So with my cable modem dead all of yesterday, what's any self respecting TiPb editor to do? Document iPhone features, of course! Now, while Google supplies the APIs and data, Apple creates the front end client (which "blows Google away" according to what Steve Jobs said while on stage with Bill Gates back in 2007). What's new in the iPhone OS 2.2 version of that front end? Click the graphic above for a large size look at how Google Maps flows together. Couldn't squeeze everything in, of course (looking at you, position identifying pin drag!), but most of the important stuff should be in there, including:

• Get info on searched location and share that location via email
• Get directions to or from a location
• Cycle between driving, transit, and walking directions
• Get different transit times
• Get street-view environment of a location and maneuver around (the Apple Store was initially blocked by a truck, so I had to tap the arrow to "walk" a bit, and then swing around to look behind it).
• Tap the radar to back out of street view
• Double tap for on-screen controls
• Report inappropriate content to Google, which sends you a page on Safari

Anything big missing from the graphic? Let us know and we'll (try to!) add it in.

Anything big missing from the Google Maps app? Tell us in the comments and who knows, maybe we'll see it in iPhone OS 2.3!

A few days ago we mentioned Ars' iPhone expert, Erica Sadun was taking the lifting of iPhone OS 2.2's NDA as an opportunity to dump code and sift for gold. Turns out she's not only found some in the way of "hidden" TV-out features in iPhone 2.2, she's sacrificed her well earned turkey day to experiment with them. From her previous post, here's what's at work:

The MPTVOutWindow class allows your iPhone to send its video to a connected TV rather than to the built-in screen. Intended to be used with movies, the unpublished class creates a live video feed that is sent out through the iPhone's connector port. End-users will need to buy a video adapter or cable to use this functionality.

Early days still, but fairly awesome stuff. Can't wait to see what she and other developers -- not to mention Apple eventually -- come up with!

Ok, I will admit I have never heard of Emoji (“Picture Characters”) until it was announced that iPhone firmware 2.2 would support them. As it turns out, however, the only iPhones that were blessed with this feature were on Japan's SoftBank network. Until now that is...

Important Note: If you are not familiar with editing code we here at TiPb do not recommended that you try this.

No matter what carrier you are with, you can now apply a hack that was found on Gizmodo that will enable Emoji emoticons. Keep in mind any iPhone will be able to display the icons hacked or not, while "other" phones out there need to support Emoji in order to display them.

You need to edit the file /User/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preferences.plist on the device -> whether you use a jailbreak to achieve this or merely some iTunes backup editor is up to you. Add the following boolean key as ‘true’: KeyboardEmojiEverywhere. Then merely go to the Keyboards section of the Settings app, hit Japanese, and turn on Emoji. Will work for any text field/view in the OS, including on websites, AND including the titles of items on SpringBoard (e.g. if you save a bookmark to the home screen).

The easiest way to do this would be to Jailbreak and run your iPhone as a SFTP server for editing the config file. Again TiPb does not recommend you try this if you are not familiar with editing code.

[Via Gizmodo]

iPhone OS 2.2 build 2.2 5G77, at 246.4MB, is the second major point release to Apple's second generation mobile operating system. Following on release 2.0 (full review) on July 11, and 2.1 (full review) on September 15. Interestingly, while 2.0 had 8 betas, 2.1 only had 4 and 2.2 but 2. Is Apple really getting twice as efficient, or only spending half as much effort getting feedback?

Like 2.1, this update is also available FREE for the iPod Touch. Unlike 2.1, however, Apple is not providing the same functionality to Touch, with the Google Maps update notably missing. Since these updates don't seem dependent on either the cell radio or GPS, it's difficult to imagine why Apple chose to -- we'll say it -- shaft the Touch. Perhaps they'll blame their subscription accounting model again? iSigh.

Remarkable also by it's absence -- again -- is the much ballyhooed Push Notification Service (announced during WWDC 2008), intended to provide the semblance of multi-tasking to 3rd party apps by sending badges, sounds, and pop-ups through a central Apple server to alert users of, for example, new IMs or tweets. (Should we even bother to mention the continued, and continually unexplained, absence of cut and paste, MMS, unified inbox, video recording, etc.)

