad without disconnecting the phone conversation. That does suck, but I think these types of situations where the notification framework won't resolve needed multi-tasking functionality will be incredibly rare..

[d @ Jul 25th 2008 9:03AM]

Numerous Apple stores currently have iPhone stock. At least 8 stores in Florida do. I also know all 3 Manhattan stores have stock of all three versions.

[huh @ Jul 25th 2008 9:30AM]

Here in Canada they tell you on the phone they don't have any in stock, but when you go to the store, turns out they do.

[Chris @ Jul 25th 2008 9:48PM]

When I check it says all the stores are sold out and I live in Florida

[peternj @ Jul 26th 2008 10:40AM]

This out of stock nonsense was part of the first iPhone.
The plastic iPhone is worth $95 and will still not sell well. That's why shortages are either lies or merely due to the fact the world is in recession and/or the initial order was small.
What made the first version cool was the lack of plastic and the fact only a few people could afford it. Now it's all plastic it looks like a cheap Xmas toy. And the lack of common features is pathetic. Since when should Windows mobile have more features than the iPhone?
Easy to use plastic means you should pay nothing for it with a 2 year contract.
I like my first edition iPhone but will not buy the plastic toy one. Besides A-GPS in NYC is pathetic on all platforms and all providers.

[Miguelitosd @ Jul 26th 2008 2:08PM]

I went down to the San Diego Fashion Valley store last night to pickup some other stuff and there were a good 20+ people in line then. That was at about 7pm. Likely was a line there most of the day as well.

I'd like to get the phone too, but I'm not about to stand in line for awhile just to do it.

[NHAnimator @ Jul 25th 2008 9:05AM]

The "dude on the corner with the overstuffed trenchcoat" just got picked up by the authorities for showing some old lady what his trenchcoat was stuffed with.

Guess that leaves eBay.

[Christy McGrory @ Jul 26th 2008 9:47AM]

I wouldn't go for ebay if I were you. Minimum price is around 450 quid, which is the biggest rip-off ever.

[Christy McGrory @ Jul 26th 2008 11:01AM]

I wouldn't go for ebay if I were you. Minimum price is around 450 quid, which is the biggest rip-off ever.

[Shannin @ Jul 25th 2008 9:06AM]

i mean, i love my iPhone but all these stories are getting ridiculous.

[kal326 @ Jul 25th 2008 9:07AM]

Maybe they will also look into why the hell the Gmail accounts don't work. I had an employee bring a 3G iPhone to me to see if I could get it to use Gmail in POP or IMAP, manually or through the "New Account" setup for Gmail. Either way failed and the only other person I know that has an iPhone was on vacation and they have a first gen and not sure if they upgraded to 2.0 firmware yet. Tried Wifi and data connection as well. Thankfully my WM6 phone works just fine with Exchange, OWA IMPA4, and Gmail IMAP, never had a problem with a Palm either. So much for just works....

[psxp @ Jul 25th 2008 9:14AM]

Rogers in canada had a outage that effected GMail users.

[Andrew @ Jul 25th 2008 9:15AM]

Gmail works for me, through the "Gmail" button in mail too. I'm not sure why it wouldn't for you.

The only possible thing I could guess is that you're just entering your username and not the whole "[e-mail]". Other than that there isn't much room for user error.

Oh, and make sure you actually have IMAP or POP enabled on your account, though I'm guessing you do since you said it works in WM.

[golumdocfun @ Jul 25th 2008 9:19AM]

Gmail works fine on my 3G.

[Justin E @ Jul 25th 2008 9:31AM]

Gmail works perfectly for me as well.

[Fragmit @ Jul 25th 2008 9:59AM]

My g-mail works fine..

What the hell are you messing with POP and IMAP for?

There is a giant g-mail button.. maybe you are just an idiot?

[kal326 @ Jul 25th 2008 10:03AM]

@Fragmit

Well maybe if you read the whole thing, you would have seen that I tried the big fucking gmail button for the automated account setup for Gmail already. The user put in their own password so that is the only point of fail left on the iPhone, however they logged into their own gmail account at my desk and they are able to get their Gmail at home in Outlook just fine.

