iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 features revealed

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iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 features revealed

An anonymous source has provided iLounge with a listing of small but notable changes found in the second beta version of iPhone OS 3.1. A new option in the Accessibility menu allows users to triple-click the Home button in order to toggle VoiceOver or the White on Black features on and off; VoiceOver has also received a practice mode for learning its unique gestures. When editing video, the “Save” and “Save as Copy” options from beta 1 have been changed to “Trim Original” and “Save as New Clip” for clarity, and another change—possibly included in the first 3.1 beta as well—keeps the user’s “Now Playing” queue intact across syncs, meaning the user must manually change the playlist or finish listening to the one started prior to the sync. The other big change on the developer side is that developers can now monitor/debug their apps over Wi-Fi rather than having to use a USB connection. iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 is available now to registered iPhone developers; Apple has yet to set a release date for a broader launch of the update.

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Comments

1

The “Now Playing” queue feature is most welcome.

Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on July 15, 2009 at 7:15 AM (PDT)

2

I hope that “now playing” thing means they are finally fixing the horrible flaw in iPhones that doesn’t let them “live update” smart playlists in the same way that regular iPods do.

It’s an incredibly irritating and almost unnoticed problem.

The flagship of Apple’s portable line should be missing features that every iPod has. Especially since it’s not really missing the feature on paper, it’s just broken due to some sort of glitch.

Terrible. FIX IT APPLE! FIX LIVE UPDATING IN SMART PLAYLISTS ON THE IPHONE!

Posted by ort on July 15, 2009 at 7:24 AM (PDT)

3

The real question is have they fixed that horrible GPS bug that keeps you from *ever* getting a fix with 3.0.
Happens to both my 3G and 3GS too :(

Posted by Ryan on July 15, 2009 at 7:51 AM (PDT)

4

I have also seen an imporvement in the performance of the Compass on the 3GS. The orientation seems more stable and accurate. In addition to that, the directional orientation in Google Maps also seems to be more accurate as well.

Posted by ZB on July 15, 2009 at 7:53 AM (PDT)

5

Come on Apple, what about AVRCP?? A2DP works great but it’s irritating that I can’t use the next/previous track buttons on my Bluetooth headphones.

Posted by Joe Attardi on July 15, 2009 at 9:35 AM (PDT)

6

What about cross-fading songs? Am I the only one who LOVES this feature on my iPod Nano, but wonder why he couldn’t get it on the iPhone 3GS??? Harumph!!!

Posted by Jared Gibbs on July 15, 2009 at 10:52 AM (PDT)

7

Still need a fix on wifi for iPod Touch, too.

Give the Governor a harumph!

Posted by Tommy on July 15, 2009 at 11:15 AM (PDT)

8

Here’s another feature that was introduced in 3.1 Beta 1:

You are now able to copy a contact’s information (phone number, email, location, etc) by holding down on the cell containing the information until the copy overlay is displayed.

In 3.0, you had to enter into the edit screen for each type of info in order to copy it.

Posted by Kenny on July 15, 2009 at 3:07 PM (PDT)

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