iPhone 3G S: What is Missing?
Though everyone is excited about the launch of the new iPhone, I wanted to take a practical look at what features are still missing from this device, compared to others on the market. If Apple really wants to knock the next iPhone out of the park, hopefully some of these ideas will show up next time.
HD Video Support
With more content on the iTunes Store available in HD, I would like the ability to store this HD content on my iPhone and play it when I plug my iPhone into my HDTV. As more consumer products are recording in HD, it would be nice if I could store one copy of my vacation videos, instead of one optimized for the iPhone and another optimized for the Apple TV. A simple software update could fix this (to allow larger content to sync to the device) and the signal could be output via the dock connector. The Zune HD will support HD video output when it launches later this year, so perhaps this feature will make it into an upcoming iPod touch refresh before the year is out.
Wireless Syncing
MobileMe brought about push email, calendars, and contacts, allowing users to go more often without syncing their device. However, I would truly like to see complete wireless syncing either over Wi-Fi, or via Bluetooth 3.0, which should start to become more common in the wake of its release in April of this year. If the phones can tether a wireless connection over Bluetooth (unless you’re in the States, like me), then why can’t they sync via this method?
802.11n
The crowd remains divided over whether having slower devices on your network brings down the general speed of the network, but I’d much prefer to have an iPhone that supported 802.11n so that I could maintain an n-only network. I’m really surprised we haven’t seen this yet, but I’m assuming it’s because of battery concerns.
Flash Support
When Flash is discussed in relation to the iPhone, it seems to be a mixed bag. Regular clunky Flash is too burdensome for the iPhone (though has anybody compared this to the new 3G S specs?) and the mobile version of Flash isn’t a good experience on the device. I’m not begging for Flash simply because I want more games on the phone, but primarily for many web sites that encode video content in Flash format (like Hulu) or with Silverlight (like Netflix’s Watch Instantly).
Of course, these feature requests are merely the tip of the iceberg compared to some of the features others would like to see. If you have any thoughts for specific features you’d love to see in the next iPhone, please leave a comment below and let me know!
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Dan the man on June 12th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Front mounted camera for Skype video calling and conferencing… Was expecting a bit more from Apple to be honest.
Rob Fox on June 12th, 2009 at 9:25 am
The question I have is will it support blue tooth headphones?
Ken on June 16th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Yes, the 3.0 software update will enable that on even iphone 3g’s.
Jazz1 on June 18th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I am using 3.0 on my 2nd generation (3G) iPhone. It works great with Motorola S9 stereo wireless BT headphones. The S9’s have now been replaced by Motorola with an S9-HD that is supposed to be more sweat resistant and has some kind of better sound processing. I think a lot of new BT headphones are going to be offered now that the iPhone supports BT stereo. JayBirds makes some that look pretty good. Nokia is going to issue some really expensive, high end ones.
Note some people have reported issues about using the BT for stereo headphones and Wifi. I haven’t used mine long enough to tell.
Blue-Devices on July 9th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
With 3.0 the iPhone now supports the A2DP Bluetooth profile. What this means is stereo headphones will just work without needing any special adapter which is great.
Eric on June 12th, 2009 at 9:29 am
This is more of an iPhone OS 3.0 thing but this device severely needs notification profiles. As a former BlackBerry user, I really enjoyed being able to change all the notification settings by changing to a different profile. In an extremely important meeting? Turn all notifications OFF. In a meeting that I want to get out of? Only Vibrate. My personal ringtone is inappropriate for work? When I get there I turn on my “Work Profile”.
The vibrate on/off button on the side just doesn’t cover all the necessary scenarios.
Remo on June 12th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Well that is stretching a bit to find faults. Playing HD from a phone to a TV, come on – that is why I have devices that have 500 – 1000 GB drives for storage not to mention 25 – 50 GB blu-rays. You sure could kiss 32 GB goodbye in a hurry with HD video.
Joseph Ranum on June 12th, 2009 at 9:33 am
For update 3.1 I recommend a simple software modification that would bring some piece of mind to myself and many others: the ability to create customizable folders. I would like to be able categorize my apps into relevant folders so I don’t have to reorganize 8 pages every time I download something new.
Jonathan on August 16th, 2009 at 8:00 am
That is already possible…
All you need to do is jailbreak your iPhone.
But if you do, there is an app you can get of cydia (black market version of the app store), it’s called “Categories”.
With the app you can put your apps or games into folders and the folder appears as an icon on your iPhone/iPod Touch. You can name them and even give them an icon…
NOTE: THIS IS JUST A REPLY, I DO NOT RECOMMEND JAILBREAKING YOUR iPhone/iPod Touch!!
Phil P. on June 12th, 2009 at 9:33 am
HD video? Good god. It would take up too much space and the difference in video picture would be negible at best.
Tomas Kapler on June 12th, 2009 at 9:37 am
[2] – bluetooth headphones were supported even with the first iPhone, problem was, that only mono. This was solved in the OS 3.0, so you can use stereo BT headphones as well
[1] – please, can you describe me how do you use videoconferencing with frontal mounted cammera? I know many people with frontal mounting camera but noone actualy using it, because they would have to put the mobile in the hand and stay exactly aligned. Much better is to use an external cammera. And with OS 3, you can probably plug one, when someone will offer it (connected by BT or the docking connector)
Joe Weaks on June 12th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I was really hoping for direct syncing between Mail.app’s Notes and ToDo’s with the Notes and a ToDo app on the iPhone.
I remember this concern being discussed around the time the first gen iPhone came out, but no one still requests it, except for me.