[Chris G. @ Jul 25th 2008 10:04AM]

I have three Gmail accounts (1 regular, 2 Gmail for Domains) that work just fine on the iPhone using IMAP. Never had an issue with them in the nearly 2 weeks I have had this phone.

[Dale @ Jul 25th 2008 10:19AM]

I got my iPhone 3G on Saturday. The first thing I did was set up my Gmail account by tapping the Gmail button in account setup.

Worked fine first time, and I have been able to access my email all week without any problems. Well, ignoring the junk mail.

[Fragmit @ Jul 25th 2008 10:22AM]

Ok, im sorry

*HUGS*

[patrick @ Jul 25th 2008 10:29AM]

Hey, I don't have a "Gmail" button. Just a mail icon on the bottom dock that accesses my gmail acct (with no problems, I might add). Is there a specific Gmail application for the iPhone? Am I missing something??

[jholl016 @ Jul 25th 2008 11:24AM]

@patrick. They are referring to the gMail option that appears on the "Add Account..." page (Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Add Account...)

[Jakob Henner @ Jul 25th 2008 12:32PM]

Or if Patrick is a Danish guy:

Indstillinger -> E-post, kontakter, kalendere -> Tilføj konto
(just in case)

[Imran @ Jul 25th 2008 12:44PM]

@Fragmit:

Just wanted to say, today, the internet social just took a leap forward because of you. You guys disagreed and what could've become a stupid Digg style flame war, you just apologized and sent a hug.

I wanted to send my heartfelt thanks for being who you are.

[Phil Perman @ Jul 25th 2008 9:13AM]

I have a 1st gen iPhone running 2.0 and haven't had any trouble getting it to work with my Gmail account

[wunch @ Jul 26th 2008 3:54PM]

Yeah, I'm perfectly happy with the new firmware on my 1st-gen iPhone. Although it's nice, I don't really need the 3G.

[Wil Deynes @ Jul 25th 2008 9:20AM]

Think the update will help with battery life?

[inno8sky @ Jul 25th 2008 9:22AM]

i mean, i love my iPhone but all these stories are getting ridiculous.

But these guys only post the positive stories, at least some gadget blogs have the balls to post the not so positive stories about apple..

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/07/apple-slammed-f.html

This isn't just small issues with version 2 of another POS for apple, there are serious problems. If this were ms, there would be no end to the bashing.

[SteveJ @ Jul 25th 2008 9:31AM]

Engadget has posted about the problems with MobileMe. For what it's worth, MobileMe web email, contacts and calendar are now working really well, for me at least. I haven't tried Gallery.

[Bryan @ Jul 25th 2008 11:06AM]

mobileme is garbage regardless

[SteveJ @ Jul 25th 2008 9:24AM]

The thing I most want to see added to the iPhone version of OS X is the keychain, along with Safari and other apps having the ability to access it, just like in the desktop version of OS X. So, for example, Safari could access the keychain to autofill username and password logins on web pages.

[iEye @ Jul 25th 2008 9:27AM]

I'm more surprised that there are not any iPhone 3G KIRF clones out yet...

[Jon @ Jul 25th 2008 9:41AM]

I dont know about the Apple Website - but the Apple Store in Short Pump (Richmond, VA) had PLENTY in stock yesterday, and no lines what so ever.

[Chad @ Jul 25th 2008 9:42AM]

'Apple's retail site shows absolutely zero iPhone availability in the US'

Perhaps you should actually look before claiming this as truth. Don't go turning into TUAW. Apple's availability website shows SEVERAL stores with iPhones in stock. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the majority of Apple stores have some type of iPhone available.

[z @ Jul 25th 2008 9:50AM]

What happened was that Apple found out people were using a loophole in the online tracker yesterday afternoon where you can get realtime inventory at any time of day. They put in a temporary fix that showed all stores as out of stock until 9pm. It was still like that before 9am this morning, but apparently the original trick works again now.

It is definitely not out of stock. The big Apple stores have been getting replenished almost daily and the lines are still there. (I've been checking hoping for no lines)