iPhone OS 3.2 -- What Do You Want and When Do You Want It?
Apple is no doubt already hard at work on iPhone OS 3.2, the second minor update to the third major release of their mobile platform. Sure, we got iPhone 3.1 just over two weeks ago on Sept. 9, but looking back, we should expect to see the first beta versions of 3.2 sooner rather than later.
By way of comparison, iPhone 2.1 was released on Sept. 12, 2008. iPhone 2.2 Beta 1 was released on Sept. 25, with some tweaks to App Store and Safari's UI. iPhone 2.1 Beta 2 dropped on Oct. 24, with Google Street View, SDK support for line-in audio, and direct podcast downloads and streaming. The final iPhone 2.2 firmware was released on Nov. 21, and both Google Street View and the ability to get podcasts on-device were great enhancements.
So, it's not unreasonable to imagine 3.2 Beta 1 could show up before the end of the month, with a final release before the holidays.
Since we've already gotten direct TV and Movie downloads (over Wi-Fi), there may not be an analogous improvement to iPod and iTunes this time around. Subscribing to podcasts on device, however, where a push notification alerts you when a new episode is available and you're on Wi-Fi to download it, is something we'd adore. iTunes LP and iTunes Extras support would also be dandy give their introduction in iTunes 9.
Likewise, Google Voice and Google Latitude having been rejected/held-for-study by the App Store, we may not get a Maps app update either (though Apple baking Latitude into the existing Maps app, Google-willing, could be a great compromise solution). We won't hold our breath for push Gmail either (not GoogleSync, we mean built-in, doesn't use up your only ActiveSync slot, genuine push email like MobileMe and Yahoo!)...
Enabling 720p TV-out from the iPhone 3GS and iPod touch G3 would be a great, and competitive addition, especially with a souped up dock-to-HDMI video cable to go with it.
We have our ongoing (though admittedly greatly reduced since 3.0) wish-list: better support for Bluetooth controls (AVRCP), APIs to allow apps to interact with the calendar, some form of background support for streaming audio, turn-by-turn, and other apps that cry out for it, Mobile iChat, remote backup and restore, iTunes music and video streaming, file system access for document handling, etc.
(Yes, we left out bug fixes, as we hope Apple sees those as urgent enough to address in an iPhone 3.1.1 release much, much sooner).
But what do you want to see Apple prioritize for iPhone 3.2?
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Top 3 are:
1) Calendar notification.
Useful to do list with the ability to 'snooze' a task you have still to action. Numbered tag on the icon as in mail etc
2) Horizontal home page UI
When swapping through the home screen between apps with the iPhone horizontal it would be good to show the icons in the same orientation.
3) SMS/MMS Tones
Use something other than standard tone.
A cancel button for the messages app PLEASE!!!!! I really need this
flash for safari
and more bug fixes
I guess it eould be good if it came out before 2010 starts
Oh and I saw another comment bookmarking apps would be AWESOME. Sometimes I don't have enough money to buy an app I really want and then I forget eat app I wanted when I finally get more money because I use iTunes giftcards
What are phone profiles? Someone please reply
CALENDAR NOTIFICATION BADGES
I think all they have to do Is decrease the number of people wanting to jailbreak
Sadly most of these things, if all, will only come on iPhone 4.0. Most wanted:
active homescreen new notification system (android/webos) unified inbox flash 10 limited multitasking active lockscreen (pim, weather, etc) sbsettings type quick access toggles (android will have this with 1.6)
Also:
file system access calendar access todo app
@Andy
Profiles allow pre-set options to be activated with one button push. e.g. 'Work' - low volume ring, 'Outside' - full volume ring with vibrate, 'Meeting' - vibrate only, no audible alerts.
(this would be my number 4) feature)
As was suggested, this could also include 3G / Wi-fi / push etc on or off.
Quarks
More things:
Contact groups: I know you can create groups through outlook, but it would be nice to be able to set certain options(ringtones, text entire group, etc) for entire groups
Customization: At least be able to change some color schemes and use your own background. Also the ability to hide icons(stocks)
Lock: Locking certain apps would be convenient
I think the location of the emergency call button on the passcode screen causes problems. Several times I have accidently pressed that button when trying to press 9. Apple should either move this button or give you a screen asking if "You're sure you want to make an emergency call?" Anyone agree?