Tomas Kapler on June 12th, 2009 at 9:44 am
HD TV – why the hell on the device with 240×480 px you want HD???
Wireless syncing – pardon, where exactly is the problem? You can sync whatever you want and if an application wants (is programmed so), it can sync with anyone nearby, you can even play games with your friends
802.1n – OK, not actually usefull for iphone, but having N only network would be fine at some enviroment (bit faster for all)
Flash – Apple cannot allow flash simply because, people will play flash games, not that ones from Appstore. He can do it, but he will simply not do it because of this simple and understandable business reason
Jay Dee on June 12th, 2009 at 9:45 am
The talk about HD video being on the devices is concerning for storage…but if I recall (at least for the Zune HD) it is stored as a lower quality file and then is replayed as HD like what they are doing with the instant stream feature on the Xbox for 1080p instant stream where it starts as a lower quality to load and then ramps up to full 1080p video and 5.1 surround sound
Staff Comment Chris Ryan, TheAppleBlog on June 12th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Well, concerning HD video, it all depends on the codec used. The file sizes are actually smaller than you might think. For example, one TV show downloaded from the iTunes Store weighed in at 342mb for SD and 755mb for HD. So, it’s not really gigs and gigs because it is compressed. Granted, you would be able to store less content on the device, but my question is why are we even limited by not being able to put HD content onto it? (Likewise why are we limited to 802.11n). Better and faster technology and solutions are out there, but the iPhone is lacking in these areas. I’m sure battery life is a huge concern over these, but that can easily be addressed by giving you the option to turn these features off (in the case of 802.11n).
Staff Comment Chris Ryan, TheAppleBlog on June 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am
As a followup, the idea behind actually WANTING to have HD support is to be able to plug my iPhone into different devices and display HD content (like on vacations, or when I want to show off something to a friend). I’m sure it is purely a storage matter, but the option would be nice for users. We can put MP3s or AACs or even uncompressed AIFF files on our devices because, depending on how we want to play them, we may want or desire better quality. So why not the same with video?
For Thomas, yes a lot of apps do offer wireless syncing support, which is great. I just wish iTunes did the same for my podcasts, notes, bookmarks and everything else that MobileMe doesn’t do. Then I could use the awesome Proximity article written the other day to have it do it whenever my phone is near my Mac. How cool would that be?
jason on June 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
@#8: syncing notes will be part of 3.0 I believe. As for to-dos, yes this has been a glaring omission for a while now and I’m very disappointed they haven’t added it yet
Galley on June 12th, 2009 at 10:02 am
1. HD video would’ve been a very nice feature.
2. Wireless synching would be cool, but how long would it take to synch 32GB?
3. No “N”? Aaargh!
4. Death to Adobe Flash!
Bruce on June 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
zune hd has 1080p output on the xbox: zune wins
zune hd has oled display: zune wins
zune hd has hd radio and buy from radio: zune wins
zune hd might have a tegre chip: zune wins
zune marketplace has zune pass: zune wins
zune social: zune wins
xna support: zune wins
wireless sharing: zune wins
wireless syncing: zune wins
xbox interigation icluding music, videos, podcasts to xbox. netflix, arcade games, apps to zune: zune wins
free software and firmware upgrades to all zune devices: zune wins
cheap zune devices: zune wins
I could go on forever but when will you guys realize that there are better devices then ipods maybe if you did your research then youd find out… zune wins
Joe on June 16th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Personally, HD support on a tiny device, even if it’s just for playback to an HDTV seems pointless to me. It’s a waste of space. Compressed or not, I don’t have enough room for all my music, much less video, and I’m talking about my 120GB iPod Classic.
The display on my iPhone is more than adequate. Don’t care much about OLED. HD Radio? Pass. Tegra chip seems cool. Zune Pass: the debate is still up in the air on whether a subscription model is better or not. I think it’s personal opinion, and at this point, I’m not interested.
Zune Social is a cool concept, but the problem with it is that I’ve seen a total of 3 Zunes “in the wild,” and none of them belonged to friends of mine. It’s difficult to be social when you have no one to be social with. On the other hand, everyone I know has an iPod, and many have or are getting iPod Touch’s and iPhones.
XNA? That’s fine. Developers seem to be doing just fine creating games for the iPhone using the SDK.
Wireless sharing and syncing. As some commenters have pointed out, some applications already let you sync files wirelessly, and I believe OS 3.0 will allow bluetooth and wireless connections between devices for sharing and connecting with other devices.
Xbox integration: I agree with you there. It’s doubtful that Microsoft would allow Apple to have that any time soon. As an iPhone user, I don’t pay for software/firmware upgrades, but it is regretful that iPod Touch owners have to pay for major feature updates.
As for prices, comparable Zunes and iPods are about the same price, so that issue is moot.
As for the snark found throughout your list, and in your last comment in particular, it’s unnecessary and childish. I’m not defending iPods and iPhones as perfect devices, nor am I saying that they are better than Zunes in every possible way. I’m just felt the need to call you out on your rampant fanboyism. You like your Zune. Great, congratulations. I like my iPhone. Different strokes for different folks. The idea that people feel the need to go around bashing others people’s choices is really getting old, though.
Incidentally, there more than likely wouldn’t even BE a Zune if it weren’t for iPods. So you’re welcome.
tornado on June 16th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
zune, zune, zune…..
Bottom line
iPod will make a whole lot more money, Apple wins.
