Today Apple previewed their next major software update for the iPhone (and iPod Touch). Apple is touting “100 new features” for this summer, when the update is made available for existing users. But off the top of their list we get:
For each one of these features all I have to say “It is about time.” Why? Well:
MMS is the standard method for sending messages with photos or videos between cell phones over the phone network. It’s texting with pictures basically. I have yet to hear why this hasn’t been support since day one, and frankly, this has been the biggest issue to date I have with the iPhone.
How the heck could Apple develop such a media-rich device and not support such an obvious feature is beyond me. Add to the fact that AT&T’s web interface for accessing MMS messages (provided to those unlikely enough to have a phone that doesn’t support MMS, you get a text message that says someone sent you a MMS message go login using this temporary username/password) is a joke and well, well…
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned my iPhone while trying to read an email only to realized that, “oh, yeah the Mail App doesn’t support landscape mode, how dumb.”
What’s not on the list? Flash support, which is fine with me. While YouTube and other websites offer content via a Flash player, the iPhone skips the player and supports H.264 video streams. YouTube and other Apps use this for delivering video to the iPhone. Which works fine for me. I suppose the only issue is for those websites that don’t have an iPhone specific App but do have Flash content (video or animation of some sort) on their site, that could be accessed via Safari, that won’t be seen.
And on the rumored coming soon list? Tethering, using the iPhone as a modem for a laptop, is coming. Apple is working on the software for the iPhone, no doubt software for Windows and Mac laptops as well. The real question is how will the cellphone providers deal with this option. Will AT&T, here in the States, keep their “unlimited” data plan in tact? Or will one have to “upgrade” their wireless plan, for an additional monthly fee? That’s the real question.