It would also be nice if we could hide any of the native apps we don't use, such as stocks or yahoo weather
The ability to turn off the accelerometer would be nice too.
Minor, but password/pin protect deleting photos. I have to keep an extra eye on that daughter of mine - why must you delete my pictures, girl!
Nike+ for iphone 3G
I know not only me wants this, but everyone else. A cancel button for messaging. Ex: When you make a mispell or send a text to the wrong person. There is a cancel button to cancel the message or stop it from sending. Please add this function. Thanks
How about a button to turn on or off the landscaping mode for the native apps.
All I want is a better notifications system. You hear that apple? CATCH UP WITH THE GAME!!
Did someone say LED Apple logo? Multicolor and programmable for notifications. Pretty please?? Next hardware version..
Please please make some different or allow us to download new message alert tones
PLEASE
Hopefully a Calendar update, colour options, push, todo list, weekly view etc.
MMS!!!
Google to make a native app, so I can delete the annoying web app I want to do everything with, but can't bc it's uber slow, opens multiple web pages and did I mention annoying!!!
3.1 reduced the maximum "Require Passcode After..." time from 1 hour to 15 minutes. Why they decided I couldn't handle the risk of a 1 hour delay is beyond me. Please restore longer times for 3.2.
By the time Apple updates Android will extend it's miles ahead software light years ahead.
I'm so glad others have mentioned this, but my biggest beef is the lack of customization for text and email alert sounds.
My cell phone from 4 years ago allowed you to assign unique ringtones to people for their texts, yet the iPhone has overlooked this feature again and again.
A start would be customizing the general "new message" sound to something not pre-installed. The ideal solution is one that's been around for years and included out of the box from many phone manufacturers--custom text sounds for individual contacts.
1) Multiple Exchange accounts (Pre has it, why not us?) 2) Please, Please, Please! - Backgrounder equivalent for at least one app. Include an equivalent for Music Control as well, so we can background streaming apps. (With those two things, I have no need to jailbreak) Maybe just backgrounding on 3GS due to limited resources. 3) Make notifications a small overlay pop-up at bottom of screen so you can still see what's on the screen. Include incoming call as a small pop-up screen that you can select to maximize. Then turn-by-turn GPS could continue on the screen while you take a call. Application API could allow programmers to opt to pause during notifications or continue.
Allow Ringtones to be used for Text Messaging!! Allow for Random Ringtones alternating between calls.
iChat would be a great thing, and i would also like the iPhone to learn how to autoconnect to EDGE or GPRS from 3G without showing No Service. Other phone manufacturers can do that easily, what's the problem with Apple?
How about email disribution lists...
I really wish they had a "suspend-to-memory" feature for every app. I can accept the fact that I can't have multitasking, but if you're a popular person, or even if you're not and you get a call in the middle of an application, freeze the app and your place in time, go to the call, then come back right where you left off. No need to watch the splash screens and resume a game or traverse all the way back into the app where you were cut off.
Or, since they're already good at pausing the app when a text message comes in, can't they do that for a call? How about a small blue pop-up that gives the option to "ignore," "continue and answer," or "exit and answer," where the latter two will either let the call continue in the background (top green bar optional), or suspend or gracefully exit the app to go to the Phone app.
Oh, it's 3.1 already. How about the ability to assign our own tones for email and SMS/MMS? That one low tone and short vibrate is almost enough to warrant a jailbreak so I can stick my own sound in there! C'mon already!
A built in im app. And for the iPod Touch, a way to add ringtones through iTunes using .m4r files just like the iPhone.
Custom snooze settings on the alarm clock. I like to choose between 5,7, or 9 minutes. Simple, right?
There have been very similar reqests, let me add on a few.
In regards to the profiles.. Given the GPS, why can't there be location based profiles for those who have predetermined patterns.
Secondly, I would appreciate the iPod app to have the functionality to create and edit playlists on the fly. As well as having a "Road Trip Dj" similar to the iTunes dj.
The rest will come in 4.0, but does it make sense to come out with old technology on a industry leading high tech device? There has to be a prolonged software roadmap in Cupertino.
Bring back the possibility to tether an unlocked iPhone!
Sorry, forgot these two standard cellphone features: - SMS delivery receipts - More call forwarding options, i.e. forward when: not reachable, not answered, busy.
FLASH PERIOD!!!!!!
It would be great if you could send calender request to other iPhone uses via mobile me or just straight to the phone for those users that don't have an exchange!!!
