iPhone firmware 2.0 hands-on
- Exchange is so on! Changes are pushed over the network, but over WiFi it does check-ins, so it's not as instantaneous.
- There's no contact search that we can see, so far. Maybe that only gets turned on if you have thousands of contacts (which we definitely do not).
- There's a new button in the calendar, but we don't know what it is and can't make it do anything.
- The App Store is there, of course, but doesn't do anything yet (except error out that it can't connect).
- Wondering when Apple will make good on its agreement to license Cisco technology? Well, the branded Cisco VPN screen has definitely been added to the VPN settings. We couldn't really test this one, but assume it works as advertised. We don't yet know if it supports SecurID or other hardware token authenticators.
- Parental controls most certainly work. Marvel as we turn off YouTube!
- You can now order your preferred WiFi networks.
- In addition to having a new sideways scientific mode(!), the basic calculator now does commas and has new, useful functions for the math nerds; both the calc and the iTunes icons have changed.
- By far our favorite new feature is multi-select in mail, though. Now when you hit edit you can select as many messages as you want and delete or move them as a group. Friggin' finally. Now where's that two-pane client?
Update: Video after the break!
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)
Eric @ Mar 18th 2008 1:44PM
Any chance there is horizontal typing SMS?
Paul @ Mar 18th 2008 2:48PM
I'll second that, does anyone know anything about this?
Reid @ Mar 18th 2008 3:06PM
I actually am so used to the vertical typing keyboard that I have a hard time typing on the horizontal KB.. ymmv of course :)
TomWBrowning @ Mar 18th 2008 1:46PM
The new icon in the calendar looks like a to-do list inbox icon to me. Given Mail/iCal now have to-do lists this wouldn't be too much of a stretch.
Erik @ Mar 18th 2008 1:47PM
The calculator upgrade was much needed. And now it doesn't look too bad either...
VedicHymn @ Mar 18th 2008 1:47PM
Is there still no to-do list/tasks support? Do those sync down somehow from Exchange? The keynote was pretty vague on that.
crunchyk9 @ Mar 18th 2008 1:48PM
WTF does "Exchange is so on! Changes are pushed over the network, but over WiFi it does check-ins, so it's not as instantaneous." mean.
Changes are pushed over the network? The cellular network? The Exchange integration is slower if I'm on WiFi? How much slower? How does the Exchange integration compare to Blackberry?
Rick @ Mar 18th 2008 1:55PM
I wonder if you guys have ever read what a beta version is. You know, those things that aren't 100% complete?
MMS in my opinion is useless when it has an amazing email app. And cut and paste would be nice but I've been using my iPhone fine without it.
candide @ Mar 18th 2008 1:55PM
one thing i've always been missing about the ipod in iphone is the "group compilations" feature from itunes and former ipod models. any chance 2.0 does that? could you check that for me?
(in case this needs explanation:
imagine you have 3 albums on your ipod, e.g.:
1. The Beatles - "White Album"
2. The Strokes - "Is This It"
3. Various Artists - "Some Compilation" feat. 10 Tracks by different artists, incl. Artist 1, Artist 2, Artist 3, ..., Artist 10.
now, with "compilations grouped", ipod will list only 2 artists in the artist list: beatles & strokes. my iphone would currently list 12 artists (beatles, strokes, artist 1-10.). hope that helps;)
since i have a lot of compilations, this would definitely make scrolling the artist list more practical. thanks!
Chris Anderson @ Mar 18th 2008 1:56PM
Is push email supported for non-Exchange email servers? I have yet to get a straight answer on this.
Darren @ Mar 18th 2008 2:30PM
Exchange push-email support is obviously only available to Exchange users.
Chris Anderson @ Mar 18th 2008 3:09PM
I didn't ask if Exchange push email was supported, I meant push email in general. During the keynote, they listed Push Email as a new feature before every mentioning Activesync and Exchange. And, if you visit Apple's iPhone enterprise site, it says the phone will now feature push email without speficially saying if it requires Exchange to function. (I'm worried because we just finished switching over from a Windows 2003 server to a Mac Leopard server for my all Mac office. If Apple seriously doesn't have push email for it's own products, I'm going to be LIVID.)
Reid @ Mar 18th 2008 3:11PM
ActiveSync is for exchange.
I thought the iPhone already supported push email on Yahoo!? Haven't tried it though.
mark @ Mar 18th 2008 1:59PM
Can you set a different reply-to address in Mail like you can in Mail.app yet?
SFO Kevin @ Mar 18th 2008 1:59PM
No SIM?
Reid @ Mar 18th 2008 2:02PM
Can it push email via EDGE while you're on WiFi?