Note: We updated just fine using iTunes 8.0.1, but you may want to consider grabbing yesterday's 8.0.2 release first.

But enough dwelling on the didn't gets. Read on after the jump for the we gots!

iPhone OS 2.2 Release Notes

Apple gets (can we still call it uncharacteristically?) chatty with the details:

This update contains many bug fixes and improvements, including the following:

• Enhancements to Maps
  • Google Street View
  • public transit and walking directions
  • display address of dropped pins
  • share location via email
• Enhancements to Mail
  • resolved isolated issues with schedule fetching of email
  • improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

Products compatible with this software update:

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G

The Fixes Are In

Much like 2.1, and as can easily be seen by the list above, 2.2 is much ado about fixes. Many of our current gripes, especially the fetch-mail problems and incredible crash-iness of Safari have been seen to. It'll take a few days and a lot of testing to know for sure, but already things in general seem much snappier, smoother, and even more polished. This is especially noticeable in SMS, Contacts, and other previously laggy apps.

Likewise, Apple has closed a number of security vulnerabilities, a complete list of which can be found in their Knowledge Base, but includes fixes for CoreGraphics, ImageIO, Networking, Office Viewer, Passcode Lock, Safari, and Webkit.

The Un-Affected

While a lucky few apps got updates and some more received tweaks, the vast majority remain unchanged from 2.1 and even 2.0. Outside the general fixes mentioned above, that includes SMS, Calendar, Photo, Camera, YouTube, Stocks (nothing to stop them going down, sadly!), Weather, Clock, Calculator, Notes, Phone, and Mail.

In the perhaps re-broken category -- though again this is based on only preliminary tests -- iPod is back to losing its place in podcasts and other long-form content for me again. Hopefully this is a temporary glitch. (For those who don't remember, this used to be a common problem fixed only with a reboot that suddenly "reminded" iPod where it had left off).

Likewise, while we can still connect to a VPN over WiFi, I still can't over 3G. No explanation on that yet either, though we've confirmed on multiple iPhones on both Rogers and AT&T.

Home Screen

The iPhone has 9 available Home Screens to store Apps and WebClips. Now, if you're on screens 2-9, you can press the Home button and be whisked back to screen 1. A very nice touch.

UPDATED: Speaking of nice touches, while 2.1 saw Apps revert to their last assigned location after being updated, 2.2 finally nails it -- Apps are updated in their last assigned location. (Thanks phester!) No more whiplash.

Google Maps

Wow but did this app receive the most attention. Google showed that even post-Android, they haven't given up an ounce of their iPhone love, not only with their Advanced Voice Search in the Google Mobile App, but baked right into iPhone OS 2.0 as well.

First is Street-View. Google hasn't yet photographed every street, even in the US, but if you search for major American cities, you'll probably get lucky.

What is it? When you see a pin in a Street-View enabled location, tapping on the little icon on the left (looks like the top of a man), will animate you through an awesome transition to first-person view of that exact place. Swipe, and you can spin 360 degrees around or pan up and down. A searchlight metaphor, straight out of your favorite FPS, shows which direction the current view represents. Brilliant.

You can also report inappropriate content -- which I'm guessing means road-repair not being finished with all due haste?

Words don't do it justice (which is why we post pics!). Utterly mesmerizing.

Second, if you hit the icon to the right of the pin, you get pretty much what you got with previous firmware, with the notable exception of a new button option at the bottom -- Share Location. This is similar to "Mail Link to this Page" in Safari, but instead of a web site address, it sends the Google Maps location of the pin.

Lastly, if you use directions, Maps now provides not only Driving, but Transit and Walking to boot (ha!).

Transit provides bus departure and arrival times, the cost of (combined) fare, and a schedule button to get more options. Note: Bus and train numbers aren't shown right away. You need to hit Start and get underway for those. Maps will, of course, give you directions on how to get to the bus(es) and train(s) as well!

Walking ignores one-way streets and other vehicule-specific limitations (too much to hope for "Warning: Extreme Tire Hazard?" shortcuts?) when suggesting the fastest route.

