iPhone 3.0 beta firmware FAQ

While most people would probably agree that 3.0 doesn't represent a revolutionary upgrade for iPhone users, it's still large (and interesting) enough to warrant tons of questions, which we've been collecting to answer in a FAQ about the beta. Feel free to submit some more below! Just remember that just about anything can change between now and the final launch of 3.0 -- it is a beta, after all.

So, how do I get this thing?
Well, unfortunately you need to be part of the developer program (which costs $99).

Whatevs, I just got it off of BitTorrent!
Okay, but it may not work. Your iPhone's unique ID must be authorized for the 3.0 upgrade, and Apple checks that. So until someone cracks the 3.0 beta firmware image, you have to be a registered developer, or know somebody who can hook you up, pretty much.

How did installation go? From Miqal
Running it on a non-jailbroken device, it went smoothly. Took about as much time as your traditional restore. Just be warned: from what I've been hearing, once you go to 3.0, you can't go back to 2.0. (Apple must have changed some of the baseband firmware or something, no real surprise.) Update: been hearing it IS possible to go back to 2.0 from 3.0, but be warned, it could require some baseband hacking and god knows what else, so it'd be wise to prepare for the worst.

How's performance been? I heard it's really sluggish.
Actually, it's been pretty good for me so far! Spotlight is actually faster than I expected and the rest of the common interactions feels the same as 2.2. I'm going to continue to keep an eye out for issues, but so far things have been humming along nicely. [Interestingly, Nilay, Ross, and Chris have all reported occasional slowness, proof that Ryan's zen-like patience is a virtue. -Ed.]

Do all of your apps sync? Do they work okay? From Kwarren and davidiom
So far, yes, I haven't seen anything really go missing. 3.0 isn't a fundamental architectural change, so I don't think most apps need to be re-worked to function. Granted, there have been a few apps which have definitely given me some trouble when running in 3.0 (like the Peanut Butter Jelly Time! app -- don't you judge me), but so far I've run into very few problems and apps have been working mostly without much issue. As always, with something like this your mileage may vary.

Is it stable enough for real use?
So far, yes -- if you're an Engadget reader, you're probably an early adopter-type who's willing to deal with a little pain. So far 3.0 has been pretty good, I wouldn't try to talk anyone out of it (unless they had some crucial apps that weren't yet working in 3.0, or needed it to be unlocked or jailbroken).

Does Spotlight let search the apps on the phone?
Yep. If you've got pages and pages of apps, it'll make finding them much easier. It also keeps your last search and its results open, if you want to refer back to it.

Does the iPod app do anything significantly different?
Yes! For audiobooks and podcasts there's a playback speed option now (1/2, 1, and 2x), a 30 second replay (á la TiVo), and some mail function which isn't yet implemented. There's also variable-rate scrubbing for that content -- you drag your finger down away from the play head to make the scrubbing more precise. Oh, and they finally fixed that annoying bug where some chaptered podcasts are downloaded over the air as video.

Does copy/paste extend to the URL bar in Safari? From jomolungma
Yes! Copy and paste has been working in a lot more places than I might have expected, even (especially in 3rd party apps).

Does Safari's new login auto-fill sync back to OS X's Keychain? From compboss17
So far it doesn't look like Keychain flows in either direction. That may or may not change in the future, but for now it's best not to expect that.

Are file upload fields enabled in Safari? From Tom W
Nope, looks like they're still disabled.

Did Apple add more search engines to pick from in the Safari preferences? From 54M
Nope, still just Google and Yahoo.

Does 3.0 allow you to record video?
Apple announced over 1,000 new APIs in iPhone OS 3.0, but video wasn't mentioned. Video recording isn't present in the default app set as of right now, but I wouldn't entirely rule it out. We'll have to wait for a thorough audit of all the new changes to know for sure, though, whether video will be possible. I will say this, though: if Apple had enabled video recording support, I'm pretty sure they would have taken a moment to mention that yesterday.

Does iPhone 3.0 syncing work for Entourage / Outlook / Exchange Notes? From Tom L
Haven't tested exchange notes sync, but so far I can confirm that OS X notes are properly syncing to your desktop. So your iPhone's notes are now readable on your Mac via Mail (and vice versa).

Can you send contact cards any other way than MMS? From adamreeve
Yes! Now contact cards have a little button that says "Share contact," which lets you send it via email or MMS.

Can you send receive contacts/files over Bluetooth from another handset, like an S60 phone? From mobiledivide
Contact cards, images, etc., are passed via MMS and email. It's feasible that you could do a P2P Bluetooth transfer to another iPhone, but someone would have to write an app to do that -- I expect that'll be one of the first apps devs get out there because it's a pretty obvious thing to do. It's just not built in.

