Comments on: What the iPhone 2.0 software update adds

The iPhone 2.0 software update brings a couple of needed features to current iPhone owners, but it misses a lot as well.

[Angarvin517]

is MMS, bluetooth profiles, video capturing, all things that could possibly be put on the new 3G phone via an update? im just curious, maybe it will come soon?

[Angarvin517]

is MMS, bluetooth profiles, video capturing, all things that could possibly be put on the new 3G phone via an update? im just curious, maybe it will come soon?

[sonymaster101]

apple is skipping out on certain features so they can add them in future "updates" and all the apple fanboys in the world will line up and buy it because it has an apple on it.

[dannyd666]

How can the Iphone not support stereo bluetooth. Practically every smartphone has had that feature since mid 2006. The Iphone is a music phone and again it won't support all the various stereo bluetooth headphones that are out there. You still have to be connected to your phone with annoying earbuds.
Also there is no bluetooth tethering so you can't use your iphone to provide internet to your laptop in emergencies. Other smartphones have that feature.
It's very irritating that Apple nickels and dimes it's customers leaving out obvious features so they can sell you practically the same phone the next year with stuff that's been widely available for years.

[DarkHawke]

I only thank the Almighty (not Jobs) that Apple doesn't now or ever has had the market power of Microsoft, 'cause this nickel-and-dime parceling out of features is abso-frakkin'-loutely ridiculous! No Flash? So how can you say you deliver the "real internet?" No landscape keyboard? What bizarre design aesthetic did THAT violate? You can drop 3G and GPS in the thing, but no support for stereo Bluetooth? What is this, 1998 or 2008? I actually think that this version of the iPhone is a far more compelling item than the original, especially with (tightly restricted!) third-party development coming on line, but these glaring omission show nothing but Jobs' my-way-or-the-highway contempt for the consumer, and I choose to vote NO with my wallet till the S.O.B. wises up!

[isykal]

Stereo bluetooth, video recording, and MMS will be added when Jobs decides to re-release the IPhone 2.0 at the end of the summer. This is his way of screwing up the fanboys. I'm so glad that nothing with an Apple logo on it interests me.

[appledectomy]

@ DarkHawke

It was already announced a few months ago Sun was working on Flash for the iPhone 2.0. It will probably be a free download off the Apple store when it hits July 11. So you will have Flash with the new firmware release through Apple store.

Also couldn't some of these things be added via a 3rd party app like MMS? I think so...

[jasonkinnard]

@appledectomy... 1) Flash should have been included in the "best" internet phone. 2) If my free phone from Verizon shoots and sends video and picture, a $600 iTurd should.... ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE!! 3) Add those functions with a 3rd party app? As in pay for the functionality it should already have? You must be a sheep .....

[DarkHawke]

What you said, brother! C'mon, ya gotta wait over a YEAR for Flash support in a browser? Does that make sense to anyone?

[DeepPurple23]

This is very interesting what everyone is crying about. A couple of years ago I purchased the new SLVR from motorola, it cost about $200 with a two year contract, it had "stereo" bluetooth, iTunes for 100 songs, MMS, synced with Outlook for contacts and calendar, and had voice dialing. I was never so happy to throw that phone away and use my iPhone. I didn't think I would like it this much, some of the features mentioned here would be nice, but most of them are a firmware upgrade, hell I'm getting exchange support as a firmware upgrade. When I read about all the "flaws" and short comings I laugh. Sure, my old phone connected to the internet, hell my wife's Blackberry does that, but the truth is, it is not usable, that is the true difference here. And if your choice is a new RZOR or an iPhone for $199, which are you going to take? Hell the Nokia N95 is what $400? Call me a fanboy if you want to disregard my statement, which you will, but I'm not, I just like my iPhone. But ask yourself this, whose argument holds water, the one with points or the counter that yells "FANBOY".

[DarkHawke]

Hey, you're perfectly entitled to like what you wish, just as I am. My point isn't even that it's a for-crap phone. I just question the attitude that, in the SECOND iteration of a product, leaves so many wanted and demanded features out or for later updates and releases. If this was a Microsoft product, would you have such equanimity? Would there be ANYONE not shredding them for this kind of (at best) bone-headedness or (at worst) arrogance?

[YoRockOn]

Hey how about using the phone as a data link while on the road (WM has internet connection share)? How about editing MS office doc formats - not just view? Ofcourse flash other applet support.

[enochrios]

I just noticed that the iPod touch will now cost more that the iPhone of the same capacity. 8GB iPod Touch is 299 while the iPhone is 199. Does anyone think that's wierd?

[aristotle_dude]

If you are looking for video recording, look for a video camera. MMS messages? What's wrong with email with photo attachments? Why are you encouraging yet messaging format with limited appeal/use beyond some mobile users? The latter works on the desktop and virtually all mobile devices.

[DarkHawke]

Other, less expensive/tricked-out phones do video as well as pictures, and handle MMS messaging. And email attachments are malware vectors, not to be trusted, let alone opened.

