Video: iPhone OS 3.0 walkthrough

Many of us -- okay, a small handful of us -- wouldn't dream of putting beta firmware on our day-to-day devices, so we wanted to treat that very special group of safety-minded individuals to a once-over with iPhone OS 3.0's finer points on video. Odds are this is about as close as they'll get to the goods until Apple blesses the binary a few months from now, after all, and there's no harm in living vicariously through an Engadget editor's load-firmware-first, ask-questions-later lifestyle -- trust us. Video after the break.

[Kneeocks @ Mar 18th 2009 11:05AM]

Summer is too far away.. :'

[toopropa @ Mar 18th 2009 11:10AM]

I love an iPhone video I can't view on iPhone

[老外 @ Mar 18th 2009 11:28AM]

I think liking the iPhone comes down to what you use it for or expect of it.

As a student majoring in a foreign languge I find the iPhone to be, by far, the best tool available for anyone who is studying a language. Especially when combined with the excellent applications that have been created in the app store (dictionaries, flash card apps, books, course work apps etc...), most of which are free!

I used to use a winmo device, but after using a classmates iPhone I switched instantly. The iPhone UI allows you to lookup information faster than my winmo ever could, and though winmo devices do have a lot of apps available, there isnt much variety (or even quality in some cases) for foreign language study.

Combine the fast UI (getting to the apps I need and looking up info fast) and easy language input (Chinese in my case) with the standard features (audio, video, web etc..) and you have the best learning tool, in my opinion.

[老外 @ Mar 18th 2009 11:33AM]

I'd also like to add that the amount of *quality* Chinese language applications on app store beats anything winmo devices has ever had!

[Paul A. Chapel @ Mar 18th 2009 11:34AM]

@toopropa

Yes, the no Flash complaint will keep hope alive for the Haters. That and video recording. If they don't bring up those two things they'll bring up the point that Apple "should have had all this stuff in the first place. WAHHHH!!!" And when that gets old, they'll go back to accusing Engadget of "Apple bias."

I hear people saying this is an evolutionary update, but it's not. In addition to Copy & Paste, MMS, 3G Tethering, Stereo Bluetooth A2DP ,Turn-by-turn GPS, Push notifications, Voice Memos, and Landscape keyboard for Mail, SMS, and Notes, we also have:


Spotlight Search.
Search in Mail, Calendar, and iPod.
Support for new calendar types.
Improved stocks application.
Note syncing with iTunes.
Automatic login in Safari.
Shake to shuffle music.
Wi-Fi auto-login.
Anti-phising.
Extended parental controls.
Voice memo application.
Send and receive files. (between iPhones and iPod touch)
Peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connectivity. (allows you to play games and other stuff with other iPhone and iPod Touch users.)
Ability to browse remote content.
Use an iPhone/touch to control peripherals.
Maps inside other applications.
Voice communication in applications.
Rumbling support for Games (Yes, like with Playstation)
Audio recording.
Access to music from applications.

[TentosToys @ Mar 18th 2009 11:49AM]

See Paul - you do like copy/paste - that's how you got anti-phising ;)

[bjsguess @ Mar 18th 2009 11:53AM]

and Paul ... which of these features are either not already in WinMo phones or in the soon to be released Pre?

I'll give you one - I'm not aware of WinMo or the Pre supporting peer to peer game playing. Of course, Apple fans hate that concept since they always dig on the Zune social idea. But hey, Apple does it and it's the coolest thing ever.

To quote your ever famous line, This release is the biggest "me too" update of all time. I give Apple credit for finally catching up on some basic stuff but until there is Flash support, multi-tasking, and mass storage options the phone has a way to go to still catch up with other devices.

[Phenoum @ Mar 18th 2009 11:57AM]

Thank Paul - taking half a page of my screen for info that's all over Engadget? seriously? skip hitting that fuggin enter key and stop trashing the comment section with engadget content re-posts.

Chances are if we're reading this article - we've already read the others.

Get a real life son

[Paul A. Chapel @ Mar 18th 2009 12:02PM]

You're welcome!

[Mark Anderson @ Mar 18th 2009 12:30PM]

@Erp

"S60 updates for free? What updates?"

Well there's the one where they added A-GPS to the N95 for a start plus, of course, the Nokia phones already had the features the iPhone has just added so it's not as if they needed updates in the first place.

Anyway, this is great news for iPhone owners because I guess you guys bought the thing knowing its limitations so this must feel like Christmas.

Woudl I buy one? Nope. Still think it's too big and clumsy. Now if they drop the form factor to that of an iPod Touch second generation or narrow it down a little...

[xxburt0nxx @ Mar 18th 2009 1:21PM]

@ Mark A

I forgot how terribly thick it is... guess apple really failed because they didn't make it as thin as a touch?!?

I mean, every other phone on the market is way thinner than the iPhone, what a huge POS.. lol

[Mark Anderson @ Mar 18th 2009 2:09PM]

Thank you for your insight into my personal needs, burt. It's been a really useful exercise for me.