Speaking of MMS, is MMS working?
It looks like it's working in 3.0, but it doesn't appear to be enabled on AT&T's side yet. Bottom line though: I wasn't able to send or receive MMS (but it didn't appear to be a bug or anything weird like that).

So you can edit notes in Mail on your Mac and they'll sync to your iPhone? From Macgirl
Yes!

Is there a unified inbox? You know, some place where all my many mobile inboxes can funnel into on spot?
Oh man, I wish. But no, sorry, that's not on the features list this time around.

Can you rotate the calendar app to view week-by-week? From jasonact
No, that'd be nice, but there's no horizontal/landscale or week view mode in the calendar app (yet).

Does 3.0 support SMS and notes in landscape mode? From akaboxer
Yes, it does.

Is there syncing for iCal to-dos? From e3na
Not that I've seen -- there's no native to-do app or repository on any version of the iPhone, so I think this is another detail they've skipped over (again).

Is there any sort of notificaiton system other than the badged icons? From Jeff M
I haven't been able to test the notification system yet because I don't have any apps that support it (remember, this was JUST officially put out there). Apple does offer multiple methods of notification though: audio notification (which developers can customize the sound alert of), popover notification messages (which already drive people nuts, think: SMS), and the badged icons we've seen.

Does 3.0 support the in-line volume control the newer Apple headphones? From anthonyfriday
It doesn't enable in-line volume control on the iPhone 3G, unfortunately. (Play/pause, etc. still work). The iPod touch 2nd-gen should still have that function, though.

Will the $10 iPod touch 3.0 upgrade include the Bluetooth support? From Chris S
Yes, Apple mentioned that yesterday. Now that iPhone OS supports stereo Bluetooth (A2DP), Apple is going to unlock that feature on the second-gen iPod touch. (The Bluetooth chip isn't in the first-gen iPod touch, however.)

iPhone 3.0 is going to support A2DP, will it support AVRCP as well? From David R
So far it doesn't look like AVRCP (the Bluetooth profile for controlling playback, volume, etc. from your stereo Bluetooth headset) is functional. This is a pretty obvious thing to add, so I'd be surprised if it doesn't make it in -- eventually.

Can you finally disable repeated alerts?
To explain, this refers to what happens when you get, say, an SMS in 2.x. Basically your iPhone keeps beeping until you acknowledge its existence. It's horrifically annoying. And yes, dear lord, yes, you can disable that in 3.0!

Does hitting the home button from the dashboard return you to the first home screen, or Spotlight now? From Adam S
Say you're on your third page of apps: hit home once, it takes you to page 1 (as before). Hit it again a moment later, it brings up Spotlight. (You can always swipe right to get there from page 1, as well.)

What else have you seen that's worth a peek?
Well, 3.0 is sprinkled with nice UI and usability improvements throughout (like the new send meter in the messages app), but one thing I'm really stoked about is the ability to open links in new Safari tabs. I'd been hoping they'd do this: hold down a link, and you're given a prompt asking if you'd like to open the link here, in a new tab, or copy it. So nice.

---

Engadget editor-at-large Ryan Block can be found crashing his beta iPhone, and readying his new site, gdgt, for launch this summer.

[tvick47 @ Mar 19th 2009 4:38PM]

You CAN downgrade back to 2.2.1. Just DFU restore, then it will give you a restore error. Most likely 1013, after that use QuickPwn 2.2.5-2 for windows (or Mac) and restart your device like the prompt tells you, jailbreak like normal, and you will be fine.

[Saad Rabia @ Mar 19th 2009 5:10PM]

Ryan, I posted a couple of questions on your Facebook page, please check.

Here are my questions:

1. Can iPhone MMS messages attach/receive audio or video?

2. Can we send images other than jpg such as looping gifs?

3. More info on Voice Memos; Can we record a meeting then be able to download it to our PCs?

[waiownsyou @ Mar 19th 2009 5:12PM]

Wow, Saad Rabia is an attention whore AND a stalker.

Very unhealthy, kind sir.

[Parker @ Mar 19th 2009 4:40PM]

is the ifanboy jerk off over yet?????

[CraigJ @ Mar 19th 2009 5:22PM]

Hold on...

[maveric101 @ Mar 19th 2009 5:30PM]

it's never over... once people (read: Engadget) are done obsessing over 3.0, the rumors for 4.0 will be flying fast and furious, and you can bet Engadget will have a post for every one of them.

[CraigJ @ Mar 19th 2009 5:31PM]

OK, it's over.

[Steve @ Mar 19th 2009 5:38PM]

All I'm seeing lately is a hater jerk off. If you're not interested then don't pay attention. some of us are very interested.

