There's really no reason to hold off on downloading the Apple iPhone 2.2 software update, but don't get too excited for major changes. Most of the improvements are within the Google Maps software, but even this update doesn't quite bring the iPhone up to speed with Google's own T-Mobile G1 phone. Of course, the Apple iPhone lacks a compass, but the T-Mobile G1 also uses the accelerometer for a cool, virtual world effect on Google Maps' Street View. The Apple iPhone 2.2 software update finally brings Street View to the iPhone, and it looks great. It scrolls very smoothly around the virtual space, and it updated quickly as we moved back and forth up the virtual street. The new software update also brings mass transit mapping to the iPhone, and this worked well, too, in our tests on the New York City subway system.
We tried our hardest to get the Apple iPhone 3G to drop a call, as improved call handling is part of the update package, but we never had that problem in the few hours we've been testing the new update. This could be a coincidence, or perhaps Apple really has learned how to deal with AT&T's network.
Podcasts
Then, it was on to the podcasts. The iPhone 2.2 software update allows you to stream podcasts from the Apple iTunes store to the iPhone, even under a cellular connection. The rest of the iTunes store is only available under Wi-Fi, but podcasts now open in their own, special player, separate from the iPod music app. These took some time to open. We tried NPR's "This American Life" and Adam Corolla's "Behind the Unibrow," and each took more than a minute to begin streaming, even though we're getting 5 bars of AT&T's 3G service. It seems much easier to simply download podcasts through iTunes, then sideload them, though I suppose there are people who make snap, unplanned decisions about their podcast listening.
Is that it?
It will take more long-term testing before we're enthusiastic about the stability features in the iPhone 2.2 software update. Certainly, we've experienced an unusually high number of dropped calls on our iPhone, more than on most phones we test. The feature updates, while welcome and certainly nice to look at, don't offer much in the way of real value to the device. The Google Street View is great, but the update only brings the Apple iPhone closer to the T-Mobile G1. We're still waiting for any sort of turn-by-turn options, because Google Street View is little more than a gimmick to us anyway.
Likewise with public transit maps. We like having subway stops mappable within Google Maps, but isn't this the sort of functionality a third-party developer should be delivering? Ditto podcasts. This same feature was available as a third-party app previously, but Apple pulled the app, Podcaster, from its iPhone App Store. So, the new podcast support doesn't really add anything new.
Copy and Flash and Push, oh my
We have simple demands for an Apple iPhone software update. We want copy and paste. We want Flash for videos and AJAX-rich Web sites. We want the push notification system for instant messaging and other apps that Apple has been promising since the Apple iPhone 3G was released. These three features are necessary to keep Apple competitive, as most other devices in the iPhone 3G's class can at least handle Copy/Paste and background notifications. Adobe has already started demonstrating Flash on Symbian-based phones. Could Apple possibly let Symbian overtake their beloved iPhone OS? Probably, they will.
We think its time for Apple to buckle down and focus on these features that really matter. The improved stability in calling and messaging is great, and should be rolled out periodically. But if the next OS update doesn't have Flash, Copy/Paste and the promised notification system, we're just going to keep complaining about it until Apple finally gets it right.
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