What you want in the 3G iPhone

Apple iPhone

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Last week I posted a list of the features that I'd like to see in the new 3G iPhone. I also asked you what you'd like to see in the new version, and I got quite a few responses. Voice dialing was one of the most popular suggestions, and I'm embarrassed that I left that off my original list. Indeed, that feature is sorely needed, particularly as more states and localities mandate hands-free cell phone use while driving. Also, another feature that I should have included is a landscape keyboard for composing text messages. On the current iPhone, the landscape keyboard is available only in the Safari Web browser. As reader bmaberryjr put it, why this was left out to begin with is one of Apple's great mysteries.

But those weren't your only suggestions for iPhone 2. Here's what else you had to say.

Please let me toss my Palm system by giving me third-party apps.
- orange636
The ability to forward a text message! How sweet would that be!
- Pathogens
Don't forget Spotlight (a desktop search feature of Mac OS X). It's needed badly in the new iPhone.
- Ashoka8350
I would love it if my iPhone had a built-in FM tuner like many other phones out there.
- cmunroe19
Being able to search the iPhone addresses, calendar, notes, etc., would be a big help. Also, I would like to see a way to sync notes with your computer.
- jond
Slingbox capability. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that sling.
- Frank
Ringtones from voice recordings.
- msurebel
Why can't they just make the speakerphone loud?
- maxreynoso
I want to send all of my phone numbers to my hands-free car interface so I can see the caller ID on the screen. Currently, Bluetooth is only for use with a headset, not with data transfer.
- 8AxleEd
Wi-Fi sync from my computer to my iPhone and vice versa!
- peruchino
Forget all that other crap (video recording, messaging). If I can just open, edit, and create Mobile Word and Excel files, then I could consolidate my PDA, phone, and iPod into one device!
- kabuki969
I'd like a second SIM card slot so you can have one phone with two numbers on two different services when traveling overseas.
- jrettie
I'd add the ability to tether the phone and use it as a 3G modem.
- sjmanikt

On the whole, those are great comments. Yet, a few people suggested moving the iPhone off AT&T's network. Unfortunately, that won't happen for a few years at least. Also, one reader proposed that Apple make the new iPhone thinner, while another wanted a better user interface. Personally, I don't agree with those suggestions. The iPhone is slim already, and I think the interface is quite nice as it is. What do you think??

[nyiphoner]

Apple is so great at so many things, why can't they let me resend a text message on the iPhone when it doesn't go through. I text from NY to Europe a lot and sometimes the networks don't connect well. So the message needs to be resent. Normally I just hit a resend button. But on the iPhone I have to retype the whole thing. Really irritating sometimes.

[timmyp918]

I'd like to have notifications for new emails that are similar to those used for new text messages (pop-up window, screen lights up, notification sound/vibration). It should look different enough to distinguish between new emails and texts, but still the same kind of idea (who the email is from, a snippet of the message, etc.).

[zbirdboy]

whoever suggested a new user interface must have mistaken the iPhone 2.0 with a Palm product. can't wait for this new device to come out to see what happens to the iPod Touch. I can't wait to ditch my Tungsten E2!

[mitchinboston]

If I select a link that plays video, it should play the video, rather than giving me a red X. Come on, my old pocket pc could do it. No go on my I phone for video links on the NYTimes or CNN, just my only sad point about my Iphone.

[rangolani]

What happened to copy/paste?!?!?!?

[sting7k]

I would like the iPhone to be lighter, its perfectly thin but it is heavy compared to other devices. Move the antenna to the top and make the headphone jack standard.

[croquembouche11]

I'm still waiting for flash support.

[ndotkrame]

The iphone could easily be the coolest universal remote out there, and the functionality would more than support apple's "dominate the living room" dream. Copy-paste would be amazing; and the ability to one-touch scroll to the bottom of a webpage would be nice. Just give me gchat and/or pushmail, and I'll upgrade on the spot.

