Apple said in an email invitation on Thursday that it will provide a "sneak peek" at the iPhone 3.0 software, along with information about the new software kit that third-party vendors use to create applications for the device. (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE52B5H520090313)

Presumably the fact that its a new version as opposed to an interim version suggests new functionality as opposed to bug fixes and enhancements.

Today's the day.

A lot has been said about which features should be included, but here's my wish list:

* Copy Paste, paving the way for enhanced productivity
* Redesigned springboard (homescreen) for more efficient way of organizing and launching apps.
* Push notifications, including syncing sunscribed calendars to the iPhone.
* Turn by turn GPS capabilities with voice (Maps is nice but does NOT replace a Tom Tom or Garmin device in its present form)
* Better implementation of the Bluetooth protocol, including things such as syncing and pairing devices such as a keyboard.
* Introduction of a sleep mode similar to Airline mode to stop the phone from vibrating and beeping while it's on your nightstand (if youu wish to leave it on to use it as an alarm or fal asleep to music)

There's more, but I'll stop here...

http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/live-from-apples-iphone-os-3-0-preview-event/

Press release just issued.
Apple Previews Developer Beta of iPhone OS 3.0

Beta Release Provides New SDK, Over 1,000 APIs & 100 New Features

CUPERTINO, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) today previewed its iPhone(TM) OS 3.0 software and announced the immediate availability of a beta software release to registered developers. The iPhone OS 3.0 beta release includes an updated Software Development Kit (SDK) with over 1,000 new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) including In-App Purchases; Peer-to-Peer connections; an app interface for accessories; access to the iPod(R) music library; a new Maps API and Push Notifications. Apple also announced over 100 new features that will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer including cut, copy and paste; MMS;* landscape view for Mail, Text and Notes; stereo Bluetooth; syncing Notes to the Mac(R) and PC; shake to shuffle; parental controls for TV shows, movies and apps from the App Store; and automatic login at Wi-Fi hot spots. The iPhone OS 3.0 beta release will also include a new Voice Memo app and expanded search capability for all key iPhone apps, as well as Spotlight(TM) search across the iPhone or iPod touch.

"The new iPhone OS 3.0 is a major software release packed with incredible new features and innovations for iPhone customers and developers alike. It will keep us years ahead of the competition," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

The iPhone OS 3.0 beta software and SDK include over 1,000 new APIs and are available today for all iPhone Developer Program members to use for development and testing of their apps for iPhone and iPod touch. Included in these APIs is the ability to leverage the incredible purchase model of the App Store within apps. In-App Purchases will allow developers to offer subscription content and provide the ability to sell new content and features in a simple and secure process. Developers can also more easily create peer-to-peer games for iPhone and iPod touch by using Bluetooth.

Another key developer feature in the iPhone OS 3.0 beta software is the ability for apps to interface with hardware accessories, creating a whole new element of control for iPhone and iPod touch accessory developers as well as a new ecosystem of solutions for customers. Developers will also be able to use Apple's new Maps API to integrate Google Mobile Maps services within their apps which will offer Google Map tiles, current location, custom annotations and geocoding. The iPhone OS 3.0 beta software includes the Apple Push Notification service which provides developers with a mechanism to alert users with sounds, text or a badge.

The new iPhone OS 3.0 software will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer with over 100 new features including cut, copy and paste which can be done within or across applications; MMS to send and receive photos, contacts, audio files and locations with the Messages app; and the ability to capture and send audio recordings on the go with the new Voice Memo app. Landscape view will be available for Mail, Text and Notes. Search capabilities will be expanded, allowing customers to search within Mail, iPod and Notes or search across all key apps by typing a key word or phrase into the new Spotlight search, conveniently accessed from the Home screen.

The updated Stock app will add the ability to display recent company news and current trading information like opening or average price, trading volume or Market Cap, and will offer a landscape view to see a full screen of any stock chart. Customers will also be able to view shared calendars right on their iPhone with CalDAV support and sync their calendars with iCal(R), Yahoo, Google and Oracle.

Today, the groundbreaking App Store has more than 25,000 applications available to consumers, and 15 more countries have been added so the App Store is now available in 77 countries, allowing developers to reach more than 30 million iPhone and iPod touch users around the world. Developers set the price for their applications and retain 70 percent of all sales revenue. Apple covers all credit card, web hosting and infrastructure costs associated with offering applications on the App Store.

Pricing & Availability

The iPhone OS 3.0 beta software and SDK will be available for registered developers to download starting today from developer.apple.com. iPhone customers will be able to download the new iPhone OS 3.0 software for free this summer and iPod touch customers will be able to purchase a software update for $9.95 (US).

Noteworthy for consumers is 3.0 will be out in the summer.

I have a Touch, I think I will be purchasing this update.

Stereo Bluetooth! Finally!

This will be the 3rd time I will have to pay for upgraded software for my ipod Touch.

Does it say anything about adding name display to go along with call display?

