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]

[Konstantin @ Oct 26th 2008 11:55PM]

Yes! Can't wait for it to actually happen!

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 27th 2008 3:11AM]

This was obvious, after seeing the Maps app on Android...

[Cash @ Oct 27th 2008 4:05AM]

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!"

[Mark Anderson @ Oct 27th 2008 5:00AM]

@Jash

And indeed just about every other smartphone out there.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Oct 27th 2008 7:50AM]

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.

[OneLove @ Oct 27th 2008 10:53AM]

But can it cut and paste?

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 27th 2008 12:46PM]

Ah, the reason I switched to the G1 last week. Copy/Paste, how did I ever live without you?

[ybd @ Oct 27th 2008 1:12PM]

It may be Cutting Edge, but it certainly isn't Pasting Edge

[john @ Oct 27th 2008 8:05PM]

the little circular overview map on the bottom right makes it look like we're playing GTA, just in real life.

[Sebastian Sauced @ Oct 26th 2008 11:59PM]

it would be cool if they added support for those 3 finger gestures....they could be useful for example for switching safari windows

[ipodrulz @ Oct 27th 2008 12:12AM]

THAT would be genius! Fly your F'ing ass over to Cupertino!

[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.

[timm @ Oct 27th 2008 1:45AM]

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

[Juaquin @ Oct 27th 2008 3:51AM]

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.

[Mike10010100 @ Oct 27th 2008 6:11AM]

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.

[Pepsipoint @ Oct 27th 2008 9:51AM]

The Iphone works great in the Boston Ma. Underworld. No problems on any of the T's getting data or cell reception.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 27th 2008 1:50PM]

"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?

[Dean @ Oct 26th 2008 11:59PM]

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.

[Matthew C @ Oct 27th 2008 12:01AM]

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.

[DBrim @ Oct 27th 2008 12:06AM]

You might want to invest in a "w" key first.

[Oliver @ Oct 27th 2008 12:09AM]

hat " " key?

[Chewedtoothpick @ Oct 27th 2008 12:15AM]

@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...

[RyanTV @ Oct 27th 2008 1:29AM]

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.

[jacubious @ Oct 27th 2008 5:16AM]

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).

[Mike10010100 @ Oct 27th 2008 6:13AM]

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

[Eric @ Oct 27th 2008 12:01AM]

awesome!!! How do I become a tester person so I can try it out!?!?!?

[Michael LaFramboise @ Oct 27th 2008 12:38AM]

You can't - you have to be a developer.

[Conor @ Oct 27th 2008 1:18AM]

awesome!!! How do I become a developer person so I can try it out!?!?!?

[Colin @ Oct 27th 2008 12:02AM]

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.

[BJ is Gooder @ Oct 27th 2008 12:12AM]

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..

[saintlunacy @ Oct 27th 2008 12:23AM]

From the demos I've seen, yes the position of the handset has relevance to the horizon/view.

[bondsbw @ Oct 27th 2008 9:06AM]

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?

[JohnTitor @ Oct 27th 2008 12:03AM]

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

[holycow @ Oct 27th 2008 12:13AM]

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.

[Tinez @ Oct 27th 2008 12:16AM]

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

[Ignacio @ Oct 27th 2008 12:26AM]

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.”

[Paul Chapel @ Oct 27th 2008 2:13AM]

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.

[Paul @ Oct 27th 2008 12:11AM]

Google copied Street View from Apple.

[lowdef @ Oct 27th 2008 1:13AM]

hah.

[McLovin @ Oct 27th 2008 9:23AM]

God damn you're stupid.

[User_1 @ Oct 27th 2008 12:42PM]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

[Oliver @ Oct 27th 2008 12:13AM]

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.

[Ashvala @ Oct 27th 2008 12:13AM]

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).

[allenvanhellen @ Oct 27th 2008 12:15AM]

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...

[ako1pinoy @ Oct 27th 2008 12:33AM]

Still can't send/receive MMS????

[Aaron @ Oct 27th 2008 1:36AM]

Still don't want to use MMS at all because email is better and doesn't come with a fee per message?

[Dan @ Oct 28th 2008 12:11PM]

That's great... except when people send YOU MMS messages and you can't view them properly.

[Eric @ Oct 27th 2008 2:24PM]

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.

[Brian @ Oct 27th 2008 12:38AM]

HOLY SH***. I live a couple of blocks away from that picture. that one is around 181 St in Manhattan.

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 27th 2008 1:12AM]

Hey, open you window, im gonna scream BRIIIIIIIIIIIIAN until I see you!