Last night while you were probably sleeping Apple released their latest iPhone upgrade. Firmware 2.2 has been highly anticipated ever since developers leaked new features such as Google Street View and the ability to email locations.
We have reported the new features as we discovered them, and here is Apple’s official list of what’s included in the latest and greatest:
The exciting developments coming to the iPhone through the highly anticipated release of firmware 2.2 have been consistently documented. But now we want to bring you an overview of all the thrilling advancements that will soon be available on an iPhone near you.
First, when can we expect the update already? Well, according to MacRumors, we can expect its release on November 21st. The date has not been confirmed and seems rather random considering there are no planned events on that day. For something this huge and with so many new changes you’d think a planned event would be appropriate, but in true Apple style, they may just want to catch everyone off guard.
So far we have uncovered lots of gems hidden in the 2.2 beta 2 firmware, but even with all the discoveries, we found yet another rock that was left unturned. Just discovered was new functionality of the iPhone’s home button. Of course a single tap still exits any application and returns to the home screen, but what about a single tap when you are already on the home screen? In iPhone firmware 2.2 a single tap returns the user back to the first page of the home screen. That’s right, if you are one of those people that have pages and pages of apps, one click brings you right back to see your SMS and other favorite apps, no more finger swipe mania! Double tapping the home button acts as it did before allowing you to choose to go to your phone favorites or iPod.
Here’s a breakdown of everything that has been confirmed in the new firmware after the jump:
If you like the Wii then you will love love iFun. SGN has just released iFun, which turns your iPhone into an accelerometer driven game controller, just like the remote used on the Wii gaming system.
Swing your iPhone around to hit some golf balls, sink some hoops or even knock down some pins. iFun was designed for gamers to use their iPhone as a controller, and not as the main screen, rather you use a desktop computer or laptop to display the gameplay. This application is great for those of you who are sick of being refined to the small screen on your iPhone.
iFun actually turns your iPhone into a larger gaming unit, and just like most other large gaming units, you have the ability to play other gamers over the internet. Invite your Facebook friends to play online or even invite friends with emails from your address book.
To start the fun you must obviously first download the free app at the App Store and second register at their website. This application is available for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch, and the developers say to look out for more sports games coming soon.
Check out the video above to get a first look at how the app works.
It is a rare occurrence when a piece of consumer electronics can transform and redefine itself to change our expectations of what it can do for us. The iPhone has somehow been able to do this a few times now, and interestingly enough it has done it all through software updates and not hardware changes. The most notable example of this variety of transformation in the iPhone’s short history, is in the release of firmware 1.1.3, which all of a sudden gave the iPhone gps-like locating functionality.
Today marks another transformational point, and this advancement comes not from Apple directly but from their friends over at Google. As most readers already know, Google has their own 3rd party search application on the iPhone. It is called the Google Mobile App and has been available in the App Store for some time now. The Google Mobile App quickly created a buzz because it was created and designed by proven minds, like Nicholas Jitkoff (the creator of Quicksilver).
However until the latest update, this application fueled a very unconvincing argument that it provided more utility than simply launching safari and typing a Google search. That all changes today with version 0.3.142 of the Google Mobile App and its new Voice Search feature. To put it very simply, the Voice Search feature allows users to speak rather than type their google searches. And to the shock of anyone who uses this feature for the first time, it actually works! Check out the video or try it yourself, and your experience should differ very little, if at all. Continue Reading
With the holidays coming people start to wonder what to get. Well I have found the perfect gift for all you iPhone lovers out there… a new case.
Now, I know that sounds a little boring, and slightly unoriginal but this case is different. A German company by the name of DaWanda has come up with a design that leaves competitors out of the pan…
DaWanda has come up with a completely original bacon case for the iPhone. Look closely, it’s not really bacon, but it sure looks like. This fun cloth case can be yours for just 25 Euros, not bad for such a novelty.
The New York Times has reported that Google will be launching a newly designed type of voice recognition software for the iPhone as early as today, and the best part, it’s free.
The way you search on your iPhone will supposedly be revolutionized by this app. The software should allow you to talk into your iPhone and ask anything under the sun, and within a few seconds results should start pouring in.
The New York Times says the app allows you to ask anything like, “Where’s the nearest Starbucks?” The users voice is then converted into a digital file and sent to servers, which then decipher what has been asked. Then the information gets sent to Google’s search engine to get some answers. Within seconds results should start popping up on your iPhone.
Using features that the iPhone already has, like GPS, will help narrow search results down so they are relevant to your area.
Hopefully this app will not lead to frustration like other voice recognition software has in the past, which usually ends with the user yelling and screaming into their iPhone, “Not Judy… I said Charlotte!” - and I’m sure we all know that frustrating feeling.
Currently both Microsoft and Yahoo have similar software available, but according to the New York Times, neither appear to be as accurate as the app Google is offering.
Google has refused to comment on how accurate the application actually is, but does say that it’s accurate enough to be useful.
The video above gives a brief demonstration of the software.
Zynga has created the first online multi-player poker app for the iPhone. Live Poker has social networking features and multi-player functions that will not only make it a hit, but one of a kind.
The app works off other social networking sites like Facebook, and actually allows information from your account to be shared with other users. Upon signing on, your Facebook profile picture will appear next to your name, and you will be immediately sat down and dealt into a live game.
The app has a network of more than 1.4 million people coming not only from Facebook, but also from MySpace, Bebo, Hi5 and Friendster. The app works off the 3G network or Wi-Fi, and if your signal gets lost, don’t worry, you will be dealt into the next round as soon as it’s recovered.
The interface looks great and has cute add on features that enhance your playing experience. For example, if you feel like saying “hi” to your table, go ahead. You can actually open up a chat window and exchange words with your opponents. If you feel like being sociable, for a few chips, buy someone at your table a virtual beer.
If you’re curious about who you’re playing with, just click on their picture and a brief description taken from their Facebook page will pop down. Within the network check if your friends are online… and challenge them to a hand. Continue Reading