WoOt! CalDav support for on-device calendar subscriptions. My subscription to MobileMe is all of a sudden worth it as my wife will be able, on her iPhone, to see changes made by me on my iPhone to our Family calendar.

Copy Paste will be nice, especially in apps such as Documents to Go (no mobile iWork, darn it Apple :( ).

Most of the stuff on my wishlist is there, plus more!

Bluetooth accessories are cool, this will be the next major gold rush in the iPod/iPhone world.

Multitasking would have been nice, specifically for Audio streaming apps (listen to the radio while surfing the Web).

I need to watch the stream to round up all these annoucements. Summer cannot come fast enough.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/04/07/exclusive-apple-iphone-30-screenshots-leak-out/

This will be the 3rd time I will have to pay for upgraded software for my ipod Touch.

So, $30 for tonnes of new features...

I'm sorry, but there is nothing to say that Apple has to give away new pieces of software. You purchased your iPod Touch knowing what software came on it. Most companies don't do software/firmware updates at all, so at least you'll have the option...

Most companies don't do software/firmware updates at all

Which ones don't?

Every computer and component manufacturer I've ever dealt with has released firmware and/or software upgrades for their products, almost always for free. BIOS updates, driver updates, firmware updates, software updates for sound and video cards, etc etc etc.

Electronic manufacturers release updates for their products for free all the time -- DVD players, PVR boxes, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players (and these amount to being operating systems) even TVs.

Microsoft gave us a brand new operating system for the 360 (NXE) just before Christmas. For free.

Apple releases firmware updates -- which often contain new features -- for every other device they have (my 30GB iPod Video for example) for free. EXCEPT the iPod Touch. Firmware updates for that have been $10 or $20. Sure, as a business they don't have to charge for it (although they have some lame excuse as to why they do), but they seem like one of the very few companies that do charge for that type of upgrade.

Yes, but you wouldn't expect to get the next major upgrade to Windows or Mac OS X for free now, would you?

The same logic applies to the iPhone / iPod Touch when it comes to 3.0.

Yes, but you wouldn't expect to get the next major upgrade to Windows or Mac OS X for free now, would you?

Well no, but Apple has a habbit of charging for even the minor upgrades to OS X. Microsoft releases it's service packs for free. Apple calls each point revision a new version of the OS and charges for it.

The same logic applies to the iPhone / iPod Touch when it comes to 3.0.

That's where I have a problem. Apple doesn't charge iPhone owners, only Touch owners. They claim it SOX and/or GAAP, but that's crap as those are merely procedures to follow if you are charging for goods. Even if those were legitimate reasons, neither GAAP nor SOX state Apple has to repeatedly screw us out of $20; there's no reason Apple couldn't charge $1 instead.

But my real argument here is that 3.0 isn't any different than Microsoft's NXE for the 360, or the PS3 OS, or the OS running on any Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player, or the Blackberry SmartPhone OS. Whether you call them firmware updates or operating systems, each revision added new features (just like the Apple OS updates) and each were free.

I'm just a bit tired of continuing to pay Apple for bug fixes and features that should have been in version 1.0.

Well no, but Apple has a habbit of charging for even the minor upgrades to OS X. Microsoft releases it's service packs for free. Apple calls each point revision a new version of the OS and charges for it.

Point revisions are new versions of the OS and they come out every couple years. In between, Apple releases patches as necessary. To state otherwise suggests you don't own a Mac.

I'm just a bit tired of continuing to pay Apple for bug fixes and features that should have been in version 1.0.
So how can Apple, or any company, get everything in version 1.0 of their software release? I don't think there is a software developer out there that can get their software relased 100% bug free. So if Apple didn't update the iPhone/Touch at all, and just waited a couple years, and release a new version of the hardware. You would be complaining about having to buy a new iPhone/touch to get these features instead of complaining about a optional update for the touch that you have to pay $9.95 for. :rolleyes:

I can see that we're just going to have to agree to disagree.

I personally don't see cut-and-paste, MMS, better stock charts, search, improved syncing, shake-to-shuffle, landscape keyboard, parental controls and access to additional APIs as "astounding new features" that require a paid upgrade. They are features that should have been in 1.0 or available as bug fixes/minor enhancements. They are the kind of features other hardware and software manufacturers release for free. Many of them are features that existed in my Palm Pilot Pro 10 years ago.

I love my iPod Touch, but the way Apple treats Touch users seems to ensure the longevity of the jailbreak scene.

Assuming you're familiar Microsoft Office, do you think Microsoft should have given Office 2003 and 2007 away for free to owners of Office XP?

If Office XP didn't include cut-and-paste and the ability to save documents, yes.

I'm sure we can continue to find examples on the periphery for both sides. I gave a bunch of examples previously in the thread that I think hit a little closer, for example Sony, Microsoft and Blackberry releasing firmware and OS upgrades for their devices for free.

I'll never be convinced that Apple's motives here aren't powered by greed rather than service to customers. 13 million iPod Touches x $10 = 130 million for every OS update.