[(01) @ Mar 19th 2009 6:02PM]

Yeah, I'm confused...you hate that there's an excess of posting about Apple product X, so to show you'ree displeasure, you go make a comment, which makes the article look more popular, which then more people will want to read it, leading Engadget to think that people like more Apple articles, which I think is where I came in. Anyway, generally I just ignore things I don't like to read, and isn't there a Apple free feed anyway?

[maveric101 @ Mar 19th 2009 9:47PM]

(01) - i don't want to use a feed because i come here partly for the comments. and since this is mobile news, most of this should be covered on Engadget Mobile, with only major stories on Engadget. that's what Engadget Mobile is for, right? mobile news? maybe if they moved some of this iphone news over there, people would actually visit it.

[MIA @ Mar 20th 2009 2:45AM]

I have to agree. Hardly ANYONE reads engadget mobile anymore. I think they should put all phone related stuff in engadget mobile. Then the apple bias comment might go down, because the phone is dominating at least in the mobile world When you put a bunch of phone posts on regular engadget it does defeat the purpose of having that other mobile sight. I used to only use mobile until I would look at regular engadget and see the comments were 145 as opposed to 30 or something like that. switch it up engadget!

[kal326 @ Mar 20th 2009 11:34AM]

@CraigJ
"It's over. A lot of people in the audience look pissed."

@01
I think the feed was a temporary thing during the last big Apple circle jerk, besides when it did exist Engadget looked like it was only posting a handful of articles each day because of the "filter". Also as people have already pointed out there is a site dedicated to mobile news and ever dare I say one dedicated to Apple entirely!

The way Engadget reports you would think they gave birth to every single Apple product. The run around like proud new parents jabbering on about ever little thing that happens with their kid like today they threw up, showing 70 pictures of the kid laying on the floor from slightly different angles and a 15 minute long video where the kid barely moves. However the rest of us don't really care to hear about your kids every bowel movement. You popped one out the toddler hatch congrats, now lets move on to something else.

[Kamil @ Mar 19th 2009 4:39PM]

seriously..... DO WE NEED ANOTHER POST?

[Cash @ Mar 19th 2009 4:46PM]

I was thinking the same thing. What more do we need besides "It's coming at some point this summer, it does some cool shit, that's about it."?

[mr_mcflugelbutt @ Mar 19th 2009 4:58PM]

I hate all the hype iPhone 3.0 is getting (where's the multitasking?!!!), but I found this post to be quite informative.

[David Hildreth @ Mar 19th 2009 5:02PM]

There is some stuff in here that wasn't in other posts. It's nice to hear from people actually using it.

[Mark Anderson @ Mar 19th 2009 5:18PM]

"it's still large (and interesting) enough to warrant tons of questions"

And tons of articles!

[maveric101 @ Mar 19th 2009 5:24PM]

seriously, this is #15 in less than a week. normally i would say just skip them, but this is getting absurd.

[kal326 @ Mar 19th 2009 5:25PM]

I know another 3.0 beta firmware article.... I'm still waiting for the IE8 hands on, video preview, FAQ, and first impressions, and wrap up posts.

[Kamil @ Mar 19th 2009 5:30PM]

@maveric101
exactly my point. i look to read a good article, and all i see is something apple related. im fine with that, ill read it,
ill contemplate it. but when i see 5 articles talking about the same thing, with only 2-3 diffrent facts in each one, then it gets
extremely absurd.

engadget, i see it fine that your really excited about this. but can you please THINK what we want to read? i mean, you could post
1-2 posts a day about apple, i see no probleum. just dont post about the SAME EXACT THING. it was meaningless the 3rd time. doesnt change it the 6th time.

[Decoy @ Mar 19th 2009 6:30PM]

I worry about what it's going to be like when this update actually occurs. I bet there will be another FAQ.

[Phenoum @ Mar 19th 2009 8:18PM]

ANY other company would have gotten an 'update' in bold at the bottom of a post - or better yet - a link to full details (hub?) @ engadget mobile or something.
seriously engadget

MAKE A HUB FOR iPhone 3.0 and leave HALF the posts on engadget MOBILE.......

Just admit that this makes sense.....

[tylerhogan09 @ Mar 19th 2009 4:40PM]

"...3.0 doesn't represent a revolutionary upgrade for iPhone users"

The way Engadget features every iphone 3.0 article and has produced probably over 20-30 so far, you'd never know.

[TitaniumMan @ Mar 19th 2009 5:03PM]

Don't listen to them Ryan. :)
They complain but they read the entire article. They always do.

[Justin B @ Mar 19th 2009 4:41PM]

Thanks for the insight Ryan.