Jazz1 on June 17th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Ah, making phone calls: iPhone wins ;)
Hagen Kaye on June 12th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I would like to see Apple add
1) An extra button on the side of the iPhone (like the volume controls) would make it really easy to hold the iPhone steady and take pictures.
2) A temperature sensor – hey it’s got a GPS, compass why not make this the ultimate hiking gadget.
3) An infra red LED to make this the ultimate TV/Universal remote control.
Not much, just a few little items to totally geek out the iPhone.
I’m still waiting for an easy – mark all messages as being read in Mail. Even better would be mark all notifications all read across all Apps.
Mortiz888 on June 12th, 2009 at 10:16 am
What happened to push email? Thought that was revealed in March haven’t seen it new iPhone or 3.0 specs. Also WTF is up with no flash for 3 iPhones?
Alex on June 12th, 2009 at 10:19 am
PICK A DIFFERENT FONT! Your blog looks like a pile of ass
Can you hire a real web designer please??
My eyes are bleeding
Look at this crap:
http://content.screencast.com/users/metalhaze/folders/Jing/media/2f448268-ed80-4556-8c04-bb6e7814bf9d/2009-06-12_1217.png
Joe on June 16th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Maybe you should just fix whatever’s wrong with your computer or browser? The font looks just fine on my computer.
Turd Burgler on June 12th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I was expecting an v3 feature that turned the iPhone into a small economical car. This would have been really cool and would have solved an ongoing problem I’ve got with parking but guess what? Apple didn’t listen. Gutted. Looks like Nokia is getting my money now then.
Rambo on June 12th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I think some basics are in order. though they have addressed some issues the following is still needed.
*Storing and accessing files on IPHONE Hard Drive.
*Accessing files on IPHONE via drag and drop from Computer.
*T9 Phonepad to sms/text and search contacts. (user to decide keyboard or t9)
*Sending contacts (in any format e.g. vcard or simply just text) via sms
*(unknown if OS.3 has this but message forwarding and bulk sending)
alert tone customisation (not ring tone as you can do this already)
*Setting diffrent profiles for different occasions.e.g (meeting, Personal)
Don’t ask why cos you all know you want it and I bet some guy who works at apple will tell me how I don’t need any of these. after 2 years of use I’m telling you I do.
Pats on June 12th, 2009 at 10:51 am
@ Bruce
What store is carrying this great Zune you speak of? Are we talking vapor via product demo. How much does it cost and how does it compare to Itouch HD. What you say there is no Itouch HD. Funny I saw it in a product demo and it made Microsoft’s look like a POS.
Adobespain on June 12th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I think the iphone missing only Flash support.
Joseph on June 12th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Wow, these comments are full of unintelligent idiots.
For the Cliff Notes, take a look at some of these:
- #1
- #2
- #15
- #17
- #20
- #22
Tucker on June 12th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Wow, sounds like some people haven’t been looking hard enough for features they want to see; or have even bothered to look on the App store.
@rambo: There is so many apps now that support storing files on the iPhones hard drive, also ones that allow you to move documents back and forth over wifi from pc or Macs. There will be in 3.0 the ability to send contacts (vcard standard) in a text and also I’m pretty sure you will be able to forward your texts.
Also why is there a Zune fan leaving comments in a Apple blog site?? I suggest you leave those comments somewhere where they actual give a crap!!
Another thing lets face it if Apple are indeed right when they say there are 100 new features in 3.0; Only 10 or so of these have actually been talked about. So we might find the other 90 or so might answer some of these comments.
Harvey on June 12th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Two other things are missing:
AMOLED screen… this was rumored, but it didn’t pan out :-(
An LED camera light/flash… can’t take photos/videos in the dark without it, and fill-flash is needed when facing the light source.
Tucker on June 12th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
@Joseph: with you on that one, haha.
Rambo on June 12th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
@Tucker: you must work for apple! I have air sharing already and i know idisk will be available in OS.3 but these do not do what I said in my post.
*Storing and accessing files on IPHONE Hard Drive
No you cant and not even in OS.3 – How do I attach a file to an email?
How does my iphone CAD application open a file when in a folder that can only be accessed by air sharing or iDisk?
*Accessing files on IPHONE via drag and drop from Computer.
Please upload a video and show how you drag a file from your PC and drop it into the desired folder on your Iphone?
I just found out you can forward messages but you cannot send contacts in any format.
Joe on June 16th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
You could always jailbreak to get some of these features, and there are freeware applications out there that would allow drag and drop access to the iPhone/iPod Touch as a hard drive on your computer. I know it’s not the same as Apple implementing it officially, and not as seemless, but it’s possible if you are willing to muck around with it a bit.
The best we can do is send our suggestions to Apple and hope they implement them in future versions.
Rambo on June 12th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I dont want 100 new features! It already has 100 million features.
I just want the basics.
E on June 12th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
#15….
Well, disregarding that you are an ass, let me address some of your really stupid comments…
#15 Bruce says:
> zune hd has 1080p output on the xbox: zune wins
Um, output on the XBox? Do you mean if you copy the file to an XBoxc the XBox will scale it up? Because according to MSFTs site on the Zune HDm with the Zune HD you can: “Watch supported 720p HD movies”. 720P is not 1080P, and funny, I can do that NOW with my iPhone…
>zune hd has oled display: zune wins
Or you could say, “iPhone 3Gs has a oleophobic screen, iPhone 3Gs wins”… Whatever
Don’t know how a lower resolution OLED screen is better than a higher resolution oleophobic screen…
> zune hd has hd radio and buy from radio: zune wins
iPhone has multipole programs that can stream THOUSANDS of Radio stations from around the world, with buy this song from iTunes. OOps, I guess the iPhone 3Gs wins…
>zune hd might have a tegre chip: zune wins
SOmething that is not out yet may have something that you don’t even explain and somehow that makes it better? why? Because you are an ass?
