Tomorrow, Apple will unveil the next iPhone, presumably the iPhone 4GS or iPhone 5.  Not only will it be faster and have an upgraded camera, but it will be powered by iOS 5.  Here are the top 30 new and improved features that users are going to love.

1. Wireless Sync and activation

Literally right out of the box, new iOS devices will be able to activate without a PC with wireless activation.  That’s something that Apple customers have been screaming for as some don’t want a computer, they just want an iPad.  This new feature fills that need.  And iOS devices don’t have to sync through a USB connection to iTunes.  Using a WiFi connection, users can backup to iCloud, as well as sync to iTunes on their PC.  And with new over the air (OTA) updating, users won’t have to sync to iTunes to get the latest iOS updates, something Android users have enjoyed since day one.  And any time you plug your iPhone into an AC outlet to charge, the iPhone will automatically sync to the Cloud via WiFi and look for a software upgrade.

2. Notification Center

The next new feature is another that isn’t really new to Android users, but that iOS 5 does quite elegantly … it’s the new Notification Center.  When users receive a message, whether text or email, iOS 5 will drop down a notification bar in the upper edge of the screen without kicking users out of the app they’re using at the moment.  Users can then swipe down to pull down the bar for more details. If there’s multiple messages, users can simply swipe to reply to messages.  For messages that come in when the iOS device isn’t being used, the Notification Center has lock screen notification, and a simple swipe will reveal and swipe to reply.

3. Greater Accessibility

This is so high on the list because Apple has always made accessibility to iOS a priority.  And these tweaks really help those who are hard of hearing or blind to further use their devices.  Features include LED Flash and vibration activation for incoming calls, improved voiceover support, a hearing aid mode for altering voice and voiceover, and custom gestures to perform key tasks.  Other improvements include a  larger text option, New speak selection, New assistive touch settings, and the ability to Set Mono Audio left or right.

4. Twitter Integration

With iOS 5, Twitter comes built in.  All users need to do is go into settings, select to install the official Twitter app and sign in.  New users can register within iOS 5 without having to launch the browser and go to Twitter to sign up. Once installed and activated, users will find Tweet options in several places from the Safari browser, the camera app, maps, and contact information where Twitter handles can be added.  Additionally, the keyboard has been redesigned for more prominent #(hash-tag) and @ (mention) keys.  Location services can also be added to any Tweet, making Tweet ups easier to create.

5. Greater phone support

You remember that the iPhone is actually a PHONE right?  It can make and receive calls!  That’s what my wife likes to joke about.  Well with iOS 5, users have greater phone support including deleting of individual phone calls with a wipe, unsecured call warnings, location notifications for calls not in contacts, and users can now edit their phone number in settings.

6. Enhanced email features

With iOS 5, users can now add a little more flair to their emails with rich text editing of italics, bold, underline, and even indenting.  And to make addressing an email even easier, users can now drag email addresses to address fields.  Email also will have the ability to organize messages easier with the addition of custom folders. And users can now select & mark multiple emails as read.

7. Enhanced contact features

iOS 5 brings a few extra fields for contact management.  Users can now add family relations, as well as social media links

8. iMessage between iOS devices

Users can also send unlimited messages directly to users of other iOS devices with iMessage.  iMessage allows you to send pictures, video, text messages, group messages, and contacts to any other iOS device – iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch.  Users can set up to receive delivery notification and receipts.  iMessage works on both 3G and WiFi, and messages are encrypted.  And just for fun, users can now use animated GIF images in iMessage (only).

9. Airplay wireless mirroring

Airplay mirroring comes to iOS 5, allowing users to use their iOS device through AppleTV on their TV set.  Suddenly, that iPhone or iPad screen is 50″, making it ideal for meetings or even game play.  And the image will also rotate on the TV as it does on the iOS device as you alter it.

10. Enhanced camera control

Users have been screaming for this feature and now they have it.  In iOS 5, users will be able to take capture those instant moments with a Lockscreen camera control, meaning that they don’t have to go into the camera app to snap a picture.  Additionally, users can use the up volume button to snap photo.  And users have greater control over what the iPhone focuses on with one tap auto focus.  In camera editing features are also added including with red eye reduction, rotating, and cropping.   Users can also organize their photos in camera roll with the addition of albums. And here’s a great additional option – users can use their iPhone earbuds as a remote trigger by using the Volume UP button.

11. Photostream

Through Photostream, users can now automatically upload images and videos to the Cloud and directly to all iOS devices and their Desktop PCs.   Additionally, iCloud stores every photo for 30 days and every iOS device will store the last 1000 snapshots.  Your Desktop, however, can store them all.

