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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  • http://www.kkcalgary.com Tim Aucoin

    On top of my wish list is the ability to customize (winterboard) without having to jailbreak! :-) Have a great weekend everyone!

  • justin

    Apple needs to read these post because they can do some good for them
    I would love it if they could put on horisontal typing for email/txt it will be usefull
    aswell as the blutooth file transfer and also stereo feature along with parring with other devices

  • justin

    Apple needs to read these post because they can do some good for them
    I would love it if they could put on horisontal typing for email/txt it will be usefull
    aswell as the blutooth file transfer and also stereo feature along with parring with other devices

  • justin

    Apple needs to read these post because they can do some good for them
    I would love it if they could put on horisontal typing for email/txt it will be usefull
    aswell as the blutooth file transfer and also stereo feature along with parring with other devices

  • Ansar

    you can actually type horizontally on the iphone while you are browsing in Safari… its actually much nicer to type

  • Ansar

    you can actually type horizontally on the iphone while you are browsing in Safari… its actually much nicer to type

  • Ansar

    you can actually type horizontally on the iphone while you are browsing in Safari… its actually much nicer to type

  • Guest

    LMAO at the STOP SENDING TEXT. Man, im totally with ya! A feature like that can come in handy.

  • Guest

    LMAO at the STOP SENDING TEXT. Man, im totally with ya! A feature like that can come in handy.

  • Dusty

    LMAO at the STOP SENDING TEXT. Man, im totally with ya! A feature like that can come in handy.

  • Guest

    I agree with ya on the speaker phone, it sux!
    Yes to the Bluetooth! (Stereo) ;)

  • Guest

    I agree with ya on the speaker phone, it sux!
    Yes to the Bluetooth! (Stereo) ;)

  • Dusty

    I agree with ya on the speaker phone, it sux!
    Yes to the Bluetooth! (Stereo) ;)

  • SSK13

    I use AirShare for my pdf needs and it hasn’t let me down yet…

    Also the speakerphone hasn’t really given me too many problems so perhaps its a hardware issue or something?

  • SSK13

    I use AirShare for my pdf needs and it hasn’t let me down yet…

    Also the speakerphone hasn’t really given me too many problems so perhaps its a hardware issue or something?

  • SSK13

    I use AirShare for my pdf needs and it hasn’t let me down yet…

    Also the speakerphone hasn’t really given me too many problems so perhaps its a hardware issue or something?

  • coop

    Oh yeah, add the ability to edit word/excel files. Not just view them.

    Yes, with AirSharing I can see them, but I can’t edit them or even search through them.

    Almost totally useless.

    Re the speakerphone, unfortunately it’s a common problem – and this is one place where the BB really shines. It has a great speakerphone. Even the guy at the Rogers store wasn’t happy with the one in his phone…

  • coop

    Oh yeah, add the ability to edit word/excel files. Not just view them.

    Yes, with AirSharing I can see them, but I can’t edit them or even search through them.

    Almost totally useless.

    Re the speakerphone, unfortunately it’s a common problem – and this is one place where the BB really shines. It has a great speakerphone. Even the guy at the Rogers store wasn’t happy with the one in his phone…

  • coop

    Oh yeah, add the ability to edit word/excel files. Not just view them.

    Yes, with AirSharing I can see them, but I can’t edit them or even search through them.

    Almost totally useless.

    Re the speakerphone, unfortunately it’s a common problem – and this is one place where the BB really shines. It has a great speakerphone. Even the guy at the Rogers store wasn’t happy with the one in his phone…

  • JSW

    I would say my only complaint at this point is that when I’m on the phone and I get a text, when I want to hang up I have to close the SMS window before I can hit end call…SO annoying!

  • JSW

    I would say my only complaint at this point is that when I’m on the phone and I get a text, when I want to hang up I have to close the SMS window before I can hit end call…SO annoying!

  • JSW

    I would say my only complaint at this point is that when I’m on the phone and I get a text, when I want to hang up I have to close the SMS window before I can hit end call…SO annoying!

  • dannyboy

    I want to be able to order a movie from my iPhone when I’m at work so that when I get home it’s ready on my Apple TV.

  • dannyboy

    I want to be able to order a movie from my iPhone when I’m at work so that when I get home it’s ready on my Apple TV.

  • dannyboy

    I want to be able to order a movie from my iPhone when I’m at work so that when I get home it’s ready on my Apple TV.