Over all, since the iPhone doesn't have a built-in compass like the Android G1, Street-View isn't quite as jaw-dropping a demo on the iPhone. Never the less, it's a spectacular update to an already outstanding app.

Rating: killer.

Settings

Under Settings, General, Keyboard, you now have the option to turn off the iPhone's Auto-Correction, which many users -- especially non-English users -- found skewed more stupid than smart.

You can also, apparently turn on Japanese Emoji icons (screenshot via Macrumors) -- if you are in Japan and on SoftBank, the official iPhone carrier there. Otherwise, no Emoji for you! (I did manage to switch my iPhone to Japanese trying this out, with only my 3 year old Chinese character (same as Kanji) reading level allowing me to bail back to English... Phew!)

iTunes WiFi Music Store

You read that title right! iTunes now has a new button along its bottom bar -- Podcasts. Hit it and you're greeted with a familiar interface boasting all new -- for the mobile app at least -- content. Audio and Video Podcast direct downloads have arrived. (You can even get our very own Phone different!)

It functions identically to music downloads, though all Podcasts are still free.

Unlike Music -- and identical to the App Store -- If you can find something below 10MB (we can't!) you can download it over 3G. For everything over 10MB, iTunes will complain and direct you to WiFi.

In a pinch -- and kudos to Apple for thinking of this -- you can ignore the download button and tap the podcast title to launch the QuickTime plugin and stream the Podcast without saving it. You could do this previously via hitting a web link in Safari, of course, but adding it right into the same location as downloads is a fantastic option for users.

Note, having done this frequently from within Safari, it can be a life... er... boredom saver, but can also be frustrating. Dropouts and restarts can occur, and it won't remember your previous location if you try to come back to it later.

Note: On the download screen, there're are controls to pause and resume, and (consistency points!) you can swipe to pop up the delete option.

Epic addition that, while it still doesn't excuse PodCaster-Gate, projects Apple's iTunes/iPod dominance well into this generation.

App Store

Still no demos. Still no shareware. Still no trial periods of any kind. Yes, the ongoing tribulations of the App Store, developers, and their business models get very little help here, but Apple has provided a minor tweak for users -- improved categories with icons.

Better still, App Store Mobile finally catches up with it's Mac/PC counterpart, showing all the screenshots a developer supplies for their app, with the first one shown full-size and the rest tiled underneath. Tap on any of them to launch an embedded Photo browser to cycle through them all full screen.

If, after using the icons and screenshots to help choose and app, you ultimate decide you hate it and want to burn it from your flash memory, Apple will also cheerfully now ask you to rate it first. Any guesses as to how many 5 star apps will get trashed?

UPDATE: Introduced in 2.0, gone in 2.1, the "Update All" option makes its triumphant return in 2.2. (Thanks Scott!) A convenient feature and a solid decision on Apple's part.

Safari (Web Browser)

Though the big news is the apparently improved reliability, Safari got a small tweak all its own -- the search bar is now surfaced right up alongside the URL bar, with the search button (logically) gone and the back button now relegated to a less prominent position inside the URL bar (much as it is on Mac/PC Safari, absent the orange color).

And while it sure seems faster, whether any additional WebKit goodness, including the screaming hot SquirelFish JavaScript engine, has made it into the Mobile version is something we're still very interested in finding out.

iPod

We noticed you noticing our previous mention of the Podcast direct download feature in the iTunes app. Well, it's accessible via the iPod app as well. If you go to the Podcast section and drill down to a Podcast list, you'll see "Get More Episodes..." at the bottom of the list (notice we didn't say "end" -- we'll get to that in a bit!)

Why Apple chose text instead of an elegant, reflective button we don't know, but tapping it will take you straight to the iTunes app page for whatever Podcast you wanted more of. Very nicely integrated.

Okay, so that "end" in the "beginning" at the "end" thing? It looks like Apple has reversed the order of Podcast listings in 2.2. In 2.1, the most recent episode was at the top. In 2.2, it's at the bottom.

Why? Well, in 2.1 when you finished listening to a Podcast episode, it would auto-annoyingly go right on playing the next oldest episode available, with nary a Settings toggle available to end this assault on reason.