12. Improved Facetime features

Apple has also finally freed Facetime from the confines of WiFi.  Users can now video conference over 3G.  And they don’t need a SIM to initiate a call either as calls can be made via phone number or email address.  And what could be better?  How about airplay support?  Facetime now enjoys airplay mirroring for video conferencing over your TV set through AppleTV.  And video quality is improved.

13. iCloud

Here’s the biggie.  Users can take advantage of the Cloud with wireless backup and restore.  Users can also schedule daily over the air backup or disable iCloud syn via 3G to save bandwidth.   As previously mentioned, iOS 5 will also automatically sync and backup to iCloud every time users plug in their phone to recharge and look for updates.   Images, videos and files are also backed up to the Cloud and synced down to other iOS devices as well as your PC via iTunes.  And speaking of iTunes, users have the option of a free 256kb upgrade of songs if backing up to iCloud, with any apps or music purchased not counting towards their monthly cap.  Users get 5GB free, with additional storage options ranging from $20-100 annually.  And  Find My iPhone is also available as a part of iCloud integration with an option to disable it.

14. Calendar enhancements

Calendars become more useful with a tap to add event option, tap and drag to adjust time and duration of an event, swipe left or right to view a different day, and viewing of event attachments.

15. Location based Task manager

iOS 5 makes people more productive now with the Reminder Task Manager.   Tasks can be created and checked off, as well as syncd w/ iCal and Outlook.  Reminders can also be location based, meaning when your iOS device sees where you’re in the vicinity of a task, it’ll remind you to do it. reminders. Reminders — Instead of taking notes on your iPhone’s notepad app or putting a reminder in your calendar, you can now use Reminders in iOS to create a digital to-do list right on your iPhone. The geo-location abilities will trigger surrounding events for you to choose from.

16. Storage usage and clean-up

Here’s a nice feature for housekeeping of your iOS device.  iOS 5 brings Storage Usage Clean Up so that we not only see what files have taken up space but also the option to empty that space of Apps, Game saved data, Music, Videos etc. with single wipe.

17. The Assistant

iOS 5 brings a Voice activated assistant feature.   With a long press of the home button, your iOS device will interact and respond to voice commands. Users will be able to drive hands free and tell the phone to send email, texts, get maps, tweet, and even make phone calls.  Based on the popular Siri app, which Apple recently purchased.

18. Split keyboard for iPad

If you’ve ever used an iPad, you know how hard it is to thumb type.  So iOS 5 adds a split keyboard option to make it easier to type in portrait mode.

19. Video and music now separate apps

With iOS 5, the iPod app is retired in exchange for separate video and music apps.  Seems kind of odd, but it was actually done with the iPod Touch, so this change makes it consistent across all iOS platforms.  Users can also move between tracks with a swipe to the left or right (iPad only) and a slide will delete a song right away.

20. Custom Tones

To make the iOS experience more personal, users can now add custom tones for Calendar events, send/receive mail, voice mail, week view on calendar, year view on calendar (iPad) and more.  And of course, that means a new TONES App store!

21. Dictionary

Not an earth shattering feature, but it’s nice that dictionary has been added and is available in every app.

22. News stand subscriptions

Available through iBooks, users can now subscribe to magazines and newspapers.  Searching by popularity of subscriptions is also a plus.

23. Cellular Network for App Store

If users want to be stingy with their bandwidth and only download apps over WiFi, they now have the option to Enable or Disable App Store downloads via GPRS and 3G.

24. Faster Safari

Safari has become streamlined and is faster to load.  Users can also save web pages in reader mode which eliminates all ads to make them easier to read.  They can also be saved off line to read later.  And in the iPad, Safari also offers Tabbed Browsing support.

25. Alternate Routes in Google Maps

Ever frustrated when Maps gives you a route that’s longer or goes out of the way?  In iOS 5, users can choose alternate routes that are more to their liking.  For those who prefer things old school, users can now print directions from their iOS device.

26. HD YouTube

Users now have the option to stream HD/HQ videos through YouTube over 3G.  For those concerned about bandwidth, the ability to disable HQ video playback is also available in settings.  Nice.

27. Disable In-app Purchases

As a dad, I really appreciate this option.  With iOS 5, users now have the option of disabling in-app purchases.  No longer will I have to pay for things I didn’t want to buy because the purchase was done in-app without our knowledge or consent.

28. Game Center Enhancements

By contrast, Game Center now allows in app purchases of games.  Users can also further personalize their account with photos, and decide if your profile is private or public.

29. Weather updates

The iOS weather app becomes more useful with hourly updates, local weather, and the ability to swipe the weather widget in Notification Center to see a 5 day forecast.

30. MultiTasking

Users can now do gesture based multi tasking (iPad only).  With a swipe of 4 fingers, the app switcher appears.  Pinch will return to home screen.  And a swipe left and right to switch between  any actve apps

There are over 200 new features to iOS, and depending on which iOS device you use, some or all are available to enjoy.  But it’s certainly a well thought out and welcome update which will only get better with the addition of the new iPhone!

