Confirmed: iPhone OS 3.2 has support for video calling, file downloads, and SMS (update: handwriting keyboard?)
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jan 29th 2010 8:46PM
posted Jan 29th 2010 8:46PM
We can also confirm that iPhone OS 3.2 supports file downloads and local storage in the browser, which means you'll be able to pull files off the web and use them in other apps, and there's at least the beginnings of SMS support buried within the code -- a fact we were able to verify with noted iPhone jailbreaker chpwn, who sent in the above screenshot from a hacked-up copy of the iPad simulator. (The simulator always says "iPhone simulator" in the menu bar, but that's the iPad.) chpwn also tells us he's found some inklings of actual phone support, there's a spellchecker, and that both the new landscape orientation for the homescreen and keyboard support appear to be destined for the iPhone itself when 3.2 comes out.
We're not sure what any of this means at this point, or if any of it will ever be implemented, but we're definitely starting to get the impression that Apple didn't tell us everything there is to know about the iPad on Wednesday -- and we're even more curious to find out what iPhone OS 4.0 will look like when it arrives.
P.S.- chpwn was also able to port iPhone multitasking hacks ProSwitcher and Backgrounder to the iPad simulator, which is certainly going to be useful if an iPad jailbreak exploit is eventually discovered. Check out a shot of it going in the gallery below, along with some other settings panels the coder dug up.
Update: We just got another tip from iPhone jailbreak dev Ryan Petrich, confirming that there's a spell checker with multiple dictionaries and user-added entries (huzzah!), much richer text support for apps, the ability to selectively draw to external displays (using the VGA or component adapters, we'd imagine), location-aware ads in Maps and possibly other programs that use the Maps API, file upload ability in Safari, a modifiable cut / copy / paste menu, and, most interestingly, prototype support for a "handwriting keyboard." Maybe we'll see some stylus action on this thing after all. Peep Ryan's take after the break.
--
New features I've uncovered:
• CoreGraphics to PDF API for sure, printer API is being prototyped
• Spell checker in text fields and web views using AppleSpell
- multiple languages
- grammar checking (English-only so far)
- address book integration
- user added words
- SDK access
- Included dictionaries: Apple Dictionary, New Oxford American Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Shogakukan Daijisen, Shogakukan Progressive English-Japanese Japanese-English Dictionary, and Shogakukan Ruigo Reikai Jiten (may also be used for a Dictionary app perhaps?)
• USB Host support or expanded Bluetooth support
- PTP support for transferring images
- MobileStorageMounter (perhaps used for PTP; perhaps used to mount external USB storage?)
- Hardware keyboard: USBKeyboardLayouts.plist
• Much richer text API including low-level access to font data and highlevel support for drawing formatted text
• Support for querying attached screens and choosing which screen a window draws on (App Store approved?)
• The beginnings of file upload in Safari
• Location-sensitive ads are being prototyped in integrated Maps application (and applications that use the maps framework)
• Ability for applications to modify the standard cut/copy/paste menu
• "Handwriting keyboard" is being prototyped.
In before bitch fest.
@philhanson
While i agree that there are quite a lot of iPad documents coming out.. How hard is it to just not view it?
I would rather more posts than Engadget being updated less often, and if that means posting information of one particular product then so be it..
@00iEye00
Calm your nipples
Its called being intelligent. You play the waiting game.
You should already know the next move of a technology company like Apple, Nintendo, Microsoft, and such.
@philhanson This obviously means that the 2nd generation iPad is going to be coming out a year from now with a camera on the front bezel....
Oh the joys of Apple enticing buyers by holding back features for future editions....
MAWR IPAD NEWS PL0X!
Stuff the iPad would have to include for me to consider purchasing it (a student's perspective):
-An Apple partnership with textbook suppliers, which would have to include most, if not all, textbooks in print so we wouldn't need this AND other textbooks. Also, drastically cheaper prices (shouldn't be hard, considering they would be digital versions)
-A stylus (I know, I know). A stylus is simply necessary in a lot of situations. It takes too damn long to write out a math equation (etc.) using the tools provided in most word processors. With a stylus you can just copy equations (etc.) down by hand as the teacher writes them on the whiteboard.
-Multitasking. Who sits in class with an internet capable device and ONLY takes notes? We need to be able to switch between an internet browser/other apps and a note taker/word processor quickly.
