iPhone software 2.2 features Google Street View, mass transit directions
The T-Mobile G1's Google Maps Street View implementation is one of the slickest features of the first Android phone, but it looks like Apple's going to keep feature parity -- the latest builds of iPhone OS 2.2 seeded to developers have Street View, as well as the ability to give mass transit directions. That's pretty useful for cityfolk like us -- and we're also stoked that line-in audio is now supported in the SDK, giving devs the ability to create voice recorders and other interesting audio apps. Of course, there's no word on when 2.2 will actually arrive, but until then we suppose we'll live with regular, non-data-augmented streets. Lots of screenshots of the new features at the read link.
[Via MacRumors]
[Via MacRumors]


















Yes! Can't wait for it to actually happen!
This was obvious, after seeing the Maps app on Android...
Yeah... two features I really couldn't give a crap about. That's just what I've been holding my breath and crossing my fingers for, unlike say copy + paste or MMS capability. You know, something customers might actually use, and have been complaining about since the first iPhone was released.
Stevie J. Antoinette's answer to the angry masses? "Let zem eat Streetview!"
@Jash
And indeed just about every other smartphone out there.
News flash! At some unspecified point in the future, the iPhone will have features that BlackBerries and Android have right now! Quick, put it on the front page, because the iPhone is so cutting edge.
You have to love Engadget.
But can it cut and paste?
Ah, the reason I switched to the G1 last week. Copy/Paste, how did I ever live without you?
It may be Cutting Edge, but it certainly isn't Pasting Edge
the little circular overview map on the bottom right makes it look like we're playing GTA, just in real life.
it would be cool if they added support for those 3 finger gestures....they could be useful for example for switching safari windows
THAT would be genius! Fly your F'ing ass over to Cupertino!
though safari on the iphone can only hold one or two pages at a time. it would have to refresh the pages almost every time, unlike tabs on a computer.
I thought another cool idea would be on the home screen and if you swiped two fingers across the screen it would skip a page? and make the home screens loop as well
I have a one-finger gesture for them still missing copy paste. It's like they have a bunch of effing amateurs working there. With Apple's level of engineering it's mind-boggling that they can't sit down for a few hours and code this shit. Sure, it's a modification to the whole system to support this, but it's not a HARD modification. Come on guys.
What about using the accelerometer to detect movements? It wouldn't register quite as accurately as the G1's compass, but it would give you a pseudo-feel for it!
Also....cut and paste? It really isn't that hard compared to streetview.
The Iphone works great in the Boston Ma. Underworld. No problems on any of the T's getting data or cell reception.
"maveric101 @ Oct 27th 2008 1:07AM
though safari on the iphone can only hold one or two pages at a time. it would have to refresh the pages almost every time, unlike tabs on a computer."
I would like to know why this is being low ranked. In my experience on my own iPhone this has been the case. If I load up more than one or two pages, whenever I switch to another page I have to wait for it to reload. Are we the only two people on the planet who have experienced this on an iPhone?
I'm really curious to see how well mass transit instructions will work. If done well, that would be a killer app.
Another one, anyway.
The iphone is really becoming the ultimate companion for those of us who live in the city. No i just need a fe hundred bucks.
You might want to invest in a "w" key first.
hat " " key?
@Matthew:
As if there aren't already a dozen other phones that do the same thing for less cost and less lock-in?
The crapPhone is nothing special...
agreed with the mass transit directions... now if only you could get a signal in the subway.
and those that hate on the iPhone are usually either plain ol' Apple haters, people that are locked into crappy contracts with other cell companies, or those who can't afford one.
iPhone, for me, has actually made owning a mobile phone fun again and not just something I carry with me out of necessity and everyone that I let play with it wants one after about 10 minutes of use.
I imagine it will be similar to the existing transit option that google has on its maps application for winmo. I have been using it for a while, and it works excellently with the buses and the sky train (Vancouver's elevated, automated train system).
I laugh at the cycle.
A few weeks ago, anyone who said that the iphone sucks would get a high ranking. The poor sap that wasn't on board with the new trend got low ranked for it. My apologies.
Fickle Engadget audience. lol
awesome!!! How do I become a tester person so I can try it out!?!?!?
You can't - you have to be a developer.
awesome!!! How do I become a developer person so I can try it out!?!?!?
Okay, but did they build the features that keep your iPhone screen on and rotate the map in the appropriate direction as you travel? The GPS is a bit of a novelty without that functionality.
A novelty if the map doesn't rotate? You're gonna need an actual navigator in the car if you can't follow directions without that..
From the demos I've seen, yes the position of the handset has relevance to the horizon/view.
The map doesn't rotate, but I imagine this is on purpose. Many people like reading maps in the direction they are facing, i.e. if they are facing South, they rotate the map upside-down. If the map automatically rotates on the screen, you can't do this easily. They might also miss the rotation and go down a street in the opposite direction than they think they are going.
The iPhone can be set to not auto-lock if you want by going to settings. But would you want only the map keeping the screen on, draining the battery, when nothing else on the device does that? Isn't that counter-intuitive?
Google, this is cool and all, but do you guess really know how to do business, you're not supposed to help the competition like that
I'm pretty sure the GUYS know how to do business or else they wouldn't be where they are right now! And I'm pretty sure Apple pays them for using their technology.
are you kidding? Google doesn't care about "helping competition." they're running software in both iPhone and g1...AT&T and tmobile. When google competes against google, I'll give u three guesses as to who wins.