I'd simply like to see a fix for the random power off issue.
They need to have one word that will show me all the app that I have in my iPhone in spotlight as I have got over 220 apps
Calendar & Contact synchronization via Bluetooth
Allow any application to use the video-out of the iPhone. Allow applications to decode a camera/video feed live (needed for Augmented Reality marker-based applications).
!!!!!!!!!!
How about support for more than 1 Exchange ActiveSync account for us users who use both exchange for corporate email as well as gmail and calendar!!!
Sets for apps
How about custom email alert tones?
Double-click the Home button to optionally bring up a radio control screen to toggle Airplane/3G/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
Give the ability for push notification to automatically launch an application. This could lead the way to automating tasks at a certain time. The iPhone is too passive, always requiring you to do interact or acknowledge an action.
How about double-tapping the top of Safari to go to the bottom of the web page? After spending 45 seconds of scrolling down to this section, I accidentally hit the top of my screen, instantly scrolling me back up.... Grrr!
How about sending user feedback, bug reports, and crash logs directly from the iPhone without having to sync or go to the iPhone feedback page on Apple.com?
REAL bluetooth. Stop all the swiping. If I am in a website, and my phone goes into standby, I should be able to just tap the home button and go back to were I was. All the constant swiping gets real old. REAL bluetooth. Folders for the apps. Having 19 (or whatever) "home" screens is stupid. It is called a HOME screen for a reason. You should be able to get to everything from there. Did I mention REAL bluetooth?? I should be able to shoot and send a pic to someone standing next to me. Or a file. Or a song. Again, it's we will let you have this, but only this much. Lock the sceen from moving. Big pain in the rear. How about being able to sync ONLY what you want?? Have 1000 songs and would like to add ONE?? Now, you have to sync 1000 and ONE. Why can't I just add the one?? Syncing without erasing?? Tired of finding out AFTER I added the one song that none of my pics were put back. Or my apps. Profiles would be nice. Having more the ring or vib would be nice. Miss that from my Bold. Cutomize ALL tones to what you want. We have several iPhones at work, and we all have to check since we use the only 2 half a** tones on the phone. It is nice to dream, but don't anyone hold their breath.
My top 10 items....
I see it as not necessarily going to happen 100% but in the near future I'd absolutely love to see the following (in no specific order)
1: full Flash support in Safari, Mail etc... (this probably will...well..never happen)
2: Some sort of iChat/BBM/msn app that won't be as slow and unreliable as IM+ and those other clients.
3: The ability to use Folders, but only when optioned by user.
4: The ability to turn off auto-horizontal keyboard specific to apps or across the whole OS. It's not cool and rarely helpful when you turn the phone by a fraction of a degree and it changes.
5: F.M. Radio (and A.M., although I doubt it'll ever make it in).
6: More Bluetooth support for peripherals. This isn't a biggie, but it would be great to have the option to use a bluetooth keyboard (like the Apple wireless Keyboard) to type notes, use in safari, other apps etc...
7: Customizable Text-Message ring tones. How is it that we don't have this? It's an easy option to unlock the phone and do it, but why do we have to go through that trouble?
8: The option to sort and organize contacts using groups.
9: Wireless/3G sync'ing to iTunes would be nice too, but I can foresee a ton of bugs and compatibility problems happening with this one. So it'll be nice only if they get it right the first time lol.
10: An option to throw a battery life indicator up at the top of the display beside the battery (sort of like in MacOS... % or time remaining).
There are so many more items we can throw in here...but those seem to be at the forefront of my mind.
Let's hope Apple's watching this thread.
How about something simple... I would LOVE to be able to re-order my email accounts that I have on my iPhone, without having to delete them and re-install them in the order I want... Why is this not a basic function of the iPhone? Simple drag and drop style re-ordering... PLEASE!!!
In addition to radio control, how about a Do Not Disturb to send calls to voicemail? No more app interruptions and having to relaunch a game or app to get back where I was again. I'd like to keep data or Wi-Fi, just no calls when I'm either actually busy or just goofing off. Airplane mode is overkill, and having to manually set Call Forwarding is too cumbersome.
Some great ideas here. I'll leave the techie stuff to the pros and reap the benefits as they come.
How about let me make folders for my photos?
Also home button customization such as 3g, wifi, brightness.
Oh and an "easy wake" option for my alarm?