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    I agree! This would make a lot of people happy including myself. The default theme gets boring after a while. ;)

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    I agree! This would make a lot of people happy including myself. The default theme gets boring after a while. ;)

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca iPhone Fan

    I agree! This would make a lot of people happy including myself. The default theme gets boring after a while. ;)

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    Yeah, that’s a great feature. Now if only they could implement this for texting and emails!

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    Yeah, that’s a great feature. Now if only they could implement this for texting and emails!

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca iPhone Fan

    Yeah, that’s a great feature. Now if only they could implement this for texting and emails!

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    The speaker has always been a weakness, ever since the first gen. At least this time around I didn’t have to poke the speaker holes with a NEEDLE! LOL!

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    The speaker has always been a weakness, ever since the first gen. At least this time around I didn’t have to poke the speaker holes with a NEEDLE! LOL!

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca iPhone Fan

    The speaker has always been a weakness, ever since the first gen. At least this time around I didn’t have to poke the speaker holes with a NEEDLE! LOL!

  • Peter

    And more and better costum sms- and ringtones please

  • Peter

    And more and better costum sms- and ringtones please

  • Peter

    And more and better costum sms- and ringtones please

  • Geo

    Hey iPhone Fan, nothing wrong with your list:
    opy/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 look at my Treo 680 and see some apps/features that could and would make the iphone so much more better. cut/copy/paste is essential; bluetooth also and others. Come on, I can read my MS Word doc on my Treo and can’t do that with the iphone. Simple contact page to edit and it becomes a chore. I am afraid that Steve Jobs is getting to become like Bill Gates and wrap it all around the company, but not give us what we want. I might be getting a bit disillusioned….and might be waiting to see the new Treo on Linux.
    P.S.: why couldn’t the phone have some features including taxes and predicting the future? :)
    Geo

  • Geo

    Hey iPhone Fan, nothing wrong with your list:
    opy/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 look at my Treo 680 and see some apps/features that could and would make the iphone so much more better. cut/copy/paste is essential; bluetooth also and others. Come on, I can read my MS Word doc on my Treo and can’t do that with the iphone. Simple contact page to edit and it becomes a chore. I am afraid that Steve Jobs is getting to become like Bill Gates and wrap it all around the company, but not give us what we want. I might be getting a bit disillusioned….and might be waiting to see the new Treo on Linux.
    P.S.: why couldn’t the phone have some features including taxes and predicting the future? :)
    Geo

  • Geo

    Hey iPhone Fan, nothing wrong with your list:
    opy/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 look at my Treo 680 and see some apps/features that could and would make the iphone so much more better. cut/copy/paste is essential; bluetooth also and others. Come on, I can read my MS Word doc on my Treo and can’t do that with the iphone. Simple contact page to edit and it becomes a chore. I am afraid that Steve Jobs is getting to become like Bill Gates and wrap it all around the company, but not give us what we want. I might be getting a bit disillusioned….and might be waiting to see the new Treo on Linux.
    P.S.: why couldn’t the phone have some features including taxes and predicting the future? :)
    Geo

  • mr blonde

    flash support & copy/paste.

    Scrolling to the top of a web page is already there – hit the clock at the top. Noticed this with 2.1, not sure if it was there with 2.0.2.

  • mr blonde

    flash support & copy/paste.

    Scrolling to the top of a web page is already there – hit the clock at the top. Noticed this with 2.1, not sure if it was there with 2.0.2.

  • DJ

    If it is possible to do I would like to see UMA support so I can use the wifi “talkspot” or whatever Rogers calls it to make calls using a wifi network.

  • DJ

    If it is possible to do I would like to see UMA support so I can use the wifi “talkspot” or whatever Rogers calls it to make calls using a wifi network.

  • DJ

    If it is possible to do I would like to see UMA support so I can use the wifi “talkspot” or whatever Rogers calls it to make calls using a wifi network.

  • mr blonde

    Hit the clock at the top of the screen to scroll to the top of a web page.

    I just want flash and video recording.

  • mr blonde

    Hit the clock at the top of the screen to scroll to the top of a web page.

    I just want flash and video recording.

  • mr blonde

    Hit the clock at the top of the screen to scroll to the top of a web page.

    I just want flash and video recording.

  • dmurray

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

  • dmurray

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

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