For those of you who have been waiting but didn’t get a chance to see the Apple iPhone announcement today, here is a quick summary of what was announced:
* the iPhone will FINALLY have Cut / Copy / Paste – Yay! including
multiple item selection, area selection – shake to undo
* the iPhone will have MMS support
* the iPhone will support push notifications but NOT background
processes/multitasking (Apple explains that it is a huge battery killer)
* Most built-in apps will now support landscape mode
* apps can now talk directly to accessories via BT or dock connector
* access to location services (need for turn-by-turn navigation) – but devs
will have to bring their own maps – I believe they said there would be no
using the google maps due to licensing restrictions.
The messaging app now supports MMS (photos), contact info, location info, audio info.
The Notes app now offers sync support.
The Stock app adds news to the mix.
The Calendar app adds .ICS subscription support and CalDAV support
There is a new Voice Memo App
Some more of the new features:
* auto-fill
* YouTube account support
* Anti-phishing support
* WiFi auto-login
* Stereo BT headset support (A2DP)
Apple delined to comment on Flash support at this time, directing the conversation instead to their improvements in h.264 support.
Apple also seemed to indicate that they weren’t planning (at this time) to support file transferring over BT.
Apps were shown from a variety of vendors including Oracle, EA (The Sims), Lifeline (a Diabetes/Glucose management app that interfaces with the testing device), ESPN (video streaming app), Meebo.
The update will be free for iPhone users (but 1st gen iPhones won’t support A2DP or MMS), but, as before, will cost $9.95 for iPod Touch users.
Apple announced no new hardware products.
The developer beta is available now with the consumer release expected in June.
