iPhone Firmware 2.2 Beta Coming Soon: What Features Do You Want?

By Gary Ng on September 26th, 2008 123

A report by MacRumors yesterday reported that Apple has seeded iPhone firmware 2.2 Beta 1 to developers. The purpose of this build was for “compatibility testing” with no other mentions of new features. Some argue that this new build will encompass the long awaited push notification service which will allow apps to send out alerts like how SMS messages appear.

Also, MobileSafari has been changed a bit with the refresh and magnifying glass buttons at the top of the screen. To refresh a page, you’ll now use a tiny icon next to the URL bar. I think this makes MobileSafari a lot more intuitive and I welcome this change! Check out this screenshot:

With 2.1 firmware released less than a month ago (don’t forget the undocumented features), and the jailbreak for 2.1 was announced a few days later! Most of us can agree that 2.1 solved a lot of the issues we had with 2.0.2. Personally, the keyboard lag was gone for me and overall the iPhone performed a lot better. After I used QuickPwn 2.1 to jailbreak my iPhone I was able to regain access to QIK, BossPrefs, WinterBoard, and a few other 3rd party apps.

The news of 2.2 beta being seeded to developers made me think of some features many people would like to see included in the next firmware update. Think of it as a much anticipated wish list! Here are a few that come to mind immediately:

- copy/cut/paste
- video recording
- wireless sync via WiFi
- MMS
- Horizontal texting/mail/everything
- Bluetooth file transfer; Stereo Bluetooth
- Ability to delete individual SMS messages; forward SMS
- Mark all read for Mail app
- Push for applications
- Increased battery life
- Bug fixes still for Safari
- Flash support
- Turn by turn GPS
- Universal search
- Notifications on lock screen (like Intelliscreen)

I know some of these may seem far-fetched and can be solved with jailbreaking, but given the fact that the iPhone OS X is so powerful some of these might not be that far off. Personally I’d like to see horizontal options for typing in text messages and emails. It makes the keyboard much larger and reduces typos. Sometimes having a case of “fat thumbs” can really screw you over when you’re typing fast. Having little snippets of email previews or SMS previews on the lock screen would be beneficial as well.

What are some features you’d like to see on upcoming firmware release? The ability to do your taxes or predict the future? ;)

[Read] Thanks to iPhone Atlas for the image.

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  • dmurray

    ability to easily tap backwards a minute or so in a movie to re-watch a scene.

  • Jan

    A lot of you folks seem to think that Apple is going to solve you’re problems with their new updates, and unfortunately (no offence intended of course), Apple probably doesn’t care so too much about you’re wish lists. What I can see, is that they would be willing to fix your problems, and then to add one or maybe two of the functions that seem to be the most popular. The reason is this: They now have you, hook line and sinker, and they can release an update, whenever, wherever, and however they choose, because they know you will (myself included), rush like mad people to get the newest morsel of sweet Apple-y goodness. Now, that being said, there is obviously a point at which we will hopefully come to a collective agreement, and stop eagerly snapping up each little precious update, and I think the biggest wish that I could have, is that we actually realize that we need to do this sooner, rather than later.

    On a lighter note, I enjoy the new-ish features of 2.1 and will probably check out 2.2 once it’s been pwnd, but I do have one or two personal requests that I know Apple will probably disregard for the moment.
    1) Tilt/horizontal texting in mail and SMS apps (like the rest of you, I find the keyboard just a tad small, but still very functional)
    2) Wi-fi syncing would be neat, but somewhat pointless. Yes, you could do it while you are taking a dump, but so what?
    3) Flash support for mobileSafari (because lets face it, pictures just aren’t as good as videos)
    4) Notifications on lock screen? (When I get a text, it often gives me a few lines of text, so I don’t have to look at it right away…don’t you all have the same function?) For Mail app, it could work, but for me, it’s not an issue because I don’t hand over my left nut to get unlimited data
    5) Sync with To Do:’s from either iCal, notes or some combination of the two. I would see this as the most obvious issue, because it comes standard on most of the other smart phones of it’s class.

    Anyway, my two cents probably don’t matter too much anyway. But before you go wishing for things Apple did, realize first what they have already done, breath, and then think about the more important things in life.

    Happy Saturday!

  • Jan

    A lot of you folks seem to think that Apple is going to solve you’re problems with their new updates, and unfortunately (no offence intended of course), Apple probably doesn’t care so too much about you’re wish lists. What I can see, is that they would be willing to fix your problems, and then to add one or maybe two of the functions that seem to be the most popular. The reason is this: They now have you, hook line and sinker, and they can release an update, whenever, wherever, and however they choose, because they know you will (myself included), rush like mad people to get the newest morsel of sweet Apple-y goodness. Now, that being said, there is obviously a point at which we will hopefully come to a collective agreement, and stop eagerly snapping up each little precious update, and I think the biggest wish that I could have, is that we actually realize that we need to do this sooner, rather than later.

    On a lighter note, I enjoy the new-ish features of 2.1 and will probably check out 2.2 once it’s been pwnd, but I do have one or two personal requests that I know Apple will probably disregard for the moment.
    1) Tilt/horizontal texting in mail and SMS apps (like the rest of you, I find the keyboard just a tad small, but still very functional)
    2) Wi-fi syncing would be neat, but somewhat pointless. Yes, you could do it while you are taking a dump, but so what?
    3) Flash support for mobileSafari (because lets face it, pictures just aren’t as good as videos)
    4) Notifications on lock screen? (When I get a text, it often gives me a few lines of text, so I don’t have to look at it right away…don’t you all have the same function?) For Mail app, it could work, but for me, it’s not an issue because I don’t hand over my left nut to get unlimited data
    5) Sync with To Do:’s from either iCal, notes or some combination of the two. I would see this as the most obvious issue, because it comes standard on most of the other smart phones of it’s class.