South Korea has been long regarded as one of the most closed markets on earth for outside electronics imports–probably largely due to the fact that most of South Korea’s economy is electronics–but there’s word that Apple may be making some headway there, and soon, the iPhone may be available to purchase in South Korea.

This is an EXTREMELY big deal that I’ll let Chung Yun-ho, manager of Veyond Partners, explain in more detail:

“This is a big strike for the government in saying that this is an open market. Many people regard Korea as an advanced telecom market but they are acknowledging that we are lagging behind in smartphones. They wanted to pressure the telecom companies to embrace new things.”

And pressure they did–the iPhone is easily one of the biggest names in smartphone out there, so getting this bad boy into the Korean market is really going to shake up the game.

Read

Apple’s latest software update for the iPhone just hit the street, but if you’ve unlocked your iPhone you’re probably holding steady on 2.0 for fear of losing service.  But…drum roll please…the iPhone Dev Team has already cracked 3.0 and will release the software, now called Ultrasnow (the last version was Yellowsnow), to unlock the iPhone 3G running the latest iPhone software, 3.0.  They plan on releasing Ultrasnow this Friday.  For the proof in the pudding, check MuscleNerd‘s demo video below.

Note: You’ll need to Jailbreak your iPhone for this to work.  We assume Quickpwn will be released in accordance.

Read

Apple has issued an update to their iTunes application, iTunes 8.2.  Sure, it will fix some minor bugs found in the previous version, but it’s actually a necessity for supporting iPhone Software 3.0, which should launch sometime later this month.  Of note, it also fixes some minor bugs and includes many accessibility improvements.

Macrumors has compiled a list of new functions found in the latest iPhone 3.0 build, Beta 3.0.  Here’s their list verbatim, but I’m gonna warn you: it’s not exciting.

• Ability to close all open Safari windows. Previously there was no ability to close the last remaining Safari window, but a red “x” is now functional in the page navigation, allowing users to close the final window, replacing it with a blank page.
• Battery percentage indicators. Allows users to view their remaining battery life as a percentage rather than just as an icon.
• Push notifications preferences. Allows users to toggle whether they want to allow push notifications as sounds, alerts, and/or badges.
• Expanded Data Detectors. Increased ability to automatically detect text such as e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and addresses and activate appropriate actions such as initiating a phone call or adding info to the Address Book when the items are touched.
• Variable scrubbing speed during iPod playback. Provides users with four options to allow them to fine tune navigation within a track.
• Variable playback speed for podcasts. Options include 1/2x, 1x, and 2x speeds.
• Single-tap jump back for podcasts. Tap a single icon to rewind podcast playback by 30 seconds.
• Additional data for podcasts saved on iPhone. Saved podcasts now display run time, time left, and publication date.

[via WorldofApple and AI]

Read

As we draw closer to June, the rumored month for the 4th gen iPhone launch, yet another iteration of the iPhone 3.o software for developers has been issued, beta 3.  Hang tight as I’m sure the blogosphere will explode with news about what has been added or removed since the last installment.  For additional details hit the ‘read’ link.

Read

According to a bootscript found in the iPhone 3.0 software update, the next iteration of the iPhone, and even perhaps the 3G iPhone, will include an FM transmitter for wirelessly sending music to your car’s radio.  The added functionality also hints at the possibility of FM traffic updates and possibly FM radio reception on the handset.  Nothing is entirely clear as of yet since the software is dev only and the current 3G iPhone already includes FM hardware, which is limited to use with the Nike+ exercise accessory.

[Phonedig]

Generally speaking, with in the first 5 reviews of just about any app in the App Store, people complain about how much it crashes and as a result that it sucks.  With App Store development being today’s best way to strike it rich, everybody wants in.  Apparently it looks like Apple wants you to be in too.  Partnering with Standford, Apple will release videos and other source materials from Stanford’s undergraduate iPhone app development course through iTunes.  Taught by two Apple engineers, the first video is over an hour long and is up right now.  They will be free through the “iTunes U” educational channel.  Here’s how the path looks on my iTunes:

Home>iTunes U>Stanford>Science&Technology>iPhone Application Programming-Video

Let’s make some apps!

[Engadget via iTunesStanford]

Perhaps the screen shots of iPhone 3.0 Software circulating the Net weren’t enough for you?  If not, then you’re in luck, because the dudes and gals at Engadget scored a video walk through of the new and sort of soon to be released OS.  The video’s pacing is a bit slow, but shows the MMS capabilities, the built-in voice recording capability, spotlight search, copy/paste functionality and more.