The most annoying thing with my iPhone is that, since I leave WiFi on, it always hops on my work WiFi, which needs me to use a browser and go thru an authentication screen, even though my credentials are saved. So I have to open the web browser before I can use other data apps. When I go out for lunch and come back, I have to repeat that. I wish it would just fall back to EDGE once it realizes the WiFi isn't working.
I could just turn off WiFi, but then I'd have to manually switch it on when i want to use it at work and at home.
Dean @ Mar 18th 2008 3:49PM
Why don't you just tell your phone to forget your work network? That way it won't automatically join it.
Reid @ Mar 18th 2008 5:15PM
I like to use it for websurfing. And I wouldn't mind using it for stocks and weather, etc, but of course have to pop open a browser to authenticate first...
Dood @ Mar 18th 2008 2:04PM
I like the fact that you can delete multiple emails? Can you however mark multiple emails as Read/Unread? Also, are you able to sync Exchange Notes and Tasks?
Oliver @ Mar 18th 2008 2:05PM
is safari faster? are the "tabs" implemented, so that if you don't access a tab, it doesn't turn white? is there still no way to do a backspace in the calculator?
dagamer34 @ Mar 18th 2008 3:49PM
That was supposedly fixed in 1.1.4
david @ Mar 18th 2008 2:12PM
ryan block, can you elaborate on why the icons on the iphone picture shown above are different than on other iphones? my calculator and itunes store icons are different. thnx.
Joel @ Mar 18th 2008 2:16PM
Seriously!?
You take the time and trouble to ask a question but yet you cannot be bothered with reading the dang post?
Phoenix @ Mar 18th 2008 3:09PM
Idiot...
But then, you did buy an iPhone
Timerider @ Mar 18th 2008 2:15PM
I still want flash in Safari.
zachary miller @ Mar 18th 2008 3:02PM
Too true, too true, The Web is filled with flash and the iPhone can't touch any of it. The iPhone needs flash badly if it is to win anymore hearts. Hopefully this will all be sorted out come June.
Dorf @ Mar 18th 2008 2:19PM
I wonder how well it works with exchange polices.
Does it enforce password polices so if you enter it wrong x amount of times it does an wipe? If their device gets wiped, do they lose any songs they have purchased? We will not be installing iTunes on any corporate computer, do they need that to activate?
This is the dealbreaker for us for this round, but I'm guessing they do not support device encryption like WM6 and Exchange 2007.
No device encryption is enough for us to tell users no, but I'm still curious to how it all works. Exchange support or not, a lot of large corp IT shops are not going to want to support a device that requires software installed locally on the machine or the creation of iTunes accounts.
If a device can't be activated with no PC interaction at all, then it won't work. If it's not there yet, maybe it will be soon.
Timerider @ Mar 18th 2008 2:20PM
Can you sync music without playlists? Or make video playlists? Or organize videos more that "movie" or "tv show"?
These are problems i have with my ipod touch. Having to shove all other videos under movies doesn't help.
mediaphile @ Mar 19th 2008 3:07AM
You've been able to manually organize your music since version 1.0.
Preston @ Mar 18th 2008 2:36PM
Things I am reallllly missing with my iPhone, in order:
MMS (I know you can send them/view them over email, but if I am mobile and so is someone else, in order for them to know i sent something and see what I am sending, they need a smart phone at least, and they'd need a data plan and push email [or id need to call them/SMS them to tell them to check their email], and they need to open the email and download the attachment, which may or may not turn out well. I send a MMS message, and as long as they have any POS phone made in the last two years and messaging, it alerts and opens as soon as its received, which is seconds after it's sent.)
Exchange
3G
horizontal typing for email and SMS
VPN
Voice recording
DRG @ Mar 18th 2008 8:30PM
You can stream radio just fine on the Non 3G iphone... there's several apps out there already for that in the homebrew community..
I have one on my phone and it works perfectly on the edge network
King Chronic @ Mar 18th 2008 2:44PM
Please, someone here explained how this was done. I have been working with the dev team on this jailbreak and now they all think that I leaked it to you guys. Please say something so they know I didn't leak this to you guys. Please.
dagamer34 @ Mar 18th 2008 2:49PM
What about logging into 802.1X networks?
Devesh Verma @ Mar 18th 2008 2:55PM
does the push email only work with Exchange and Yahoo! still? Also is there a smaller interval to check emails than every 15 minutes?
go engadget!
The Chickening @ Mar 18th 2008 2:55PM
That mysterious new button in the calendar is for notifications. At least that's what that same icon does in iCal. You guys couldn't get it to work because you didn't have any notifications.
lanejasper69 @ Mar 18th 2008 2:58PM
WOW, how about staying on topic guys. And why do people bother to come here and read only to slam Engadget for their efforts? What's the poing, you don't like it then YOU invest your time on a blog and se what YOU can pull off!!! Un-appreciative A-Holes.