    Anyway, my two cents probably don’t matter too much anyway. But before you go wishing for things Apple did, realize first what they have already done, breath, and then think about the more important things in life.

    Happy Saturday!

  • Jan

    A lot of you folks seem to think that Apple is going to solve you’re problems with their new updates, and unfortunately (no offence intended of course), Apple probably doesn’t care so too much about you’re wish lists. What I can see, is that they would be willing to fix your problems, and then to add one or maybe two of the functions that seem to be the most popular. The reason is this: They now have you, hook line and sinker, and they can release an update, whenever, wherever, and however they choose, because they know you will (myself included), rush like mad people to get the newest morsel of sweet Apple-y goodness. Now, that being said, there is obviously a point at which we will hopefully come to a collective agreement, and stop eagerly snapping up each little precious update, and I think the biggest wish that I could have, is that we actually realize that we need to do this sooner, rather than later.

    On a lighter note, I enjoy the new-ish features of 2.1 and will probably check out 2.2 once it’s been pwnd, but I do have one or two personal requests that I know Apple will probably disregard for the moment.
    1) Tilt/horizontal texting in mail and SMS apps (like the rest of you, I find the keyboard just a tad small, but still very functional)
    2) Wi-fi syncing would be neat, but somewhat pointless. Yes, you could do it while you are taking a dump, but so what?
    3) Flash support for mobileSafari (because lets face it, pictures just aren’t as good as videos)
    4) Notifications on lock screen? (When I get a text, it often gives me a few lines of text, so I don’t have to look at it right away…don’t you all have the same function?) For Mail app, it could work, but for me, it’s not an issue because I don’t hand over my left nut to get unlimited data
    5) Sync with To Do:’s from either iCal, notes or some combination of the two. I would see this as the most obvious issue, because it comes standard on most of the other smart phones of it’s class.

    Anyway, my two cents probably don’t matter too much anyway. But before you go wishing for things Apple did, realize first what they have already done, breath, and then think about the more important things in life.

    Happy Saturday!

  • Lonnie

    With the last Firmware update, my battery usage is actually worse :( . I have lost almost 45mins of usage time and now I am barely pushing 3 HRS? can someone explain that one!

  • Lonnie

    With the last Firmware update, my battery usage is actually worse :( . I have lost almost 45mins of usage time and now I am barely pushing 3 HRS? can someone explain that one!

  • Lonnie

    With the last Firmware update, my battery usage is actually worse :( . I have lost almost 45mins of usage time and now I am barely pushing 3 HRS? can someone explain that one!

  • http://4nkid.blogspot.com/ Babylon

    Try http://youmail.com … works wonders…

  • http://4nkid.blogspot.com/ Babylon

    Try http://youmail.com … works wonders…

  • http://4nkid.blogspot.com Babylon

    Try http://youmail.com … works wonders…

  • spark

    - Custom tone for SMS.
    - Email / SMS a contact.
    - Cancel sending a text message.

  • spark

    - Custom tone for SMS.
    - Email / SMS a contact.
    - Cancel sending a text message.

  • Stu

    I would like to see the iphone compatible with Rogers “Name Display”. A phone number for anyone not in my address book does me no good!

  • Stu

    I would like to see the iphone compatible with Rogers “Name Display”. A phone number for anyone not in my address book does me no good!

  • Stu

    I would like to see the iphone compatible with Rogers “Name Display”. A phone number for anyone not in my address book does me no good!

  • Bandidod

    I’ve being waiting for the HTC Touch HD, but I just found out that it’s not going to be realised in the US, my next option it’s iPhone, but it doesn’t support A2DP. A2DP has been the most important feature that I want to see in iPhone and that’s been the only reason I haven’t bought it. If they get a update that enables A2DP before Christmas, I will buy the Iphone

  • Bandidod

    I’ve being waiting for the HTC Touch HD, but I just found out that it’s not going to be realised in the US, my next option it’s iPhone, but it doesn’t support A2DP. A2DP has been the most important feature that I want to see in iPhone and that’s been the only reason I haven’t bought it. If they get a update that enables A2DP before Christmas, I will buy the Iphone

  • Bandidod

    I’ve being waiting for the HTC Touch HD, but I just found out that it’s not going to be realised in the US, my next option it’s iPhone, but it doesn’t support A2DP. A2DP has been the most important feature that I want to see in iPhone and that’s been the only reason I haven’t bought it. If they get a update that enables A2DP before Christmas, I will buy the Iphone

  • Wayne Hamilton

    When sending to entire group in Mail, it would be so much faster to have an “ALL” button. The individual contact selection system takes too long, but is fine for selecting just a few contacts.

  • Wayne Hamilton

    When sending to entire group in Mail, it would be so much faster to have an “ALL” button. The individual contact selection system takes too long, but is fine for selecting just a few contacts.

  • Wayne Hamilton

    When sending to entire group in Mail, it would be so much faster to have an “ALL” button. The individual contact selection system takes too long, but is fine for selecting just a few contacts.

  • charlhen

    guys can someone plz tell me how to forward sms message in iphone!!!! im beginning to hate iphone for this, can’t forward message,,,,, awwww plzzz help

  • charlhen

    guys can someone plz tell me how to forward sms message in iphone!!!! im beginning to hate iphone for this, can’t forward message,,,,, awwww plzzz help

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