Video after the ‘leap’

[Engdaget]

So what does Apple’s iPhone OS 3.0 offer?  Check it:

• Push notification for applications.  That means you can get an IM and not have the app running.  Sweet and finally
• Copy and paste.  Double tap on some text and you’ll get a pop up for ‘cut, copy or paste.’  Double tap again and your clipboard will display allowing you to paste from a selection.
• MMS
• Google and Yahoo calendar support, perhaps among others
• iPhone Spotlight (like on the Mac) lets you search the iPhone’s contents (the app must support it, though)
• Search in mail, calendar and iPod.  This has long been available in the phonebook, so they’re just porting it over
• 3G tethering
• Landscape keyboard in mail and other applications it was not previously available in
• A2DP (stereo) Bluetooth so you can stream your tunes to compatible devices
• Turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps
• VoIP communication with gamers over WiFi – you can talk to them Xbox style
• Rumble pack functionality for games

Availability?  Summer of this year. No exact date was mentioned.  It is free for iPhone users and will cost Touch users $10.  There are a few other features that were announced, but the above are the pertinent ones, at least as far as I’m concerned.

I don’t have any sources to confirm my predictions, but below are the features I expect we’ll see announced tomorrow during Apple’s preview of the iPhone 3.0 software:

1. Mail will be more streamlined.  So if you have 3 mail boxes you won’t have to navigate to each box
2. Contrary to the majority, I think we’ll see background processes announced, but due to battery limitations I’d assume only two processes will be able to run at a time
3. Copy and paste
4. Perhaps grouping of apps, but this might be a stretch, though
5. A premium game store which will coincide with the launch of Metal Gear Solid Touch launching 2 days later

I’ve heard murmurs of a 10-inch tablet computer being announced tomorrow, but I think Apple, assuming they have something like that in the works, will stay on point since their concern is to surplant any Palm PRE buzz.

Hold onto your seat, because the 3.0 software update for the iPhone is just days away, well, at least a preview of it.  Apple sent out an email today inviting journalist to a March 17th event that will show off the latest SDK and OS 3.0 for the iPhone.  As previously rumored, we should probably expect background processes and maybe an official announcement about the premium game store. Perhaps with a little Irish luck (it’s St Patrick’s Day) we’ll be able to download the update the same day.

Join us at an invitation-only event to learn about the new SDK and get a sneak peek at the iPhone OS 3.0 software. The event takes place at Apple, Building 4, Town Hall on March 17 at 10:00 a.m.

[Computerworld]

Features: Vector based drawing with a variety of colors, eyedropper tool, and share work with the world via Netsketch’s website

Availability: Here

Price: $6

Video demo after the ‘leap’

Sorta makes your head spin, don’t it?  The reality of the matter is that Microsoft acquired Tell Me, a company that provides a variety of 411 like services via a voice prompt, and is currently developing an iPhone compatible version of their software for the app store.

So what will the iPhone Tell Me app do?  It’ll provide GPS directions, traffic info, maps, 411 info, movie times, weather and a whole bunch more simply by speaking to your handset.

Official site here

[Yahoo via Wired]

As we reported a few weeks ago, the original Star Wars Lightsaber app was pulled due to copyright issues.  Fortunately, Lucas promised its return with more frills and now it’s here.

You can download it from the iTunes app store here for free.

By: Daniel O

The original release of PhoneSaber, back when the iPhone was released, proved to be a bit of a failure when LucasArts removed it from the app store saying it infringed copyright. However, they made us a promise that they would revamp the PhoneSaber officially and they have now announced that it will be called “Lightsaber Unleashed”. The new app will feature five Star Wars character’s Lightsabers with improved graphics and sound and users will also be able to have duels. LucasArts have said it will be available in the app store soon and best of all, it’s free!

[Crunchgear]

]]> http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/03/flash-player-confirmed-by-adobe.html/feed 0 http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/03/build-lego-concepts-on-the-iphone.html http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/03/build-lego-concepts-on-the-iphone.html#comments Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:19:41 +0000 Christen Costa http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/03/build-lego-concepts-on-the-iphone.html
Just in time for the iPhone SDK, Playnyc-inc has dreamt up the LEGO Touch. You can build, play games (i.e. build off), share designs with friends and much more all in a ‘cover flow’ like layout. Currently the LEGO Touch project is ‘non produced and has been entered into the respective Art Directors Club and One Show 2008 Awards’.

Video and site info after the ‘leap’

Check out their site for a Flash demo.

Update: I emailed Nicholas at Playinc. He responded, provided the above video and informed me that they can ony disclose that they’re in development.

Ok, now I am definitely getting the band back together, or at least the band I always dreamt of. In addition to the iAno, Drummer, and the iPhone Guitar, I introduce to you the Mixmeister Scratch DJ interface for the iPhone or iPod Touch. Just pick your song, your scratch style and wickity-wickity wack, you’re in business. It ain’t available yet, and Technabob is anticipating an SDK release.

More info here.