We're guessing they flipped things so that iPod will now auto-just-as-annoyingly go right on to the next newest Podcast.

Why, in the name of Jobs, can we not just get buttons similar to the Music section so we can choose to loop or not on our own?! What's that? They do have those buttons, it's just that the buttons seemingly do absolutely nothing?!

iSigh again.

Memo: Please flip the Podcasts back and, you know, implement the behavior of the buttons, not just the visual state, b'okay?

Conclusion

Yeah, STILL no cut/copy/paste, no turn-by-turn, no MMS, no video recording, no ubiquitous landscape keyboard, and the list goes on and on. It's just Apple, once again, doing what they think will give them the most holiday, Storm-competive bang for their developer buck.

Should you upgrade to 2.2? Still an major NO if you want it jailbroken and -- eventually -- unlocked, according to the DevTeam. For everyone else, there's not reason not to. It costs nothing and Google Maps and Podcast Downloads alone are major reasons to grab it and not look back.

If you're uncertain, drop by the forums to talk it over.

And if you notice anything else we may have missed, please let us know in the comments and we'll update asap!

With the Apple's early morning release of the iPhone 2.2 firmware update, that's the exact question many people will be asking. Hey, we at TiPb asked it ourselves -- and then blindly pushed and shoved our way to the iTunes tethers!

So what's new in iPhone 2.2, is it awesome enough for you to update, and who should stay clear at all costs?

Answers after the jump!

What's in the 2.2 Update

According to Apple, iPhone version 2.2 includes the following:

This update contains many bug fixes and improvements, including the following:

• Enhancements to Maps
  • Google Street View
  • public transit and walking directions
  • display address of dropped pins
  • share location via email
• Enhancements to Mail
  • resolved isolated issues with schedule fetching of email
  • improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

Products compatible with this software update:

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G

In addition, there have been some minor UI tweaks, which you can check out in our new iPhone 2.2 Screenshot gallery.

Who Should Update?

While some may feel, especially given recent history, that best practices are to wait a few days for the guinea pigs... er... early adopters to kick the tires and discover any deal-breaking bugs, if you're already suffering from any of the problems listed above, especially Email fetch woes, crashing Safari browsers, or want the latest security fixes, then bite the bullet and update asap. Likewise, the new Google Maps goodness and direct Podcast downloads had me at beta.

There's always a risk something might go wrong, but you're likely suffering immense frustration already, or really want the new features,the benefits clearly outweigh theoretical drawbacks.

Who Shouldn't Update?

First and foremost: those of you who have jailbroken your iPhone 3G or 2G, or unlocked your 2G need to STEP AWAY FROM THE ITUNES. Read Jeremy's post for the details, but if you upgrade now, you're in for a world of hurt and disappointment later. Bottom line: If you're rolling with a jailbroken or unlocked iPhone, stay clear until you're given the all-clear. We'll always let you know right quick when/if there are any developments in that area.

UPDATE: We forgot to mention, whenever new iPhone firmware comes out, some App Store apps will experience conflicts and stop working. If you're at all worried, or have mission critical apps, wait for others to report problems and make sure all your favs are bullet proof before risking it. (Thanks to everyone who sent this in -- please report any problem apps you find in the comments!)

Likewise, if you're living large on iPhone OS 2.1, and won't absolutely die if you don't get Podcast Downloads now, now, now then you have nothing to lose by hanging back and waiting a few days to make sure 2.2 doesn't crash and burn. Keep reading TiPb, and in a week or so, when confidence levels are high, you can take the plunge -- if you feel like it.

Conclusion

So what's the deal'yo? If you're happy with your 2.x (or even 1.x!) iPhone right now, save yourself the potential pain frustration and wait to update until there's a compelling reason to update.

If, on the other hand, 2.1 is giving you nothing but headaches, or the 2.12features are must-haves, go ahead and update now. Things can't get any worse, can they? Can? They?

Whatever you do, let us know. And if you do run into problems, be sure to head on over to our forums where Bad Ash has the crew in full force!