Anyway, I wonder if the "scientific sideways" mode will be a new property of the iPhone in itself and allow horizontal modes on other apps, such as iPod in horizontal mode, but with controls available on the same scree, such as the option to shuffle songs..? Or Am I missing something here and we already have that?
Faslane
Joppa @ Mar 18th 2008 11:15PM
What's the poing indeed.
Lane Jasper @ Mar 19th 2008 10:07AM
@Joppa, are you really that stupid to not figure out it's a typo, should say point. Don't be a smart ass, no one will like you.
RRS @ Mar 18th 2008 2:59PM
Does 2.0 solve the SMTP issue when you're not using one of the preprogrammed mail providers (Yahoo, Gmail)? This is the problem where you have to switch SMTP providers when moving from EDGE to wifi, or the other way around.
Also, is there horizontal viewing and typing in email?
Damage @ Mar 18th 2008 3:01PM
Wait, they still don't have the Clear Error Function on the calculator?
Geezah... They can't even get the simple things right...
And for the record, I do use the calculator time to time on the iTouch, but I don't like the fact that it lacks a CE button... Grumble...
bwashburn9 @ Mar 18th 2008 3:02PM
I understand that most other smartphones have more capabilities (WM6 & Blackberry esp), but none of those have a UI which is as easy to navigate. My two year old can do basic things on my iPhone. He can't to much of anything on my wife's Treo. Are smartphones made for 2yr olds? No. But think of how the new Enterprise apps could make some of those tech challenged people possibly more efficient.
Does anyone else think that OS 1.2 for iPhone will be released as the same time as iPhone 2.0? Besides 3G and better Bluetooth what other hardware items would be built into the new model? (hopefully a non-recessed headphone jack)
jimmy.twining @ Mar 18th 2008 3:05PM
I thought this was the iPhone 2.0 update? why does the version say 1.2 in the picture?
samgross144 @ Mar 18th 2008 6:57PM
There has been a lot of confusion on this. Steve Jobs said that it would be firmware "version 2.0" it is now apparent that it is actually 1.2.0. Just like 1.0 was updated to 1.1 for the first major update (adding the iTunes application), it will be updated to 1.2 for the second major update.
lanejasper69 @ Mar 18th 2008 3:08PM
WOW, how about staying on topic guys. And why do people bother to come here and read only to slam Engadget for their efforts? What's the poing, you don't like it then YOU invest your time on a blog and se what YOU can pull off!!! Un-appreciative A-Holes.
Anyway, I wonder if the "scientific sideways" mode will be a new property of the iPhone in itself and allow horizontal modes on other apps, such as iPod in horizontal mode, but with controls available on the same scree, such as the option to shuffle songs..? Or Am I missing something here and we already have that?
Faslane
thehumanyawn @ Mar 18th 2008 3:10PM
I sick of people bitching and moaning about "Apple this, Apple that". Engadget can be biased if they want to, but if you people were smart enough to piece everything together, you would realize that completely Apple-biased. The general consensus is that Vista sucks, Microsoft isn't trying hard enough to be an innovator again, and that Apple's latest products beat most other ones out there. I don't think any of you know the meaning of bias. If they were as biased as you people claim it is, would they post things that could hurt Apple? They wouldn't put up photos of flaming iPod Touches if they were biased. They wouldn't slam Leopard because of its issues, and they wouldn't post ANYTHING that might potentially be good for Microsoft, like the fact that SP1 got released today. Hell, there would be nothing but Apple on here if they were that biased. They give praise to other products, and they can't help it if Apple is doing things right. If people like their iPhones, and Engadget says nice things about it, that doesn't make them biased. And by the way, they assume Cisco VPN works because everything else seems to work okay for a beta, but how in the hell can they really do that much. It supports the protocol, and there really isn't a way that theirs could be better or worse than another (after setup).
MrEats @ Mar 18th 2008 3:16PM
Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste Cut & Paste
This is increasingly annoying, not having that, at first...ok, now.....unacceptable!
Steffen Jobbs @ Mar 18th 2008 3:18PM
Anyone know why there is still no cut and paste? With all the new improvements, why is feature still missing?
doebeln @ Mar 18th 2008 3:24PM
The thing I really would want it to do is be able to receive/send contacts over sms and bluetooth, and to work as a modem for my MBP. If ATT wants to cripple the modem functionality in the US to protect it's data plan the rest of the world shouldn't have to suffer for the lack of such, in my opinion, basic feature.
lanejasper69 @ Mar 18th 2008 3:26PM
Flash is NOT going to happen anytime soon, so don't bother bitching about it.
Faslane
who_the @ Mar 19th 2008 7:37AM
There's nothing quite like making a definitive statement about something -- which you have no inside knowledge of -- and immediately being proven wrong.
The WSJ wrote today that Adobe is "committed" to bringing Flash to the iPhone. Something tells me their sources are slightly better than yours.