APPLE: I know you're reading. COPY AND PASTE
I guess you guys haven't heard the news? :-)
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/aug/29bod.html
"CUPERTINO, California—August 29, 2006 —Apple® today announced that Dr. Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google, was elected to Apple’s board of directors at their meeting today. Eric also sits on Google’s board of directors and Princeton University’s board of trustees.
“Eric is obviously doing a terrific job as CEO of Google, and we look forward to his contributions as a member of Apple’s board of directors,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. [...]
“Apple is one of the companies in the world that I most admire,” said Eric Schmidt. “I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Apple’s board to help with all of the amazing things Apple is doing.”
Google doesn't give a crap about competing with Apple. They are giving away Android for FREE. They just want people to use their search engine. They already get that exposure on the iPhone because Google Search is built directly into Safari Mobile.
To say nothing of the fact that their CEO sits on Apple's board.
Google copied Street View from Apple.
hah.
God damn you're stupid.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!
haha, google and apple; 'twas a match made in heaven...
i mean, on the one hand, you have the "do no evil" google who really believes in open source. And then you've got apple, where all the devices are locked tightly, and anything the consumer can do has to be approved by apple first.
I love both of these companies.
2.2 will arrive at MacWorld 2009. Do notice that the major iPhone update like 1.1.3 arrived at MacWorld 08. I also seem to be in love with the streetview, Although it may take several years for it to come to India(I live here).
OK Great! Now if I could just get Google Maps with South Korean street and mass trans data and an iPhone that works in South Korea...
Still can't send/receive MMS????
Still don't want to use MMS at all because email is better and doesn't come with a fee per message?
That's great... except when people send YOU MMS messages and you can't view them properly.
Just because you don't use a certain feature doesn't mean others won't. Its nice to have the capability regardless if you use it or not.
HOLY SH***. I live a couple of blocks away from that picture. that one is around 181 St in Manhattan.
Hey, open you window, im gonna scream BRIIIIIIIIIIIIAN until I see you!
The G1 is not all google. Google just made the OS. So google can make streetview for anyone. I am still wating for my streetview on my N95-4.
OT...
...but if Google just came out with their own iPhoneish phone, why did they choose to give Apple the rights for Google-based iPhone apps? Seems strange.
Anyone know?
Google is only supporting the development of the Android OS. They aren't making a whole phone, and they aren't really competing with Apple's market, too much. In the future, phones will be smarter; all Google is trying to do is create a basic, free template for many basic cellphones OEMs to utilize. With this, they can secure their search engine (ie: revenue from searches) in the future, where the future of the internet is moving. Apple's mobile Safari defaults to Google for its search engine and also promotes their YouTube and Google Maps, so their nothing for Google to loss and everything to gain.
yes!!! I have been wanting Google Transit since I first got my 3g. All the alternatives I tried were clunky, this will be a good update.
now everyone can play - Real life GTA!!
does the view change when you turn the phone so that it shows the direction of the view u are looking at like android?
No the phone needs a built in compass for that, which only the G1 has now.
Great...now if they'd only fix the horrendous lag that's still all over the Gmaps app, even in 2.1 =P Maps is the least-stable app on the phone for me...just barely inching by Safari to win that title.
Any way to Forward SMS messages on Firmware 2.1 yet.....??
I've got a 3G iPhone through Softbank, and the Google Maps app has never worked for giving directions (Always says: Driving directions could not be found between these locations). You guys think my Google Maps app might function with this update?
will 2.2 unjailbreak my phone?
"and we're also stoked that line-in audio is now supported in the SDK, giving devs the ability to create voice recorders and other interesting audio apps"
I might be mistaken, but didn't apps like Jott already do this?
Street view and Mass transit support?
G1 is not looking too hot now is it!
I guess you could say that HTC G1 started the fight and now Apple is "taking it to the streets!" :D
I don't see any reference to Google Street View use of the accelerometer.. the gphone has this feature today... its actually pretty cool... using street view you can look around you in 360 degrees just by twirling around (yes like a ballerina)... will iphone 2.2 have this feature?
we could not find mass transit directions on the gphone however...
For some reason my GPS lock hasn't worked all that much down here in Austin and I think the AGPS part screws it even further.
I wonder if street view will really get me lost.What i really want is turn by turn directions like my good ol ATT Tilt used to do.
quirky. screen shot reads 11:47pm, yet the street view is from the day- not night
How about Flash support in Safari?
Rammer? I hardly know her!
Wow how useful...not.
Like a street view is really going to help when iphone didn't even bother making the GPS voice-guiding.
Perhaps if you wanted to plan your route beforehand, then sure street view will show you the way if you're a complete inebriate. Otherwise all that street view shows is what the street that you're DRIVING THROUGH ALREADY looks like except with everything different. If anything that's even more detrimental.
No voice-guide + a pointless decorative street view = most distracting driving aid EVAR. Stick with the Instinct.
Hey, that picture obviously isn't taken by Apple. The time is "11:47" not "9:45".
Send from my iPhone.
i can haz teh cryptic?
How about adding encrypted password support for Exchange users?
Maybe some MMS action like a bunch of others have asked for?
How about an actual Flash plug-in for the phone?
No? Rad.
Agreed! iPhone FTW
dear apple.
i would like keyboard click audio to be TURNED OFF when i select it to be OFF.
not only in safari , but OFF IN EMAIL TOO.
it used to be off, now i cannot email without that annoying click.
after taking 2pcs , reinstalling itunes, wiping my photos(which i didnt want to loose), clearing my notes(which i would have liked to keep),clearing the email password/pop3 details, clearing the wifi passwords, 2hours+ just to update the firmware, it isnt much to ask surely?
I'm not a beta tester...if you want beta testing please pay me.I'm paying quite a lot for this iphone device, it almost seems like i'm paying you to beta test .
thanks.
click click click