Now that 2.2 is upon us, you can get your TiPb fix in yet another way: grab our Podcast over the air!

It's simple. Just turn on WiFi (necessary because all of our podcasts are over 10 megs), head into iTunes on your iPhone, and search for "Phone different." It'll pop up right quick (and includes the feed for our iPhone Live! Podcast to boot!). Then head in, tap download, and away you go!

(Speaking of the Phone Different Podcast, we have this week's in the bin. It should be edited up and ready for you to grab tomorrow)

Ok, so here we have yet another update on the Dev Team's blog. This time they tell us everything we want to know about the 2.2 firmware and jailbreaking.

So, as anticipated our friends the misfits have recently released the long awaited 2.2 update. We can confirm that this update SHOULD NOT be applied using iTunes if you want the chance of a soft-unlock in the near future. If you want to keep that option of a ‘soft-unlock in the near future’ available but you want the new features of 2.2, you will be able to update to 2.2 using a PwnageTool created custom ipsw file that disables the baseband update. You will be able to do this using an updated version of PwnageTool that will be released sometime soon.

Notice the "to be released soon" part? Yeah, so did we. For a full list of facts regarding the firmware and jailbreaking please proceed to the Dev Team post. The most important fact to be aware of is if do update to 2.2 right now and are jailbroken you will not only lose the jailbreak but you will not be able to jailbreak 2.2 until they release their new PWNage tool. So, proceed with caution out there.

Of course, when they do release said 2.2 PWNage, you know we'll be all over it.

[Via blog.iphone-dev.org]

WE CAN HAS IT! iPhone 2.2, 246.4MB of Google Map goodness, podcast OTA downloadiness, Line-out-ified, Emoji-con'd, latest update to Apple's universe denting, storm-breaking mobile computing platform is now available via iTunes!

Just remember, if you've jailbroken, or if you ever want to unlock the 3G, DON'T DO IT.

For the rest of us, let us know how big it is, how fast it's downloading, how long it's taking to install, and what -- if any -- secret features you're finding when you're done!

(Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know it was live!)

[Dieter: After the break, Apple's official list of updates!]

This update contains many bug fixes and improvements, including the following:

• Enhancements to Maps
  • Google Street View
  • public transit and walking directions
  • display address of dropped pins
  • share location via email
• Enhancements to Mail
  • resolved isolated issues with schedule fetching of email
  • improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

Products compatible with this software update:

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G

Macrumors is quoting Spiegel.dewww. as saying that both a new security flaw has been found in iPhone OS 2.1, and that a patch will be included in iPhone OS 2.2 due to drop... tomorrow?!

[A] newly announced iPhone vulnerability that can force a (potentially expensive) phone call to be made simply by visiting a webpage in Safari... SIT reports that they notified Apple of the issue a month ago and that a fix will become available on November 21st through a firmware upgrade.

We've already run down the other new features rumored to be included in 2.2, so now we just sit by iTunes, hit the Update button, and wait (unless you've jailbroken, then remember to steer clear!)

Daring Fireball links to a translation of a Swedish MacWorld rumor (Google translation) that quotes Telia as saying as MMS app would soon be available for the iPhone. Phew! Broken telephone much? Tries to clarify Gruber:

Not sure if this means Telia is writing their own MMS iPhone app, or if they’re suggesting that Apple is adding MMS support to the system software. I haven’t seen any reports of MMS support in the iPhone OS 2.2 betas.

Could this be a surprise feature? Personally, I never use it. I prefer device independent protocols like email and IM to handle my communications, but I know many of my fellow TiPbsters are still dying to get their multi-touch on this baby, so what do you think?

Apple bringing it? Telia? And if so, would other carriers like AT&T follow suit with MMS apps of their own? Do we want that kind of fragmentation, after it's taken so long to get even the little interoperability that currently exists?

iPhonehellas.gr (via Macrumors) is claiming their sources are claiming that iPhone OS 2.2 is a mere 10 days away, set to drop on November 21st. Nobody outside a very few at Apple -- and maybe the carriers -- know for certain, however, so take this news with a Jobsian-sized grain of salt.