> zune marketplace has zune pass: zune wins
AppStore has subscriptions, season passes, and cool, I OWN my music… OOps, iPhone 3Gs wins…
> zune social: zune wins
Haha. All 25 Zune users can meet up and lament that there are only 25 of them. Sure, you can have this one….
> xna support: zune wins
Cocoa Touch, OpenGL 2.0, Looks to me like the iPhone 3Gs wins. How many games are there based on XNA? How many games are there now based on Cocoa Touch? hahahahahahaha
> wireless sharing: zune wins
Funny, I do all sorts of wireless sharing with my iPhone. I guess I can’t send a song. At least I can find someone to share the other stuff with. iPhone 3Gs REALLy wins…
> wireless syncing: zune wins
I sync wirelessly, not my music but everything else. I kind of would like Wireless syncing, but I realize how long it would take given how long wireless backups work, so not that big a deal… Usually I want the podcasts I get to sync up really quick in the morning before I go to work, so wireless would be too slow, but I will give you this one…
Oh, but wait, I can stream Podcasts over the air in the background, can the Zune do that? Oh, I guess the iPhone wins :)
> xbox interigation[sic] icluding[sic] music, videos, podcasts to xbox. netflix, arcade games, apps to zune: zune wins
iTunes/AppleTV/Mac Integration of Podcasts, Music, videos, apps, games. Oh wait, it is actually all working there NOW on the iPhone, and there are actually games for the iPhone. How exactly does the Zune HD win? NO, iPhone 3Gs wins, by a mile…
> free software and firmware upgrades to all zune devices: zune wins
Same with iPhone. Remember, this article is about the IPHONE 3Gs. iPhone wins.
> cheap zune devices: zune wins
Yeah, cheap crap. I can get an iPhone 3G for 99, an iPod mini for $100. Zune brings down prices to try and MATCH and COMPETE with iPods. How exactly is this a win for the Zune? iPhone 3Gs WINS, yet again…
> I could go on forever but when will you guys realize that there are better devices then ipods maybe if you did your research then youd find out… zune wins
Yes, you DID go on forever. I could too…
iPhone also surfs the web anywhere
iPhone already has 50,000 applications
iPhone works with iTunes and Mac AND Windows
iPhone plays WAV files (funny, Zune cannot even play their own file format??)
iPhone lets you make phone calls?
Take pictures?
Video?
MMS?
Bluetooth Stereo Headsets?
Nike+?
Do I really need to continue? Do you really think you did anything other than make us all laugh?
Bruce, give it up…
Rich on August 6th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
As a Zune owner that has finally seen the light and purchased an iPhone 3GS… iPhone PWNS the hell out of the Zune!
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bid on my Zune when it goes on Ebay soon.
I’m just sayin’…
Duh.. It's Nai on October 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 am
it doesnt matter comparing a zune and an iphone is pointless, theyre two diff things, one is strickly for media and the other is for media AND phone service u cant text on a zune and personally i think the new zune is kinda pointless, i have a 2nd gen zune nd i love it and soon i’ll be getting an iphone so win win lol
Tino on June 12th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Ability to customize message and text alert tones, not just ringtones for contacts
mike on June 12th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Smart groups in address book (or at least sync the ones I have on my mac)
Sync iCal calendars (subscribed calendars)
kijubi on June 12th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
How about AT&T letting us send MMS and hooking up to our laptop to use 3G already? I think AT&T was absolutely the wrong pick for Apple.
Joe on June 16th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I was an AT&T subscriber when they were AT&T the FIRST time, then through Cingular, and now back to AT&T. In the beginning, coverage was a bit spotty for me, but it was for everyone at the time (this was almost a decade ago), but they steadily improved, and I had no problem with their service. Then the iPhone came, and I had another reason to be a satisfied AT&T customer.
Now, however, I feel that AT&T really missed the boat. The iPhone and iPhone 3G launches were a little messy, but I always attributed that to underestimating the popularity at launch. This time…I mean come ON. Who DIDN’T know that a new iPhone was coming in or around June at least six months ago? How is it that most of Apple’s carrier partners worldwide were prepared with MMS and tethering at launch, and here we are lacking both of those things. Were they too busy rolling out more 3G coverage and just lost track of time?
adam on June 12th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Flash support is one real big thing i would like to see… I dont see how that would be that dificult of a process… I’m just happy that the video option has taken off, front video would have been cool too but i could do with out just fine.
Tucker on June 12th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
@Rambo: Not sure if you opening comment was a sarcastic one?
Anyway to answer your question “How do I attach a file to an email?” Tis true you cant in Air Sharing as you mentioned but you can however send a file on email in Air Sharing Pro which is quite a bit more expensive but the features in it seem to be worth it. You could say that thats not really as good as being on a desktop machine and being able to access files from your hard drive within gmail or hotmail and adding them to your document; but with cut, copy, paste coming in 3.0 it will make things much easyer.
As for your CAD App I assume your talking about “cadtouch R2″, and by looking at that It looks as though there is a system implemented FTP (dxf) to exchange your work from your iPhone to your desktop machine and vise versa over wifi. Not sure why you would want to open any other file. Don’t even know if that answers your question?