[re_illumination]

two words:

PICTURE. MESSAGING.
I am a photographer. Taking picture is what I do for a living. I need picture messaging and 3G so it doesn't take 3 years to send a picture...

also, forwarding texts would be very nice, and the ability to resend texts (as mentioned above) would be nice as well...

[schnoid]

This was written awhile ago, but many of these things still apply: http://schnoid.com/rantings/

The gist of it is that a physical keyboard would be really important to me. I don't have that much personal experience with the iphone, but I have played around with it enough to know that I GREATLY prefer the palm keyboard over the touch screen keyboard on the iphone. The article mentioned above makes note of a few other important features like a on/off/vibrate switch and mostly features others have brought up. On the software side, it would be really nice to have a fully functional browser with flash support.

[rjcarpenter]

I would like to see better use of the internal memory for safari. It's frustrating that we have the ability to have eight web pages open but the phone doesn't keep them loaded. It would also be nicer if when going back a page or two it retrieved it from memory as well.

[michaelseanhansen]

Bluetooth keyboard!

[Movieman1942]

Of course all of the mentioned extras would be nice to have but, least we forget, it is a done deal already. June is just around the corner and what ever is new will hopefully satisfy most of us. I live in a region that has no 3G yet but, hopefully soon. I bought a iPhone right before the announcement that there would be a IPhone 2 as did others. Will we get the $200 deal on a new one ? What we don't get this time may be on the iPhone 3 ?

[hwoalang]

well well~ 3G modem feature is most need for iphone.... why can't they come out with little bigger screen~ it's not like iphone will last longer if they have smaller screen....-_-;;;

[emil serban]

Let's stop beating around the bushes. Biggest missing thing is being a locked phone!!! Freedom is what a cell phone was supposed to bring about and that is the biggest missing thing in not only the iPhone but all Apple products. This is the reason why Apple lost the battle againt M$ many years ago and will loose the battle with Android now. One should be allowed to use Skype with Wi-Fi when available and pay no fees altogether. Jobs was very smart and greedy too when chose a business plan than makes the customers pay 5 times the cost (which is approx. $120) of the device if they stay with ATT for 3 years. This will eventually be it's weak spot that Google will exploit to the max... One should be allowed to switch SIM cards depending on the country he is in. This will force global cell phone carriers (Vodafone, T-Mobile) to eliminate roaming rate globally and keep a customer from changing his SIM when traveling from US to UK or Germany for example. One day $100 will cover all your communications and entertainment needs. That being said, the iPhone is a beautifuly crafted hardware and software piece.

[big.mouth]

An FM Tuner?! What century are you nitwits living in? Ever heard of internet radio? Works great over 3G...

[TBev24]

I work for AT&T, and let me tell you this phone sells well, however, people do not like the texting because it does not flip to landscape mode. Hopefully that issue will be fixed!!! A major downside and i'm surprised that it was not addressed is the fact that you cannot MMS, it makes you send the picture as an email, which is not good at all since your average consumer wants to send pics. Call quality is being addressed i know that much!!! Phone will be slightly thicker also!!! Bottom line Apple needs to open the gates more to ensure that this device or future Apple phones are a hit, there are way to many devices that you can customize making the consumer feel as if its there own personal device. Thank You

[etrader83]

Feature: Support automatic download of available podcasts over 3g or wi-fi.

Background:
Currently I use my ipod to listen to podcasts (NY Times, MarketPlace, WSJ, etc) - these podcasts are typically available at a set time - NY Times/WSJ (early AM), Marketplace (5:30 PM central) - if iPhone 2.0 can let me wirelessly download podcasts (either wi-fi or 3g) and can also let me schedule these podcasts downloads then every morning on my commute, I could listen to the NY Times or WSJ without having to tether my ipod to my laptop!

FYI - The audible player for Windows Mobile supports this so if Audible comes out with a player for iPhone then I will take that too!

[poopapapa]

A couple things that would be real nice to see come to the iPhone would be Live TV and Flash

[AXG]

I would just have to say one thing. Apple should consider pre-installing some popular applications which can be installed after jailbreak so there would be no need for a jailbreak.