To round up the 2.2 beta features so far (which may or may not make it into the final release, along with whatever secret surprises Apple may have in store):

• Direct OTA Podcast Downloads and App Store UI tweaks
• App Store ratings upon deletion
• Google Transit, Walking directions, Street-view, and Share Location
• Line-in Audio access for the SDK

Still no word on Push Notification Services (which were dropped from 2.1 and are reportedly still not ready for prime-time), cut and paste, video, turn-by-turn GPS, MMS, Flash, or any of the other hundred or so things people are desperate to see added. Seems Apple is still focusing on what others can add (i.e. Google), and what they can get the most out of in the shortest release cycles. (Joz's famous "priorities").

Think this info is legit? Are we getting 2.2 in 10 days? Any secret features we don't know about yet? What do you think?

We've heard about podcast downloads being added to iPhone OS 2.2 before, but now Macrumors (via Shimanke.com -- check out their screenshots) has more details how the process will work. In response to Chad's fears of overwhelming AT&T's fragile 3G network (aka "rabbit ears"), it looks like cell downloads will be limited to podcasts under 10MB, the same limitation currently imposed on App Store purchases over 3G. Both audio and video podcasts will be available for download, however, and on WiFi there's no limitation.

Could TV Shows and even Movies be next? And with Exchange, MobileMe, and other sync services storming the "clouds", what does this mean for the days of USB tethering to your Mac or PC?

Meanwhile, the App Store looks to have a cosmetic makeover, with categories now sporting the icons of some of their most popular Apps (i.e., Social Networking shows the Facebook icon).

Lastly, still no sign of Push Notification, which Macrumors hears via the whisper-net is still having "major issues". After the disastrous MobileMe rollout, could Apple be waiting to get it right the first time?

But hey, at least we're still getting all those Google Maps improvements!

• Our podcast feed
• Download Directly
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iPhone OS 2.2, Turn-by-Turn GPS Navigation, Google hearts the iPhone, and more. Listen in!

Background Reading

• iPhone 2.2: App Rating and Direct Podcast Downloads?
• More iPhone 2.2 Google Goodness: Transit, Walking, Street-View, and Share Location!
• iPhone Firmware 2.2 Beta 2: Google Street-View Enabled + Line-in Audio!
• TiPb Answers: Why is There No Turn-by-Turn Navigation on the iPhone?
• Why You Shouldn’t Hold Your Breath Waiting for Realtime Turn-by-Turn Directions within Google Maps
• Friday Fun Rumor: 3D Turn-By-Turn GPS Navigation for iPhone Post 2.2?

Ultimate iPhone Accessory Pack Contest

• This week's way to enter? Join our new Facebook Page!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast.

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You -- iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

And special thanks to editor emeritus Mike Overbo for the killer intro!

Hot on the heels of all the iPhone 2.2 firmware Beta 2 goodness from Google, which included Street-View, Transit and Walking Directions, and Location Sharing, comes word on a couple more features for us to rumor over. TUAW says:

A tipster shared with us some screenshots of the new firmware, including what appears to be the ability to download podcasts directly to your iPhone (and presumably your iPod touch)

TUAW says this could explain Apple's rejection of PodCaster, but an explanation still does not a justification make. Still, this would be awesome functionality for those who don't always have a chance to tether and sync for their podcasts. We're guessing it will still be limited to WiFi only, however, like the iTunes store, to limit carrier data load for 50MB+ sound files -- and even them will the (typically much larger) video podcasts be enabled?

MacRumors (via iPhoneHellas), meanwhile, shows off a new alert box that asks users deleting an application to rate it prior to deletion. Valuable metrics, or Just Another Annoying Pop-up?

Dieter's been saying for a long time that Google hearts the iPhone -- and why wouldn't it, it delivers an incredible amount of mobile eyeballs for advertising. We've also said that the ultimate edge the iPhone enjoys over Android is that while Google produces great service for both Android and the iPhone, Apple only produces for the iPhone. The iPhone gets the best of both worlds. Latest case in point, iPhoneYap (via Apple Insider) has posted extensive screenshots of the new Google Maps 2.2, and it looks like we're getting:

• Public transit directions (including schedule info)
• Walking directions
• Street view
• Location Sharing

Sampling of images after the jump, see the full gallery at iPhoneYap

MacRumor'd yesterday and confirmed today, Apple has indeed released iPhone firmware 2.2, beta 2 to "select developers".