If you have Air Sharing then you should be able to access your documents on your PC and drag and drop them on to Air Sharing App using the IP address at the bottom of the App over wifi.
Lastly you cant forward texts yet in current iPhone software but in 3.0 you will be able to both forward texts and send contacts using the vcard format
Here’s a couple of paragraphs taken from this article on the new features in 3.0 http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/features/index.cfm?articleid=339&pagtype=samecat
(1) “With multimedia messaging, you can send a picture from your iPhone’s camera or from your photo albums to your contacts. Pictures aren’t the only thing you can send, either. You can send sound files (such as those recorded with the iPhone’s new Voice Memo application); location information from Google Maps; and contact information, in the standard vCard format that OS X’s Address Book uses.”
(2) “In addition, Messages adds a few message-handling capabilities that users have been longing for, such as the ability to forward messages to other contacts as well as delete messages – either for individual or multiple messages simultaneously.”
Tucker on June 12th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
@mike #31: The “Groups” app on the App store is pretty nice. You can set up groups that sync with the phone app on the iPhone, they also sync with address book on the Mac
Matthew Rigdon on June 12th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Silverlight and Flash and two completely different animals. Adding Flash support would allow Hulu to work, but Flash support wouldn’t allow you watch anything on Netflix (unless Netflix is going to ditch Microsoft and it’s DRM solutions, which seems unlikely).
Of course, there’s no evidence that Silverlight is being ported to Zune, so there’s obviously a lot of issues with either of these multimedia platforms and small portable devices.
I’ll also say that the chances of Microsoft porting Silverlight to the iPhone are about the same as a snowball’s chance in hell.
Rambo on June 12th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
@tucker. Thanks tucker- some good answers. BUT.. There are still some nagging issues. 1. How do I attach any file to an email that I want to forward. On my old windows touch diamond phone this was so easy and is what i miss most on the iphone. So many things I miss but iPhone has many cool features too perhaps makes up for it. I wait eagerly for os3. Also. 2. What about a t9 touchpad for contact searching and texting and emailing. 3. Alert tone customization.
Tucker on June 12th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
@Rambo No worries, I guess in answer to your first question. The best thing to do when emailing documents is to A) make sure you’ve got the document in an Air Sharing Pro type App to be able to send or B) If it’s forwarding you want to do, I’m guessing your giving the example that someone has emailed something to you and you want to foward it to someone else but attach a document just for them. So I would say with cut, copy and paste coming you will actually be able to move text between Apps so I’m guessing you would be able to move some text over to a Air Sharing Pro type App to send with an attached document there, I guess we’ll see when 3.0 does actually come out.
Secondly I doubt Apple will ever use the t9 technology since they have put out there own predictive way of typing. To be honest It’s not bad and I actually really like it now I have developed a quick way of typing. On the upside they will be making changes in 3.0 like bringing the landscape keyboard to all the apps and also if you look at this article you can see a list of things that are coming in 3.0 and number 83 is a Improved predictive dictionary. Never know it might be a good improvement.
Hope that made some sense.
http://www.iphoneuserguide.com/apple/2009/06/12/iphone3g/top-100-new-features-in-iphone-30/
Tucker on June 12th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
@Rambo As for alert tone customisation. As of yet it’s just main rintone customisation but you never know what Apple might bring in the next update.
Rambo on June 13th, 2009 at 1:09 am
@tucker- I posted earlier that some guy from apple will tell me what I need and don’t need I guess your that apple goon. All I got to say is the round about way is not the apple way. To get to B from A you have to go past G turn at W, return to E, catch a bus to C and walk to B. Is that the apple way? Don’t give me 100 new things. Give me the basics first.
kellas83 on June 13th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Although the iPhone is on the right track it would be nice to have some of these features. And personally I don’t care if safari for the iPhone doesn’t support flash, although they could certainly make it possible (YouTube video content runs through flash with the YouTube app).
Great post!
thepenks on June 13th, 2009 at 7:59 am
i think this gadget perfect in every side.. oh, after i read this post i’m not interested again to this iphone..
A Medium Pace on June 13th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Skyfire adds Flash 10 and Silverlight 2 support to Windows Mobile devices. Why can’t Apple stay competitive and add this into Safari Touch?
Pecos Bill on June 13th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I’m skeptical that we will ever see flash on the iPhone due to one big reason: it’s an uncontrollable means to sell people applications outside of the App Store. Just like music, Apple wants that 30% pie to continue coming in.
Tucker on June 13th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
@Rambo Tis true that the round about way is not the apple way but when it comes to the iPhone it kind of is unfortunately, thats the way I see it anyway. As Apple role out more and more features each time they bring out a software update things get better. But in the mean time developers write apps to try to add the things they really want in the phone, sometimes they don’t work so well but they do for the little while before Apple take notice and finally do it them selfs properly. As a musician the iPhone is perfect for me and I wont touch another phone but I can see why there are people out there who prefer their blackberrys and other smart phones. In my opinion when the user interface is this good and more and more apps are coming out all the time with software updates coming out as well, I’ll be willing to wait sticking with the iPhone.
Diddy.Alexander on June 13th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
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jadebabe09 on June 14th, 2009 at 2:33 am
hey guys i recon iphone 3g S needs nothing more unless more thing are invented but otherwise ii say that nothing more is needed that already exists in our modern lives. people find it complicated and there are so many apps what else could it have…..? nothing! its just fine and as technical as it needs to be.
Chuck on June 14th, 2009 at 6:22 am
I would like to be able to assign sounds to incoming mail and text messages. The default mail notifier is a joke.
