iPhone 2.2 update arrives: major improvements

By Leon Bailey on Fri 21 November 2008

We just synched one of our office iPhones and got the above message, which says it all – the 2.2 firmware update has arrived. Does it have cut and paste? Of course not. But Apple has added plenty of new stuff, some of which is very good indeed.

The biggest new additions are the inclusion of Street View to the Google Maps application and the ability to download podcasts wirelessly (we think there’s a 10MB limit on this, but we have had time to check yet).

We’re still working through the new update to find out all we can about it but for a bit more on what we know already, click after the cut.

Another change is one that we reported on back in September: Apple has increased the viewing area in Safari by condensing the search and URL bar onto one line. It works well.

As well, users now have the ability to switch off the iPhone’s auto-correct option. A good start, Apple, but what we’d really like is the ability to manage and edit auto-correct entries – one for 2.3, perhaps?

Finally (well, finally so far, anyway), iPhone 2.2 will ask you to rate an app upon deletion, which seems a little cart before horse if you ask us. Stay tuned because we’ll update this story throughout the day with anything else we may find, and we’ll add a few screenshots later too, assuming we can find a nearby location with Street View, anyway.

Here's the full list of changes, according to Apple: 

iPhone 2.2 Software Update

This update contains many bug fixes and improvements, including the following:

  • Enhancements to Maps
    • Google Street View
      • public transit and walking directions
      • display address of dropped pins
      • share location via email
  • Enhancements to Mail
    • resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
    • improved formatting of wide HTML email
  • Improved stability and performance of Safari
  • Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
  • Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
  • Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
  • Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
  • Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

Products compatible with this software update:

  • iPhone
  • iPhone 3G

For feature descriptions and complete instructions, see the user guide for your iPhone at http://support.apple.com/manuals/iphone

For more information about iPhone, go to http://www.apple.com/iphone

To troubleshoot your iPhone, or to view additional support information go to http://www.apple.com/support/iphone

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

[Apple]

Comments

Comment 1
neutral
User 15:27 on 21 Nov 2008

what happened to emotions :(

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Comment 2
neutral
TechyNews 20:41 on 21 Nov 2008

I am glad that apple is continuing to update the firmware, but can they get some priorities straight? Like better integration with exchange calendar invites and some copy paste. I would love to replace my blackberry with an IPhone at work, but these basics need to be provided. Sure Street view is nice, but all its going to do is help me find the soup line if I lose my job because I missed a calendar invite.

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Comment 3
neutral
Baz 13:17 on 24 Nov 2008

Yeah, I know that the iPhone / Touch are really just CDDs (Content Delivery Devices)for Apple's iTunes and App Stores. But if, as Jobs has reportedly said, he doesn't see the need for Apple to produce netbooks as they already have these devices, what's with the continued lack of cut/paste and the ability, by default, to use the keyboard in horizontal mode in all programs that use it?

Meanwhile, 'dumb' devices like the iPhone and other smartphones that require a live connection to the net to achieve most of their functionality really require their manufacturers to lean on the wireless companies selling them to drop the cost of data plans - as none of these devices will be as popular or useful as they could be till then.
Example, in Canada - http://www.thestar.com/article/540077

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