Now go and stick your face in a bacon slicer, there's a good boy.

[Jeff Lewis @ Mar 18th 2009 3:11PM]

@ Paul Chapel

I'm glad you agree it's not evolutionary... (or perhaps you might want to proof your messages a bit better before posting... :)

But, since you threw down the gauntlet - of your list, these are the ones that are already in WiMo either fully or to some degree:

Spotlight Search. (WiMo has has a general search for a long time)
Search in Mail, Calendar, and iPod.
Note syncing with iTunes. (Always had this with Outlook synching)
Wi-Fi auto-login.
Voice memo application.
Send and receive files. (between any two devices with Bluetooth, with any PC with WiFi/cable, with any device with 3G)
Peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connectivity.
Ability to browse remote content.
Use to control peripherals.
Maps inside other applications.
Rumbling support for Games
Audio recording.
Access to music from applications.

Oh.. and let's not forget...

MMS
FULL Bluetooth including stereo headset profile
Support for external GPS
Excel spreadsheet support
Word document support
Flash support
INTERNET TETHERING.... (over bluetooth, IR and cable, and Asus supports WiFi Access Point)
Full access to the POOM (Pocket Outlook Object Model) which means full and easy access to all notes, calendar, email, contacts, database and phone data and functions through .Net.
SQL Server Compact and ADO.Net CF which means full database access with 'Offlining' support (aka SmartClient)

And coming soon:

Silverlight support
IE Mobile 8

Just thought you might want to know. Feel free to commence frothing. :)

[haX0r @ Mar 18th 2009 3:53PM]

Still no flash? nice job crApple!

[Coolishkoolkid @ Mar 18th 2009 4:35PM]

hhahahaha the time is 20:12

[Chris @ Mar 19th 2009 12:21AM]

@xxburt0nxx

I'm all about bashing the iPhone, but saying that every other phone is thinner that it. Let's look at some of the phones whose form factors are compared to the iPhone.

iPhone 2G - 11.7mm
iPhone 3G - 12.4mm
LG Dare - 12.7mm
BB Storm - 14mm
Samsung Memoir - 14mm
Samsung Omnia (CDMA) - 13mm
HTC Touch (CDMA) - 14mm
HTC Touch Cruise - 15.5mm
HTC Touch Diamond (CDMA) - 15.2mm
LG Incite - 14.33
LG Vu - 13mm
Samsung Behold - 12.7mm
Samsung Delve - 12.4mm
Samsung Eternity - 12.7mm
Samsung Instinct - 12.4mm

I might be missing some, but that's a lot of similar phones style phones that aren't thinner than the iPhone

[Macca @ Mar 19th 2009 2:57AM]

@老外:
I agree, the variety of language apps is first class, but they could definitely improve the chinese handwriting. It only gets the right character 50% of the time for me.

[Nobody @ Mar 18th 2009 11:06AM]

"until Apple blesses..."

I knew it! It's a cult.

[Lawrence @ Mar 19th 2009 2:24PM]

Thats actually out of all the comments here managed to make me double up in laughter- seriously though, you have a point. The fact that your waiting for some company to come over and sanctify the 'binary' of a beta os is laughable.

Besides, there i was thinking the Apples a universal sign of sin- so wtfs it doing going round blessing stuff? :L

[mrpysnik @ Mar 18th 2009 11:07AM]

What? You don't trust us *not* to make fun of your Messages?!

[Walid Dahdal @ Mar 18th 2009 11:21AM]

Thanks Apple you took F*ckin long enough but finally fixed all major annoyances.

[Dannelander @ Mar 18th 2009 11:11AM]

Awesome! Can I get my hands on the 3.0 firmware and install it on my own iphone in any way? Would love to try it out.

[Kilburn @ Mar 18th 2009 11:14AM]

you can but you have to be an iphone dev to activate your iphone so you can actually use it.

[xxburt0nxx @ Mar 18th 2009 11:18AM]

you don't want to... you would have to get a dev account, pay $99, and then you can't switch back to 2.2. If it is buggy or messes up your phone, you will be stuck at 3.0 until summer comes.

Plus, if you have to ask questions about obtaining the beta and such, you don't need to be installing it, all it's going to do is cause more problems than you want.

[Dannelander @ Mar 18th 2009 11:26AM]

Yeah, guess you're right. Can't say I'm really in the loop regarding this, but I ought to be able to install it on my ipod tocuh though? Can't say that I use it that often anyways so if it messes it up I'll just leave it be until summer. No harm done.

[Michgar @ Mar 18th 2009 11:17AM]

Nilay is a potty mouth texter.

[b @ Mar 18th 2009 11:18AM]

Why is Sylar doing the VO for this video?

[Brian @ Mar 18th 2009 11:18AM]

I've got a feeling that WM 6.5 won't get this much attention.

[chefgon_ign @ Mar 18th 2009 11:22AM]

That's because it's nothing more than a lame skin. Hopefully 7.0 will be worthy of attention.