Google Street View, previously reported, is now enabled, and new finds seem to include SDK support for line-in audio accessories.

Anything else? We'll know when the coders get through digging!

Back when Apple dropped the [redacted] NDA on Oct. 1, a newer, freer version was promised in its place. Now, some three weeks later, Apple makes good on that promise according to MacRumors:

You agree that any Apple pre-release software (including related documentation and materials) and any information disclosed by Apple to you in connection with Apple Events or Paid Content (defined below) will be considered and referred to as “Apple Confidential Information”.

MacRumors also suggests some developers may already be getting Beta 2 of iPhone firmware 2.2. This triple-two'd code follows on the Beta 1 release from Oct. 6, which featured Google Street View, the Setting to disable Auto-Correct, as well as Japanese Emoji icons -- but no Push Notification Service, which was removed from a previous 2.1 Beta so Apple could "get it right".

With RIM promising the same feature this week, will Apple sacrifice on quality for speed-to-market? Should they? And what else might appear in 2.2?

Hopefully hip developers will scour the code and let us know!

Developers are continuing to dig away at iPhone Firmware 2.2 Beta 1, and Macrumors brings word of a few more juicy finds:

First up is Google Street View for Maps, which Android wowed the crowds with at its recent unveiling. Just like location services, however, it looks like Apple and Google will be rolling it in for iPhone users soon enough.

Next is a Settings control to enable or disable the auto-correction feature of the keyboard. Many of our own readers have been asking for this, likely to get their SMS <3, 133t, can has lolcatz, or, you know... other languages on.

Lastly, Japanese Emoji icons seem to have finally found their place in the iPhone-verse.

Still no word, however, on the delayed Push Notification Server support or many of the other most griped about, still curiously omitted features like... oh, we don't know... cut and goram paste?!

So, are these enough new features to wet your 2.2. appetite? Want more? And how important is it to you that Apple balance the amount of new features with the risk of instability a la 2.0?

(Macrumors screenshots after the jump...)

TiPb loves answering your emails, but we also love sharing our answers with the community in hopes that more people will benefit, and even better answers will present themselves (hey, that's why we have them forums!). Today's question comes from Brandon:

I think it was universally acknowledged that September was when Apple promised is background notifications for the iPhone 2.x. September has come and gone and I don't know about you guys but I still don't have background notifications on my iPhone. Would be nice if you guys posted something busting apple's 3@!!$ for missing the date and hoping we wouldn't notice. I think alot of people like myself bought iPhones with the promise of these notifications in mind.

TiPb answers, after the jump!

We posted about the lack of push-notification when it disappeared from 2.1 Beta 4, and again when it didn't show up in 2.2.

However, our take is that 2.0.x was so beset with bugs, that Apple had to focus on stability first, and then worry about new features later.

We think Apple was humbled on July 11th, and they've chosen to take some extra time with Push Notification and get things right, rather than rush out new, likely buggy features just to make self-imposed deadlines. (Do we really want a Push Notification Service as broken as MobileMe was at launch? Hopefully not!)

Of course, TiPb would love us some working Notifications, so we really do hope we get them -- stable and properly polished -- in 2.2.

On Saturday we covered some MobileSafari browser makeovers for iPhone 2.2, now it looks like its the on-board App Store app that's getting a (minor) fresh coat of paint. Apple Insider reports on the changes:

Among them is a new categories page that will feature large category icons -- not yet functional -- and more generous spacing between each listing. [As well as] shifting the "Tell a Friend" option from the title bar to just below the reviews summary, and adding a "Report a Problem" function that will allow shoppers to inform the company of problematic apps.

Neither of these are the unified inbox or searchable email I was hoping for, let alone cut and paste, but before jumping to conclusions, we'll let Apple take a few more of these tiny little steps...

For now.