-Flash. Until the majority of the web switches to HTML5, any device that wants to truly be an internet device must be flash capable. If one of the main reasons for purchasing this device is to browse the internet, flash support must come standard.
Stuff that would make the iPad a must-buy:
-A camera
-A webcam w/video calling
-The ability to connect any bluetooth device
-Longer battery life
-DUAL JOYSTICKS
@Tweak589
That's a given man. Apple found the moneymaking business model and they've held on to it ever since. =(
I still can't believe the touch doesn't have a camera...
Having said that, I'll still be getting an iPad. I don't have an iPhone or Touch as they weren't what I was looking for (well iPhone almost is, except for the contract).
@philhanson After reading many of the 'day after the launch' articles – I have had time to reflect on why I would want this device. I am a heavy iPhone user – mostly the apps. – so to now have the opportunity to go for a major screen size increase – with all the familiarity of the iPhone – well that becomes the ticket I will buy for sure. However,I wish they would have included a web camera for Skype. Details: http://bit.ly/apple-tablet-under-fire
@seriousam7 Regardless. Ipad will take over tablet industry n sell I million in first month. Plus it will set the standard
n quickly become highest selling.
@seriousam7 +1, esp. the dual joysticks ;)
if i may add to the list:
- usb 3.0 (for my wimax)
- simple charger
- HD capabilities
- fring/ nimbuzz
- GPS for my road trips
lol
...Apple's at least laying the foundation for one: we just confirmed with extremely trusted sources that iPhone OS 3.2 contains rudimentary support...
Apple has laid the foundation for ipad 2 already before the ipad 1's launch, now thats innovative!
SMS's goona be real cool in 2011, gimme text to speech it may actually be, who knows!
@philhanson +100
Best comment ever!!
Honestly give this thing a front facing camera and I'm in, you can give me multitasking or I'll hack it in, either way.
@seriousam7
Here is the article for the textbooks on the ipad. This is going to be a huge demographic.
http://www.eduinreview.com/blog/2010/01/ipad-ebook-reader-to-offer-textbooks/
@Tweak589 Maybe, just maybe, they are holding back those features because they are not ready yet.
@Tweak589
Most of these features can be implemented with a software update upon it's release in May...along with the new iPhone. Granted you still won't have a camera, but if that's a must for you, use the USB adapter accessory and attach your own camera
Unless something happens to you like .... loosing all your fingers? No mulitouch for you! Life is about now now now, if you keep waiting for something to improve , you may miss out. Instead, sell your old one to some sucker on eBay and run out and the new one.
@00iEye00 You're obnoxious.
Wow! you can SMS on it? What an achievement!!
@n0ne
lol. the incessant coverage really is starting to make me feel sick
@nicholasphan lol. the incessant coverage really is starting to make me feel sick
lol. the incessant bitching about missing features really is starting to make me feel sick.
The incessant coverage hasn't even begin. Just wait until the Wi-Fi version actually ships. And then wait until the Wi-Fi + 3G version actually ships.
And then it'll be just a few months until the 2010 iPhone is announced. There will be so much Apple news that people will just plain forget about Android. Or whatever it's called...
@n0ne
I don't know about everyone else here, but I'm really conflicted with this thing. I keep having to fight off the "ooh, shiny!!!!!" reflex and convince myself that I'm NOT happy with how this thing turned out and I DON'T need another iPod Touch jumbo-sized that basically does the same things.
I guess I have about 60 days to work on my self-control....
@therockr92
I feel you man I have the same problem. I'm going to try as hard as I can for iPad 2.
@nicholasphan .. then GO AWAY. Stop reading these posts, stop commenting and go bother someone else. It's the editors that ruining Engadget it's people like you !!
wow, the ability to download content into your device from online???
that is soooo MAGICAL!!!!!
I almost wet myself
@kingofwale ahhhh.... the wonders of digital sarcasm.... funny and refreshing when you understand it's actually sarcasm...
@kingofwale
Your avatar rivals Peytral's
@kingofwale Hahahahahaha, I had no idea you couldn't download files to an iPhone. That's incredible.
@bradsh
You can save certain things like pictures in Safari, and any app could download stuff and stick it in it's part of the hard drive (but couldn't touch anybody else's files).
This just makes it where you can download other things in Safari, and now you can use it as a USB drive (from my understanding), being able to access a common data area from any app.