You rabid apple fanboy ;-)

[iKurt Mark III @ Mar 19th 2009 4:51PM]

I thought he was a traitor and abandoned us to start gdgt?

By the way, excellent coverage on iPhone.

[Alex S @ Mar 19th 2009 4:42PM]

If I get the 3.0 beta now, will I be able to upgrade to the full 3.0 release in the summer without any problems? Or will my iphone permanently become a 'test' device? Does Exchange Activesync work well and can I now invite people to meetings?

[Doug @ Mar 21st 2009 5:17AM]

It looks like you can indeed invite attendees to meetings now via Activesync / Exchange.
I went to calendar, created an appointment and you get an 'invitees' section. added some attendees and checked it in OWA ... there they were .. invited ..
While I think this is great, it really is another one of those 'Should have been there before' things.
Tested on Exchange 2007, will see about 2003 tomorrow....
A step in the right direction anyway :)

[TDG01 @ Mar 19th 2009 5:41PM]

Also curious about other Activesync functionality....subfolder syncing, ability to search the server, ability to flag, etc....anyone heard anything on those?

[Alex S @ Mar 19th 2009 5:42PM]

I've just ordered the Developer program standard ($99), Apple have sent me an email saying 'Order Confirmation' but I have no idea how/where I can download the SDK or iphone 3.0 beta!? Can anyone help?

[Jason @ Mar 19th 2009 6:04PM]

@Alex S

go here: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/index.action

That's the main iphone dev website, you can log in from there. To access the 3.0 software, click on the (not very obvious) 3.0 tab near the top.

[Justin @ Mar 19th 2009 9:26PM]

any chance you could add me to your developer list?

please?

[Aaron Fisher @ Mar 28th 2009 10:12PM]

you using exchange activesync? im using exchange kerio and keep getting a message in my email saying it hasn't been downloaded. I was wondering if that is just me because of kerio not exchange outlook.

thanks!!!

[Cash @ Mar 19th 2009 4:44PM]

I noticed "When the hell is it actually coming out, and no "this summer" doesn't count as an answer" is absent from the faq.

[jesselind1 @ Mar 19th 2009 4:49PM]

Can you add recipients (people to invite) to a calendar event?

[Justin Paulson @ Mar 19th 2009 4:50PM]

yes you can!

[Derry Quinn @ Mar 19th 2009 4:54PM]

Thanks for the update, Barack!

[James @ Mar 19th 2009 4:46PM]

does the recorder app work when the iphone goes into sleep/locked mode?

[Trevor @ Mar 19th 2009 4:46PM]

Your iPhone's unique ID must be authorized for the 3.0 upgrade, and Apple checks that.

ORLY?

[Dobbybabee @ Mar 21st 2009 4:36PM]

I don't really know if it checks it, but I downloaded the 3.0 beta from TPB, and I was registered as a developer. However, it was the free registration, and not the 99 dollars a month one.

[Sam @ Mar 19th 2009 4:46PM]

You know what we could do with? Perhaps an Apple only blog called Tuaw. Perhaps even one dedicated to mobile phones and call it Engadget Mobile.

Maybe then we can stop all these bloody repetitive posts.

[maveric101 @ Mar 19th 2009 5:33PM]

this is article #15
8 of them probably should have only been posted in Engadget Mobile... that's what it's for, right? mobile news?

[nick @ Mar 19th 2009 11:20PM]

Well I bet alot of those 16 million people that own iphones read Engadget to find out about new things for the iphone and when Microsoft can actually come out with a true mobile OS worth using then I bet Engadget will do posts on it also, but that wont be for another 20 years.

[Justin Paulson @ Mar 19th 2009 4:46PM]

well i wrote a long post about problems i've been having but your comment system is crap.

[joshua_w @ Mar 19th 2009 4:46PM]

I've been using 3.0 for a bit, and so far, I really like it. It's certainly not a HUGE upgrade, but all the little improvements make a huge difference.

[Oxford @ Mar 19th 2009 5:20PM]

Where did u get it from?

[required @ Mar 19th 2009 4:47PM]

Why exactly do you folks have tuaw.com?

[Zak @ Mar 19th 2009 6:43PM]

Why exactly do you read articles you apparently have no interest in? And then take the time to comment on them? Doesn't that seem a little backwards to you? Here's a hint - if you don't like it, don't read it. It's super easy.

[CJ @ Mar 19th 2009 7:23PM]

Zak:

Why exactly do you feel the need to rush to the defence of every single negative comment in every single Apple-related post?

[TimmyTenga @ Mar 19th 2009 4:47PM]

Plam Pre > iPhone ;)