July 25th, 2008
Rumor Mill: iPhone to get copy, paste and better navi in firmware 2.1
The most exciting thing around the watercooler today is the rumor that Apple has seeded iPhone firmware 2.1 to developers. MacNN sources tell them that they’ve found references to cut, copy and paste in the Localizable.strings entry under English.lproj. Woot!
According to the story the 2.1 firmware also contains references to a mobile radio function which could yield native Internet radio stations – presumably streamed directly through a new section of the iPod application or the iTunes store.
Gearlive reports that firmware 2.1 (Beta 1, Build 5F90) has some new Core Location features that track the direction you are heading, and the speed you are traveling. It looks like turn-by-turn GPS directions on the iPhone 3G could become a reality. Apple specifically forbids third-party “route guidance” in their SDK:
Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes.
So let’s hope that Apple is planning to implement it themselves.
It looks like 2.1 is a little ways off though, Apple appears to be planning to release a 2.0.1 update first, that is only a bug fix release.
Let’s hope that 2.0.1 fixes:
- Forced backup of the entire phone on every sync
- Contact lag
- OS lag
- The horrible app update process
- Crashy apps
- Crashy OS
- Add a radio toggle
Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.
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