Here’s a quick rundown of today’s iPhone OS 3.0 announcements, via Mac Rumors:
– In-App Purchasing: Allows developers to sell additional content from within applications. Highlighted uses include magazine subscriptions, eBooks, additional levels and items for games.
– Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: Find other devices running the app via Bonjour over Wi-Fi of Bluetooth. Good for gaming, but also other applications for sharing data.
– Third-Party Accessory Apps: Allowing accessory manufacturers to create applications to interface with their hardware accessories.
– Push Notification: Rather than using background processes that hamper battery life, utilize third-party server to push badge, text, and audio alerts from applications.
– Turn by Turn: Apple will allow developers to use CoreLocation for turn-by-turn GPS directions.
– Cut, Copy and Paste: Available across all apps. Shake to undo or redo.
– Landscape keyboard: Available in all key applications, including Mail.
– MMS: Picture messaging now available.
– Voice Memos: Record notes, lectures, interviews, etc.
– Spotlight Search: Available across all applications. Systemwide search available from main home screen by flicking to the left.
– A2DP Bluetooth*: Support for stereo bluetooth headsets.
Not a bad day at all. Tethering is built-in as well, but Apple is leaving that up to the cell phone providers to work out the details. The OS will be out “this summer.”
No hardware announcements were made today.
I was dead wrong about being “no beta of the 3.0 software.” There is, and if the developer page ever comes back online, I’ll be playing with it.
*This will not use the built-in Google Maps app – developers have to bring their own maps.
**Not available on the first generation iPhone.