Again a jailbreak option for older iPhones but let's get some keyboard options! I freakin hate pecking out numbers... how's about a number pad?!
And of course, contact groups (got it on my jailbreak) but would be cool to let me text a group at once instead of searching for names.
Speech to text anyone?
ok, here are my 2 cents...
home screen notifications (email, calender, missed calls)
obviously better battery life
the ability to lock the screen so it wont rotate
one button power save. turns off/on: wifi, 3g, etc.. to prolong the battery
Landscape support for the Maps app. My iPhone is mounted sideways on my dash (to keep the phone plugged in), and it would be easier to see where I'm going if they would add landscape mode to it. I'm just too damn cheap to purchase a $35 and up app when I've already got a good free navigation app on the phone.
Phone profile (business, outdoor, night, meeting, beep)
Multiple Exchange accounts
Rearrange E-mail accounts (Stupidly the Exchange account si allways at the bottom)
Option to assign colors to calendars (now the iphone chooses the color)
PUSH for IMAP
ZOOM on the Camera
Contact Groups (that nicely sync with Google's contact groups)
Ringtones for SMS/MMS/Email (variable per contact)
A 'today' screen with calendar events
Flash support
Disable WIFI/GPS/3G/ETC one click from the home screen!
I want to be able to specify the colors of my calendars. I want 3.2 before the end of the year. Oh and please make it so I don't lose everything on my iPhone when I update!!!! (Like I did with 3.1)!!!
What I would love to see is the ability to customize the look on the iphone. My blackberry allowed me to change the typical look of it to something else.. Ability to change the colors of the bubbles of sms. I would also love a blackberry messenger in the iphone.. That would be great! Thats one of the reasons I loved my iphone. Bug fixxes.
Sorry, typo... Thats one of the reasons why i loved my blackberry... altho it still doesnt compare to the iphone.
Why, ohh why does nobody wan't a fast switch do shut down bluetooth and/or wlan? Am I the only one who doesn't need those services alltime? All I need are two apps (yes they can consume 2 slots on my first screen) to turn those batterysuckers off, when I don't need them.
Apple needs to add Flash, I'm tired of youtube/quicktime.. I want to be able to watch movies from HULU.
I want a iWork mobile and iLife mobile and also iChat mobile.
one thing that i do like about the iphone and ipods they have these days is that the earphones and accessories you can add to them have improved quite a bit. if u guys ever want a good site for headphones check out http://www.earbudzstore.com/
Definitely better battery life!! My batt drains very quickly after updated to OS 3.1!!
1) Better bluetooth file/audio support! 2) Need themes, background image, and tones customization!! pweeeese! 3) BETTER BATTERY LIFE!!!! 4) Multitasking? mebeh? 5) EVERYTHING PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED!! woot!
...... and some more.
How about a secret screen, you could add apps to it that you don't want visible to anyone unless they enter a password or maybe use a screen gesture. There's no way I'm having a web link icon on my screen to my banks website. If I could hide a screen and only have it visible after I used a gesture to unlock the screen then I'd add them right away.
Or
Application level passwords, system controlled and not built into each app. Could set on/off and codes for each individual app through the settings panel.
Multiple, user selectable, signitures and from addresses for emails. It's a pain to setup dummy accounts just so i can use a different reply-from address.
I like the idea of a folder where I can store documents that could be available to email.
Where is the mms?
the ability to download off of safari
I concur with following ideas: 1) An envelope icon in the top bar of the lock screen showing if I have voicemails/emails/SMS messages.
2)Sync over wifi/bluetooth. At least address book and calendars
3) Profiles. The best: profiles driven by location
4) Multitasking: what about allowing some number (four?) of background tasks for application accepted by Apple to run in background?
5) A ‘today’ screen with calendar events.
6) built in TODO with sync
Neeed to be able to collapse the Inbox and Sent boxes for those with lots of subfolders. It takes to long to get past the inbox to file sent email.
Fix YouTube streaming over WiFi ... it's nearly unusable most of the time.
WOuldnt expose for iPhone be stellar way to impliment multiple processes?
Why no sms/mms/alarm sound in speaker when headphones are attached? So stupid! I miss important sms every day when I leave my phone on the desk with headphones inserted.
Ability to change wallpaper behind icons.
SMS tones that don't suck :@
Quick Reply to Texts. Why do i have to leave the app I'm currently using to reply to an SMS? This makes no sense. Please give us quick reply!!