[perplexedobserver]

Putting aside the Apple bashing/fanboy ridiculousness, it seems that the iPhone 2.0 software adds some much needed functionality, albeit some indirectly. It also falls short in several minor ways. It would seem to me that the only legitimate gripes would originate from oversights by Apple at the most basic interface level. Not having the ability to copy/paste seems like a serious problem. MMS...maybe, although emailing does the same thing, only better. Stereo bluetooth...um, okay? - for all you earbud haters, why not Frankenbud your iPhone headphones over at ultimatebuds.com and get a higher quality music experience than your stereo bluetooth set?

Most of the other complaints, however, seem like they're lamenting a lack of features that the AppStore has been created specifically to provide. Rather than Apple dictating how a user will use his or her iPhone, now a multitude of 3rd party programmers can fill functionality voids to their little hearts' content. I'm not trying to defend Apple or Steve Jobs. It just seems as though the critiques leveled against both for dictating what/when/how iPhone features are released have missed the point. I applaud Apple for opening up a powerful mobile platform to developers. I've found the clunky software I've had on previous phones to be limited in both quantity and quality. At least with the iPhone, now I can pick and choose programs from a prospectively massive selection.

[cnet-og]

"...now I can pick and choose programs from a prospectively massive selection"

Isn't this exactly what Mac users criticize the PC for??? And tout the Mac's superiority for NOT having software developed by countless sources, which creates too many choices that would potentially confuse the 'mindless sheep' that Mac views it's public as??? So, is the shoe now on the other foot?

[wtherrell]

No flash for the camera? Still no sync with Outlook 2003 calendar, Tasks. Still no user replaceable battery. WIFI? No thanks. Just not useable even though user friendly. The iPhony still does not measure up. Who cares about playing Monkey Balls on a phone? Even the price is offset by the extra monthly charge. Although you do get 3G I still won't go to ATT for this pretty piece of junk.

[netstacker]

@Kent German

The iPhone does not have video recording capabilities because people would be streaming WWDC!

[Emmanuel_von_Angst]

So basically the iPhone 2 has added (most) of the features that basically every smartphone has lavished upon it's users for over 2 years now? 'Great'?
My old 8125 has every feature listed save for 3G support (not a shock since the protocol wasn't widely adopted at the time) and the scientific calculator (unless you get the FREE winmobile version of it)
This is what people are salivating about? Really?
I had an iPhone for about 6 months, 2 battery failures and woeful lack of functionality later, it now finds itself a proud resident of the bottom of the LA river. The thing is a brick.

[Jim Babcock]

What a freaky bunch of comments! It is obvious that Apple named this a "phone" and made a BIG mistake. iPhone is a COMPLETE PC in your pocket!
Who cares for iPod like junk... it is a computer for crying out loud! A Full copy of Tiger (several years ahead of freaking VISTA...) and is a true wave of the future.
When I get mine, I'll install OpenOffice (no MSFT crap for me) and I can work anywhere I want with documents, spreadsheets, etc etc..
What a bunch of BOZO-Ville remarks in this thread...
Jim B

[555orange]

Good! You guys all wait! Im getting 2 as soon as it hits the stores. One for me, one for my wife. Fanboy is right.... its all about usability... easy of use.... feel.... quality.... the experience. Its just plain fantastic all around.! Every other phone/smartphone ive had has not compared to this! Stereo bluetooth...HAHA...if thats a deal breaker for you, so be it. It would be nice...but no biggie. This phone is so much better than anything else... DOPE>.. why am I wasting my time talking on this thread ... who cares... im getting mine..and so will millions of others. No Fart-berry for me!

[pianoguy--2008]

While I agree that there are some features missing at the present time many of the posts here make me wonder if any of these people have actually had their hands on an iPhone.

Presently I am using a Treo 680. This phone does most everything that some of these posts say the iPhone should; copy/paste-check, video recording-check, ability to work directly in MS Office-check, email-check, web broswer-check, lots of apps to choose from-check, MMS-check, mp3 player-check.

So why will I be at a store on July 11th to buy one? Because it's the real Internet in your hand. Web pages on my Treo are borderline useable, I rarley use the video recorder (I have a small Sanyo that records HI-def video onto SD cards that fits in my palm.) The three things you get with the iPhone that appeal to me are; the real web in your hand, email that looks like my desktop email, an iPod. (I already gave my former iPod to my daughter.)

My wife was an avid Blackberry user and got the first iPhone. You'd have to pry it out of her hands. My son who is in the Marines where he's on the computer most of the time dealing with budgets and purchasing also is a Blackberry user and is planning on replacing it with an iPod.

Apple may not have all the features now on the iPhone that you may want. I should remind you that people said the same thing about the iPod when it first came out ? where is the FM radio? etc. Of course the iPod went on to be a gigantic success and Apple in time added features and capabilities and stayed way ahead of the alternatives (think Brown Zune).

Personally the deal killer for me in not getting the original iPhone was that it worked only on Edge and had no outside apps. available. Apple took care of both those things and I'll have one on July 11.

[dogdoclax]

Scientific calculator
Jobs said a lot of people asked for this and frankly, I'm wondering who they are.

Oh C'mon, don't be dumb. We're all geeks here, and some of us use scientific calculators every day!