AV on June 14th, 2009 at 6:41 am
What is really missing is that basic standards in the sync process would be accounted for. How can apple claim to run OS X on the iPhone if you can’t even sync iCal’s To Dos???
neontofu on June 14th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I miss a cam for videochat…and I dont understand why the new 3gs dont support flash ???
that are for me the most misses
hope it will come with the next iPhone ;-)
Robert Jensen on June 14th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Folders! Yes, the new iPhone OS will have a Spotlight search for apps but I’d much rather group them into folders. At the very least I’d like to be able to sort apps by name, type or last used, not have to spend an hour dragging them into some sort of order only to have it messed up by adding a new app to the mix.
Robert Jensen on June 14th, 2009 at 11:13 am
This has nothing to do with Apple, but I’d like to see AT&T lower their voice/data plans by $15-$20 and no caps on data. With on-demand video becoming so popular data caps should be a thing of the past. AT&T’s upcoming speed increase begs to be used to stream HQ video to the iPod.
Rambo on June 16th, 2009 at 7:02 am
@tucker- I got another problem. Can’t add an attachment to an email I need to forward that has 2 attachmants aleady one of which I want to delete.the file I want to send is from another email and
is not recognized by the iPhone.
Jay on June 16th, 2009 at 10:49 am
It would be nice to see HD video camera and HD video playback support in the new iPod Touch.
Rambo on June 18th, 2009 at 2:26 am
Now that I have had a chance to play with the new official update there are still a few things you can’t do. But I will start with somthing you can do that apple did not make clear regarding email attachments. You can cut copy and paste any type of email attachment not just ones recognised by apple.
The phone still doesn’t play music on my parrot car system via Bluetooth.
You can’t copy snippets of text from text messages. You can only select the whole message (not conversation).
Still can’t change alert tones.
No T9 dial pad, but they do give you a multitap pad using a Japanese keyboard. (it is in English)
You can’t send contact details via SMS. Only by MMS or email. MMS costs more and/or uses up more of your allowance. The roundabout way (so not apple) is to find the contact, open contact, edit contact, double tap the number, copy, close contact(careful you don’t delete any thing). Open message, create new, and paste.
I will compile a list of a100 things you can’t do to go hand in hand with their 100 new features.
Please note that I still think this is a good phone. It was annoying before and now it’s just less anoying. Those of you buying for bussiness I wouldn’t bother as I still need my windows phone on purely the fact it’s Push, email and attachment function is rubbish. If your buying it for style and status symbol around your peers where you can show off go for it.
james braselton on June 18th, 2009 at 9:25 am
HI THERE I HAVE THE ORIGINAL IPHONE AND YES THE DEVICE IT SELF CAN PLAY HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO I HAVE STAR TREK AT HIGH DIFINITION PUT NO TV SUPROOT FOR A BIG SCREEN HD AND WITH MEMORY CAPACITY WHY WONT APPLE RELEASE THERE 500 TERABYTE IPHONE COME ON 125 MILLION SONGS 1 MILLION HD MOVIES AND BILLIONS OF PICTURES TOO I CAN WAIT FOR THE BLACK HOLE IPHONE TOO COME OUT WHO NEEDS BLACK HOLE MEMORY STORAGE FOR INFINT STORAGE CAPACITY
james braselton on June 18th, 2009 at 9:30 am
HI THERE YOU ARE RIGHT UNLIMITED DATA SHOULD BE UNLIMITED BECUASE ONCE THE SONY PS4 COMES OUT I REALY WANT TOO LOAD A 4 TERABYTE GAME ON THE HALOGRAPHIC DISC UP I RALY WANT TOO SEE WHAT A MULTI-TERABYTE GAME AT ULTRA HIGH DEIFINITION OF 8,000 BY 4,000 RESOLUTION LOOKS LIKE
james braselton on June 18th, 2009 at 9:37 am
HI THERE APPLE RELEASED THE 2011 IPHONE 4G SPECS WITH A 1.2 GHZ CPU 128 GB FLASH MEMORY HALOGRAPHIC PROJETOR AND HAS OLED SCREEN AND WILL BE FAST ENOUGH TOO PLAY IHALO THATS RIGHT APPLE WILL HAVE HALO ON THE GO WHY CANT MICROSOFT CREAT A MOBILE OR PORTABLE XBOX AND I THINK THE 2011 IPHONE WILL HAVE HD CAMRA OF 5 MP AND WILL SUPORT FLASH TOO JUST GOOGLE FUTURE IPHONE 4G FOR 2011
Rambo2 on June 19th, 2009 at 8:28 am
27 things missing from the Iphone 3G/s – OS3
Please add to this as other people will find things I won’t.
Just copy and paste the list and add to it. (want to make this to 100)
Note. Only bullet point it – to the point.