@bradsh Yep, my sister got an iPhone but didn't have an up-to-date version of iTunes on her laptop, and temporarily didn't have Internet access. No problem, I thought, download iTunes using Safari on the iPhone, then use the iPhone as a mass storage device and copy the installer across, right? I can do that on my Windows Mobile phone. Erm, no, Safari can't download anything. So much for that.
4 months is a long time
@troyallen
u have the same exact name as me!!! My name is Troy Allen.
@troyallen
My name is Troy Allen also. I'm a much cooler Troy Allen jk.
@Troyb0y29
Two geeky Troy Allens simultaneously existing on the same earth. who'da thunk it!
Your not going to Video Call for 10 hours............Maybe not even 1 hour.
First copy & paste and now this?
They sure are spoiling their customers lately.
Its still ridiculous that I have to hack my device to get features that I should have had at retail.
How do you send SMS messages to/from a data only device? Don't you need an actual cell phone number for that? And if it does get a number, do I have to pay full cell plan pricing? Because I'm not paying for two cell phones, especially when the iPad is far too large to be used as an actual phone. And this is coming from someone that wants a 5 inch (or slightly larger) screened device as a day to day cell.
@BigJayDogg3
When you buy 3g service in any incarnation (laptop card, netbook, mifi, etc..), you get a phone number attached to your service. Even if it's not very useful..
@BigJayDogg3 It's ridiculous that you feel the need to hack your device at all. Now why don't you make us all very proud and go build yourself a nice Windows PC for $150. Heck, even I have done that.
What did you say? Windows 7 Ultimate costs $320? By itself? Well then you can build your own PC for just $470. That's $29 less than the base iPad. A penny saved...
Or maybe you use a cracked version of Windows 7 Ultimate. Or maybe Microsoft is having a fire sale on Vista. Checked the shovelware bins at Best Buy recently? Probably full of Vista. Put the Wow back in computing, bro.
@RabidAppleFanboi
As soon as you build an Apple desktop for the same price. Oh wait, the EULA states you can't install on non Apple hardware? Well at least you can buy one for far less than you can a comparable PC.
Oh wait...
@RabidAppleFanboi
Jailbreaking is awesome because it shows the possibilities within the device and hopefully force Apple to allow some of these things by default in the next version. An example of this is VoIP calls over the 3G data. This was available to the early jailbreakers a long time ago but of course, not everyone is willing to jailbreak. Now Apple has gone ahead and lifted the ban on it.
I hope to see more of this in the future and by that I mean: Apple taking note of what their products can ACTUALLY do from the hands of developers/hackers who try to go a little deeper or outside the box and allow a little more freedom.
@BigJayDogg3
If this thing gets busted open enough to run multiple iphone apps on one page, then it might just about be useful enough to buy one.
@dansus
I have no doubt that a community will form around this thing. Maybe I'm getting old (LMAO) but I'm just sick of hacking functionality together. If there is a feature or two that I want to add, fine, but to have to hack together common sense functionality is ridiculous.
That said, when the "jailbreak" community (or whatever it will be called) gets behind this thing, I can see it being spectacular. That large of a screen with what seems to be a bad arse processor should be capable of great things. Its just that out of the box, software isn't there to take advantage of it. Maybe in the future Apple will drop updates that will improve it, but until then, I'm not buying.
Google Voice.
@y3kbug
Still requires you to either have a calling plan, or sign up with a service that will allow for internet calling.
Plazmic Flame Posted Jan 29th 2010 9:59PM
@RabidAppleFanboi
"I hope to see more of this in the future and by that I mean: Apple taking note of what their products can ACTUALLY do from the hands of developers/hackers who try to go a little deeper or outside the box and allow a little more freedom."
so you're saying APPLE didn't know what its iPhone product could do, until hackers showed them? Can you spell f-a-n-t-a-s-y w-o-r-l-d?
Wait, you couldn't download files from the web browser? Something my old G1 was able to do from day 1? HA
@B3astofthe3ast you think uncle steve is gonna let the kids corrupt their little minds by downloading all kinds of files and whatnot? 2010 is the new 1984
@B3astofthe3ast
And Windows Mobile has done it for many years. MS should actually remove downloading in the first version of WM7 and then a year later add it in as a "feature" so that tech blogs can crap all over themselves with excitement about the "new feature" called downloading.
NO FLASH = NO iPAD!!!
I'm not buying it. FLASH IS MUST.