[JAmerican @ Mar 18th 2009 8:08PM]

And this is not more than just a bunch of updates that should have been in the first build. I like how he excuses the slowness of the build and the Voice Memo playback through ear piece.

-Where is Landscape keyboard in any app?
-Where is the ability to be in landscape anywhere in the phone?
-Where is video recording?

I like how you have to shake it to undo. I can see someone shaking it so hard, they undo their phone on the cement ground.

Email just crashed. LOL. Apple software rules! :P

I thought it always just works! I bet they meant that other companies (like Engadget) just work for them.

I am so getting low ranked for this! :)

[Erp @ Mar 18th 2009 11:18AM]

Looks cool, waiting for it.

Also, looking forward to all the Pre-templars (where can I get one?) and WiMo lovers and all of their hate comments against the iPhone.
I have my text-to-speech ready so the laughter is even better!

[Shenanigans @ Mar 18th 2009 12:16PM]

For sure.

ROTFLOMGBBQ! Your stupid fruit phone can't do thing my 3 year old Razr can do. Even Alexander Graham Bell could MMS on the first phone, why can't the iPhone?

Sure, it may not do video or take a decent photo or do any of the other stuff smartphones can do. But guess what? Some us don't care. Some of us wouldn't use video or tethering even if we could. I can say in the past two years, I've needed copy/paste maybe 3x.

I bought an iPhone because I was tired of carrying a phone and a video iPod. I also didn't want to buy a laptop to surf the net wherever I am. This phone solved all my problems and did so being a 'dumbphone.'

OMG, so I can't watch the Engadget video. Darn! [/Sarcasm]

Can't we all get along and not fight about who's phone has the most features? Pretty please? ...and it's not cause I know I'll lose but I am just tired of the childish bickering that will go nowhere EVER!

[Shank @ Mar 18th 2009 12:38PM]

wow!!!like i said earlier. Pre has been killed n shot while in the womb. Like that scene from watchmen. Pre unless u ready to cost $49 at launch date, u aint movin any units anytime soon. The whole world was watchin apple 3.0 unveiling yesterday.. iphone has never been more alive n dominating.,agree?

[adam @ Mar 18th 2009 11:36AM]

btooth test?

[mocax @ Mar 18th 2009 11:19AM]

will there be new iPhone hardware to complement the new software this summer?

i'll hold off my iPhone purchase until then...

[Josh @ Mar 18th 2009 11:30AM]

ya, rumors point to minor hardware changes such as a better camera/battery...but nothing huge this summer I dont think.

[robotrock @ Mar 18th 2009 11:19AM]

that pixelization looks stupid....

[Chris Ziegler @ Mar 18th 2009 11:24AM]

But I worked so hard on it!

[skyblaze @ Mar 18th 2009 11:45AM]

its ok chris, dont listen to him. you did a great job :)

[Saad Rabia @ Mar 18th 2009 12:04PM]

@Chris: That's what she said.

[Engadgetier @ Mar 18th 2009 4:25PM]

@Chris

You have unread emails from Josh and Sean....

[Ethan @ Mar 18th 2009 11:19AM]

Hope those voice memos sync back to iTunes. Seems to work pretty well in general. How's that Mac Pro review coming along?

I find with shake-activated stuff one sharp shake works best.

[Pirateinmymind @ Mar 18th 2009 11:20AM]

Always right after i just gave up on it and sold my iphone

[Saad @ Mar 18th 2009 11:59PM]

Maybe you guys should have prepared by having sending some filler messages back and forth so you wouldn't have to blur it.

[Sneakz @ Mar 18th 2009 11:20AM]

What exactly do you mean that voicemail now shows the location for number you don't have entered. Sorry, but its kinda hard to understand when we cant really see it.

[Johnny @ Mar 18th 2009 11:42AM]

It kind of does this already, but maybe now it is more obvious than before. When you click on the details for a missed call that isn't a contact, it shows the general location (ie, city and state) of the are code.

[Sneakz @ Mar 18th 2009 11:58AM]

Okay, I remember. I don't usually get voicemails at all on my iPhone so the feature has been pretty non existent for me.

[dydy @ Mar 18th 2009 11:21AM]

This is hilarious. Only Apple could get people doing video walkthroughs demoing copy and paste. On any other device that would be a joke. Smart marketing...

Sometimes I honestly think half of Apple's decisions (like the new shuffle) are just for the hell of it to see how much ridiculousness they can get away with.

[chefgon_ign @ Mar 18th 2009 11:26AM]

I totally agree with your conspiracy theory on the new Shuffle. I think they saw how many "iPhone Compatible" headphones popped up after they released the original with the recessed headphone jack, and now they want to see if the headphone makers will be willing to pay for the rights to make ridiculously unneccessary proprietary headphones.

[Jubei @ Mar 18th 2009 11:36AM]

Because Cut, Copy & Paste has some actual intelligence built into the action. It's not just a simple implementation of a feature. Like most of these upcoming "me too" devices.