Please note that anything you have to pay extra for to make things work (like apps) will not count. Native support only. having to pay extra for somthing it should be able to do already defeats the purpose of being the greatest phone and paying a hefty price for it in the first place. (without having to jailbreak) –
1. Flash Drive Support
2. ADOBE Flash in safari
3. JAVA Support
4. Front Facing Camera
5. File sharing via bluetooth or cable
6. customisable alert tones
7. Cut copy and paste bits of text messages
8. Sending contacts via SMS
9. HD video camera and HD video playback support
10. Application Sorting/Management
11. Profile Setting (e.g Car Mode, Meeting Mode)
12. File Manager
13. Proper Push Email
14. Http email support
15. Multiple Calenders
16. Multiple Calender Syncing
17. Disable Chat mode on messaging
18. Customisable search engine (not just google and Yahoo)
19. Multiple Signature for different accounts
20. Notes Syncing
21. Quick Toggle – e.g one touch bluetooth on/off
22. T9 touch pad
23. Bluetooth Syncing with Itunes
24. systemwide theme modification
25. Camera functions (e.g Black and White / Timer etc)
26. Background application running for ALL apps
27. Video playback on TV from Iphone (streamed from the phone)
Luis on June 19th, 2009 at 8:52 am
My 3 things that the new iPhone 3G S is still missing are:
1 – The camera has to have more resolution, at least 5 megapixels, xenon flash, and a shiny metal plate for taking a picture for myself, and the Camera App in the iphone is primitive against other cell phones, it has to have options for bright and contrast, effects like B&W, sephia and others, time shutter, 4X and 6X digital zoom, options for take a picture and movie in different resolutions.
2 – The to-dos in iCal app have to sync to the iphone.
3 – A file system for organize apps for name order (A – Z or Z – A), size order, type order (games, utility, internet, books, productivity), or other orders in the 11 home screen pages. And unlimited apps installs only by iphone memory limit.
Rambo on June 20th, 2009 at 3:46 am
31 things missing from iPhone 3g and 3gs
1. Flash Drive Support
2. ADOBE Flash in safari
3. JAVA Support
4. Front Facing Camera
5. File sharing via bluetooth or cable
6. customisable alert tones
7. Cut copy and paste bits of text messages
8. Sending contacts via SMS
9. HD video camera and HD video playback support
10. Application Sorting/Management
11. Profile Setting (e.g Car Mode, Meeting Mode)
12. File Manager
13. Proper Push Email
14. Http email support
15. Multiple Calenders
16. Multiple Calender Syncing
17. Disable Chat mode on messaging
18. Customisable search engine (not just google and Yahoo)
19. Multiple Signature for different accounts
20. Notes Syncing
21. Quick Toggle – e.g one touch bluetooth on/off
22. T9 touch pad
23. Bluetooth Syncing with Itunes
24. systemwide theme modification
25. Camera functions (e.g Black and White / Timer etc)
26. Background application running for ALL apps
27. Video playback on TV from Iphone (streamed from the phone)
28. Can’t delete a contact from a message sent to a group or multiple contacts.
29. Front facing camera
30. No flash light
31. No video recording (os.3 update only)
Elliott Gold on June 22nd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
A few suggestions for the iphone 3gs.
#1. The ability to use iphone in place of my pickups remote door unlocker and remote starter.
#2. The ability to use the iphone to fire any of my numerous firearms that I have positioned around my Seattle city property, to many damm liberals living here you see!
#3. The ability to use my iphone to cast line from fishing pole, yes I am lazy at times.
#4. The ability to throw base balls at super human speeds, please?
#5. The ability to use the iphone as a lie detector, there is a lot of lying liberals here in the Seattle area, lying is in their yellow blood.
#6. The ability to to use the iphone to turn on my wife and satisfy her sexual and emotional needs, I work hard here at Boeing and I do not always have the time and energy that she demands of me, HELP!!!
Rambo on July 1st, 2009 at 5:49 am
Elliot youd be suprised to know that all of your suggestions are possible especially #5 -downloadable for free from the app store.
and you should also know that #6 is also possible if you jail break – you can keep the vibrate on as long as you like and with the use of some imagination.
If you have a PC linked to your home system if you have one – the iphone can connect to your computer and you can control the room temperture, you can open and close doors, you can operate your firearms (if linked to your security system) etc etc and perhaps even your fishing pole if you can find a robotic one.
I might include the vibrate one in my 100 list…
Jay on June 30th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Rambo – Here are a few more:
#32 – Dial a number from the subject and/or location line of a calendar entry
#33 – Paste a copied number into the keypad dialer
#34 – Use any song stored on the device as a ring tone
#35 – Turn off phone while wi-fi is left on
#36 – Sort the notes list by date or name
#37 – Print most anything to wi-fi printer
Rambo on June 30th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Jay thanks for that- I have now got my list of 100 things the iPhone is missing. It took me a while and had to do something I didn’t want to do. Imagine being a fish and you were owned by some random guy we could perhaps called steve jobs and he took you on a cruise and for some unknown reason he decides to free you and chuck you into the ocean but he decides it’s a vicious ocean and to protect you he keeps the bag tied up and then chucks you in. It didn’t occur to him that the oxygen would run out soon and would be hungry. In a desparate bid I sought the aide of a fellow fish of the redsnow brand to set me free. And only then did I realise the amazing vastness of the ocean. Yes I jailbroke my phone not because I wanted to but because I had to. I do miss the comforts of steve job’s tank, the easy food, the flat screen tv, etc. If only he’d put me in an aquarium. Tomorow I release the 100 things missing from the iPhone os3 / 3gs.
Rambo on July 1st, 2009 at 7:58 am
My well anticipated list of 100 things missing from the Iphone
- better than any review.