The ability to switch between apps without exiting the apps. Example. Hold home button then press volume up or down to switch thru open apps. Ammount of times I need the calculator when on another app. Full Bluetooth profiles.
Have The Option to put Backgrounds instead of having just black like how all the jailbroken iphones can....
The microphone sensitivity in speaker phone mode really, really, really sucks. Real phones increase the microphone sensitivity. It seems that the iPhone lowers the sensitivity. At work I used to put on speaker phone so some of my colleagues could join in too, but whenever I do it on my 3GS the other part can't hear a thing (it's very low).
for the iphone 3g, 3.2 should bring: flash, zoom, video recording, winterboard, customizable text message sounds, battery percentage, and a way to boost the battery life ... thats everything the update should bring
Make a patch so us t mobile users can actually use our phone on our 3g network
I'd like to see a flash player for safari, a landscape lock, a video camera, a flash for the camera with built in zoom, themes, optional color texting, custom ringtones that don't require a purchase from iTunes and A NEW LOOK for the iPhone. 3 years is long enough to keep the same platform and style.
I'd like to see
better battery life (getting crap battery atm)
the option to choose number or bar for the battery meter
flash
tethering (to and from)
bluetooth file transfer to non apple devices
more customization
a landscape home menu
better multi tasking eg holding down the home button for 3 seconds brings up a window taking up half the screen showing what apps r open and the ability to close them from in there
wirelessly syncing
a basic office suite, i dont want to have to purcahse quickoffice or things like that for about $12.99 au
Ability to lock certain apps, including the phone. My 2 year-old plays with my iPhone and has a ton of apps for him on there, but can sometimes mistakenly call my boss.
Haptic response with the on-screen keyboard. This is not a new option. RIM, LG and several others have all integrated this into their recent phones.
User-defined dictionary (moreso than just any word you have ever typed into the Google Search box in Safari.
Copy and paste functionality within Contacts. Instead of doing a screen capture of a Contact on your phone and MMSing it to a friend, why can't we just copy a phone number from a Contact's profile and paste it into a new SMS?
i would like video effects just like the nano
ABILITY TO DOWNGRADE FIRMWARES MY GOD I CANNOT STAND 3.1 I WANT 3.0 OR 3.0.1 although that would be more of an entire apple update
FM radio - the hardware is already in there, enable it! Support for custom SMS alerts and easier custom ringtones Be able to 'mark all read' in email folders Flash - for the love of God... please!
Flash
WiFi/BT sync
Notification icons on the lock screen so we don't have to swipe/unlock to check status of messages, etc.
Background images on home screen.
Fix dock connection issues so I can index my player on my car again! (Microsoft SYNC on Ford products is currently experiencing indexing problems because Apple went and changed the USB connectivity on 3.1.1).
F L A S H
character counter on the SMS. This is useful in maximizing a single text when sending international sms which is expensive, 35cents/msg.
and adobe flash support.
A must have is spell check whenever you're typing ie... texting, emails and web browsing.
I would also like the ability to change the sound of alerts ie... Different sound for each email account, change text alert, change mms alert. All iphones sound the same. We need the ability to make our phone unique from other iphones, with millions of iphones out there they all sound the same.
I want repeating, audible, nagging meeting reminders! One ring for a scheduled meeting is not enough! If I'm out of the room, there is no indicator or alarm to let me know that a meeting is about to commence
Bluetooth Keyboard
Custom text SMS tones and flash for sure. And let's unlock tethering!
fully functional bluetooth!!!
Full bluetooth facility so that I can transfer the contacts list to my in car SATNAT/Handsfree headset. At the moment both the iphone and the headset are redundant to this end.
Another couple of things I want THE MOST:
Bug fixes, Bug fixes, Bug fixes!!!
I've heard horrible things about 3.1.1 & Wi-Fi and I don't want to wreck my new iTouch 3rd Gen that is running 3.1 fine except for a few bugs, some charging issues and battery life is a bit shorter than it should be. I hope 3.1.2 or 3.2 comes out with fixes for these soon.
The option to make custom SMS ringtones!!!!
Along with that a few bug fixes, and the ability to make SMS Ringtones.
Also more options, meaning like being able to change the background behind app icons if you want to, or the ability to make SMS Ringtones!!!
A decent calendar app, with a week view and a better ergonomy for set an appointment faster!!