Wired's blog picked up a story from iPhone Atlas today about a minor MobileSafari browser UI change that sees the (defaults to Google) search box surfaced right on top beside the URL address box (currently it only pops up when the top box is activated to save on vertical real estate). To compensate, the Refresh button gets demoted and tucked inside the refresh box. Not sure about the usability on this change yet...?

The more interesting speculation is about cut and paste, which Wired claims NO specific info on, but offers this as part of the ongoing search for some reason why Apple hasn't yet implemented this seemingly core functionality:

It's possible that Apple is taking so long to implement copy and paste not because it is difficult, but because Apple is reinventing it. Imagine a system-wide menu added to all applications which, instead of shuffling items off to a clipboard, lists all the places you can send that file (or text string). This would be like the existing "Open with" option available in the Mac's right-click menu -- each application effectively reports to the OS exactly what kind of files it can handle and the OS remembers this. Thus a picture could be sent to not only the Photo app, but to any other photo program. Text could be sent directly to any open dialog box in, say, Safari.

Sounds good to us. What about it, Joz?

Today on the forums we have a few interesting poll threads for you.

The cat is out of Apple's bag regarding the 2.2 beta firmware and we want to know exactly what feature you most want to see added??? Take a look at the options and make your vote!

In the next poll we want to know how you spend most of your time on your iPhone? Browsing the internet? Talking on the phone? Emailing perhaps? Let us know!

Are you still on the fence about jailbreaking your iPhone? hermdog started a thread that lists a few good reasons why you should jailbreak! Jailbreaking really does open your phone up to another world. So if you know of any good apps that not many people are aware of, please post it up for others to check out.

Join our growing community and get in on the conversation!

See you on the forums!

Did Apple finally bring the hounds to the old iPhone jailbreak/unlock cat and mouse game?

Maybe. It's been over 2 months and while the miraculous iPhone DevTeam has jailbroken the iPhone 3G, unlocking the device to work on any carrier has thus far eluded them. Likewise, the brand new iPod Touch -- which might be a sign of things to come with the next iPhone as well -- has proven more resistant to Jailbreaking. Says the DevTeam:

the 3G iPhone soft unlock and iPod Touch 2G jailbreak are still relatively new challenges (compare them with the timeframe of the iPhone challenges last year). We’re making slow advances on both fronts, but it’s not the sort of thing that can be easily described in a blog like this. But, to maybe show how interlinked these challenges are, this weekend we’ll be trying some hardware based ideas on the iPod Touch 2G jailbreak

It's not all doom and gloom, however, as the DevTeam also elaborates a little on iPhone 2.2 "Timberline", confirms it's still vulnerable to pwnage, and shows it running Terminal.app.

Clever.

Roughly half a second after Apple began seeding Beta 1 of Firmware 2.2 to select developers, we began wondering: what we gonna get?! Firmware 2.1 handled the stability. Now we want some new features!

The usual suspects sound like a (still) broken record: cut/copy/paste, turn-by-turn GPS, video recording, Flash support, and MMS.

The recently "pushed" back include: Notification Server support to simulate multitasking for App Store apps (like instant messenger).

For us: unified inbox, email aliases, some Squirelfish-boosted Safari browsing, App Store refunds for duds, and pervasive landscape mode would be nice.

What about you? What features do you most want to see Apple implement in iPhone (and iPod Touch) firmware 2.2? Take part in the pole over on our forums!

'Tis soon the season. No, not fall, but new firmware season as Apple has released the first beta for firmware 2.2. Following on the 8 betas for 2.0 (released July 11, which turned out a little on the undercooked side...), and 4 for 2.1 (released September 12, which changed from feature bump to stability patch), 2.2 will hopefully bring us a little Notification Server love, and who knows what else? (Not going to say cut and paste -- a blogger can only get their heart broken so often!). Says Macrumors:

The new version is labeled iPhone OS 2.2 beta 1 and is accompanied by a new beta of the iPhone SDK (build 9M2611). Beyond "compatibility testing", there are no other differences noted by Apple.

Doubtless, the one NDA to [redact] them all is in full effect, but hopefully some deep-delving coders will discover (and leak!) a few goodies for us anyway.