1. Flash Drive Support
2. ADOBE Flash in safari
3. JAVA Support
4. Front Facing Camera
5. File sharing via bluetooth or cable
6. customisable alert tones
7. Cut copy and paste bits of text messages
8. Sending contacts via SMS
9. HD video camera and HD video playback support
10. Application Sorting/Management
11. Profile Setting (e.g Car Mode, Meeting Mode)
12. File Manager
13. Proper Push Email
14. Http email support
15. Multiple Calenders
16. Multiple Calender Syncing
17. Disable Chat mode on messaging
18. Customisable search engine (not just google and Yahoo)
19. Multiple Signature for different accounts
20. Notes Syncing
21. Quick Toggle – e.g one touch bluetooth on/off
22. T9 touch pad
23. Bluetooth Syncing with Itunes
24. systemwide theme modification
25. Camera functions (e.g Black and White / Timer etc)
26. Background application running for ALL apps
27. Video playback on TV from Iphone (streamed from the phone)
28. Can’t delete a contact from a message sent to a group or multiple contacts.
30. No flash light
31. No video recording (os.3 update only)
32. Dial a number from the subject and/or location line of a calendar entry
33. Paste a copied number into the keypad dialer
34. Use any song stored on the device as a ring tone
35. Turn off phone while wi-fi is left on
36. Sort the notes list by date or name
37. Print most anything to wi-fi printer
38. Cannot Create Groups (e.g. My Work Contacts, Close Friends)
39. Powerpoint presentation on TV
40. Blacklisting Numbers you want ringing you
41. Video/Animated Ringtones
42. Modem (not necessary to use your data allowance)
43. Downloading from Safari
42. Uploading to a webite from safari (e. g. photos to flickr)
43. Downloading podcasts directly to the phone
44. AVRC control – (you can listen to music via bluetooth but you cant control it – next, back, forward, rewind, etc)
45. A cooling fan for overheating
46. Long battery Life – its actually shorter on the 3GS than on 3G
47. An infared sensor (still has many practical uses)
48. Removable flash drive
49. Removable Battery
50. add blocker in safari
51. A five row keyboard so you don’t have keep switcing (e.g for passwords)
52. APN Editing
53. Task Manager/Memory Manager/Processes
54. Option to unlock – For a REASONABLE fee ofcourse
55. animated Wall paper
56. larger scroll button in IPOD and QuickTime
57. Real time broadcasting from phone
58. SMS backup
59. A torrent Client for legal files
60. silverlight Support (Sky Player)
62. TEXT reader (to read messages, incoming call name)
63. VOIP Via 3G
64. Bluetooth Stumbler
65. Sync with multiple ITunes Library
66. Notifications in status Bar (e.g new email)
67. Lock the rotation of your screen
68. password locking each application/file.
69. acelerometer call control (e.g turn over to rejecct)
70. Local Spam Filter
71. turn off/on auto correction on keyboard
72. call counter
73. sms/mms counter
74. clear any (not all) call from call history
75. Delete all messages in one go
76. Copy and paste files – i tried it on an email – didnt work at receiving end.
77. show profile pictures in contacts list
78. MS word – for creation and editing
79. MS PowerPoint – for creation and editing
80. ad hoc conference calling
81. block HTML and images in mail from online web addresses (used by spammers)
82. Spell checker for all out going email
83. grammer checker
84. Native IRC client (like blackberry chat)
85. contact history – (like spotlight but from contacts about the contact – the number of times called – all email from him/her etc)
86. FM Radio
87. Excel Editing and creation with calculation function
88. Different connection profiles and switchable
89. Long press setting on the home button. e.g. hold to launch camera
90. Email pop up
91. keyboard to stay on when browsing contacts – makes searching easier – e.g. during a call
92. A full safari browser like the MAC version
93. Secure remote access between machines
94. SlingPlayer on 3G
95. a side button for photos
96. a video out cable from the headset socket so you can charge it at same time
97. 802.11n support
98. direct syncing between Mail.app’s Notes and ToDo’s with the Notes and a ToDo app on the iPhone.
99. When sliding to view message/s it should go to it rather than the home screen
100. when clicking the call icon after a miss call it should directly to miss calls not the last opened screen e.g. contacts.
badinage on September 11th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Rambo,
Your #1 and #48 are the same, I would add:
Vibrate, then ring feature (available on many phones)
Badinage
Russ on July 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
What I love is people listing all these things that would be so cumbersome to add to the phone that it would negate all it’s sexiness…let’s face it..the iphone is sexy, and it’s different. Seriously..if we could have a quad core iphone with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB disk, I bet we’d already have it. All these features…you know, all you have to do is buy a Macbook to get most of them. :) No, I’m not an iPhone hater, I have one and am considering upgrading from T-Mobile to the 3GS. Just thought I’d poke some fun…I think no matter what they add nobody will ever be happy with it, and haters will always hate.
alex on July 6th, 2009 at 8:30 am
I think your wrong russ.
I have a 3g iphone (updated to 3.0) and a 3gs iphone- I am not a hater. Infact I love the iphone but even as I say that i am regreting buying the 3gs. I agree with rambo about most of the things hes listed. I dont use about 50% percent of those items but for those that I do it is so annoying – like the bluetooth control function – i cannot change tracks with my bluetooth system in my car while driving unless i do it on the phone itself which is illegal. The little things just irritate me so much I wish I’d upgraded to the windows phone instead. Take for example – copy and pasting bits of text messages. I tried to copy only a phone number from a text message and i couldnt do it. I wouldnt have known or realised this if rambo didnt tell me in his 100 list as it is somthing you would expect anyhow. it no reason not to buy it but given the phone is rife with little things like this i should’ve thought twice at least.
Glenn on July 26th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Custom alert tones would be nice. Can’t believe this little detail was left out of 3.0.
Jo on August 23rd, 2009 at 5:27 am
Flash support!!! Can’t view half the websites I regularly go to…
And a better camera w flash. These things are really basic, I’m hanging out for the new model already and I just got my 3gs last week.