MacMost Now 107: iPhone 2.0 Software New Features

Gary Rosenzweig takes a look at the new features of the iPhone 2.0 operating system: Exchange, Calculator, international keyboards, parental restrictions, typing shortcuts and more.

You can also watch this video at YouTube (but with ads).

Video Transcript: Hi, this is Gary. In today's episode of MacMost Now, let's take a look at the new features of the iPhone 2.0 operating system.
So we all know the big new feature of iPhone 2.0 is the app store. This allows you to add all sorts of different applications to your iPhone. But, putting that aside for the moment, let's go and take a look at the actual changes to the existing iPhone software. There's a couple little things, a couple big things. Let's take a look.
Now some of the biggest changes have happened in mail. In addition to all the different types of accounts you could add before, such as regular POP accounts and Gmail accounts, you can now add Microsoft exchange accounts. And of course, you can also add MobileMe accounts which replaces the DotMac accounts from before. A MobileMe account now includes more than just mail. You can also synch your calendars, bookmarks, and contacts through it if you're using it. One feature that iPhone mail users have been dying for is the ability to delete multiple e-mails at the same time. You can do that now by pressing edit and then clicking on the little dots to the left, and then you hit the delete button. You can also move multiple at the same time. Now, this doesn't solve a problem when you've got hundreds of emails to delete; that could easily happen since spam isn't filtered on the iPhone. So, all it takes is a few hours for your iPhone to fill up and there's really no way to get rid of them rather than hitting all of these little red checkmarks. But at least it's a step in the right direction.
You can also view several new types of documents in mail now. For instance, here's a powerpoint presentation that came in mail. And it will show that on the iPhone and allow you to scroll through it. You can also view documents that were created in iWork. Here's a numbers document. 
Now Maps has been improved, mostly if you use the GPS chip in the new iPhone, but it works in the old iPhone, too. What it does is it will actually update your location if you tell it you want directions from your current location to a new location or you just want to show your current location, and then you're driving along--or walking along--you'll see your location change. Works great with GPS, which is very detailed it can actually show you walking by each house on a block. 
Another new feature is parental restrictions. You can decide to turn off podcasts that have an explicit tag. You can also restrict browsing on Safari, YouTube, and installing of applications. 
I noticed now that you can turn on Wi-Fi even if you're in airplane mode. So when you get on an airplane, you set it on airplane mode, it shuts off all network activity. Then you can go back into the Wi-Fi settings, turn on Wi-Fi. This will allow you to use your iPhone on the few airplanes that actually provide a Wi-Fi connection.
You can also now select from a whole bunch of different international keyboards. 
A lot of people have mentioned how now passwords are entered in where you see the little black dots that are the characters you're typing, except for the last letter, which shows you the character. This makes it easier to type in random passwords using the keyboard, because you can easily see mistakes. 
There are now several new ways to add new images to your camera roll besides just using the camera. One of course is to take a screen shot; you can hold the button on the top of the iPhone and then the main menu button at the bottom and you'll get a screen shot of whatever's on your screen at the moment. You can also capture images from the web or from an e-mail. Just when you're viewing an image in Safari or in the mail application, press and hold down on the image; you'll get a little save image. 
The calendar application can now show multiple calendars which is nice since multiple calendars can now be pushed to your iPhone with the MobileMe service.
We've always had the little .com shortcut button at the bottom of the keyboard when typing a url. But now you can use other suffixes as well. Press and hold the .com, and up will pop .org, .edu, and .net. Just drag your finger to select one. 
You can also use the same trick when sending an e-mail, but there's no .com shortcut button. But there is a period. Hold down the period and you'll get the same list of domain suffixes. 
The iPhone calculator is pretty simple. But the new iPhone calculator will actually switch when you hold it sideways. Now we have a full scientific calculator on the iPhone. 
There is sort of a new to-do functionality on the iPhone, but it's through the mail application. If you're using mail in the mac, and you've got MobileMe service, you can add to-do items in your mail application and it will show up as to-do items in mail on the iPhone. Not exactly ideal for making a to-do list, but at least there now is a way to add a to-do item on your mac and have it seen on your iPhone later. 
So that's a brief summary of the changes to the iPhone operating system for iPhone 2.0. There's probably some more underlying changes for stability and support for apps, and there might be a few things that nobody's quite discovered yet. So until next time, this is Gary Rosenzweig with MacMost Now.

Comments: 19 Responses to “MacMost Now 107: iPhone 2.0 Software New Features”

MacTipper

16 years ago

Gary,

Is there a way to sync notes from Mail onto the iPhone and vice versa?

rosenz

MacTipper: Nope. I'm pretty sure that is still not there. Neither is copy and paste.

Daniel

I'm still waiting on a "Print" button that will work with my wireless photo printer!!

Great show Gary, lots of cool tips! Hope to see them in print somewhere on the site to go back too.

Sasha

Gary, is there a service/application offered by Apple that allows you to reject sms/calls-(kinda like the MCleaner program does)?

Kassidy

14 years ago

ya there is a way but I don't know how to do it. Sorrrrrrryyyyyyyyy

Sasha: I'm actually doing a show very soon on that very subject.

that is cool.what is it called

Dennis

I am trying to project an iPhone app to screen through a projector that is not a video. Does anyone know how I can do it?

Gary Rosenzweig

Sorry, I don't follow. WHat do you mean "a projector that is not a video."

Sorry; I am trying to do a demonstration using and projecting my iPhone or iPad. Basically the way Steve Jobs announces products on stage with his iPhone or iPad and projecting to the big screen.

We'd all love to have that. But Steve Job's iPhones and iPads are specially modified versions that only Apple has.

Thank you Gary. Short of that, have you heard of anyone coming up with a way to do anything similar.

No, I haven't. I'd love to get something like this so I could record tutorials without shooting the iPad's screen with a camera.

Thanks. I was afraid you were going to say this. If I hear of anything, I'll post it.

Mikal

13 years ago

There is a special cord you can use to connect it to the projector. My teacher does it sometimes with her ipad

Yes. But you have to find the one that fits your MacBook on the one end, and your projector on the other. Different year Macs use different connectors, and different projectors use different connectors. But there is a cord for most combinations.

I know that there is a way but I don't know how

Roy from Ohio

Why does it ask for a credit card number if the app is for free ?

I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean when you set up your iTunes account for the first time? Apple requires a credit card to set up an iTunes account, or you can use an iTunes gift card (purchase with cash at stores). That's just the way Apple does it. Probably prevents all sorts of fraudulent accounts and spammers, etc.

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MacMost Now 107: iPhone 2.0 Software New Features

Comments: 19 Responses to “MacMost Now 107: iPhone 2.0 Software New Features”

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