Friday, March 20, 2009

iPhone 3.0 listings show four all-new iPhone, iPod touch models

Tucked within Apple's iPhone 3.0 beta firmware are hardware strings that mention not one but two unreleased iPhone models as well as similar changes in store for the iPod touch.

An exploration of device strings by the same source that correctly leaked MMS and tethering ahead of Apple's iPhone 3.0 preview event now finds that there are at least four and as many as six new devices in the pipeline that would share OS X iPhone as their foundation.

Again speaking to Boy Genius, the insider notes that the previously discovered iPhone 2,1 has been joined by iPhone 3,1 as well as iPod 2,2 and iPod 3,1. As Apple always uses the first number in these device identifiers to refer to major revisions, the naming schemes allude to a second major reworking of the iPhone in testing at Apple as well as a minor revision of the current iPod touch and a third-generation overhaul.

Entire article here

Hidden iPhone Tethering Feature Exposed

Months before the iPhone OS 3.0 is released to the masses, one entrepreneurial developer has managed to crack into the phone's Internet tethering capabilities. Steve Troughton-Smith unearthed the iPhone's tethering preferences pane, connected his iPhone to his Mac via USB, and was allowed to use the phone as a modem. Problem is, he has no idea how he did it. From Twitter, he says, "To all: I have no idea how I did it. Sorry! I was hacking around with APNs in the Carrier.bundle itcc file."

Entire article here

More evidence arises for future iPhone models in latest beta

As developers begin downloading and installing the beta of the next-gen iPhone SDK, clues continue to surface about future iPhone and iPod touch models. Yesterday, we reported on a file that described what might be a new iPod touch model with AAC encoding capabilities. One developer discovered a file with references to two new iPhone models, a possible new iPod touch model, and two mystery products simply referred to as "iProd" and "iFPGA" respectively.

The file, /System/Library/AppleUSBDevice/USBDeviceConfiguration.plist, lists details about the USB configuration of the various iPhone and iPod touch models, as well as the device ID and product names. The same file in iPhone OS 2.2.1 lists the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and first- and second-gen iPod touches, referred to as iPhone1,1; iPhone1,2; iPod1,1; and iPod2,1 respectively. It also lists an unknown iPhone model, labelled iPhone2,1, which starting turning up in web server logs as far back as October 2008.

Entire article here

Thursday, March 19, 2009

iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 3.0 beta

With a rich set of over 1,000 new APIs, iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 3.0 beta provides you with an amazing range of technologies to enhance the functionality of your iPhone and iPod touch applications. New APIs also provide support for applications to communicate with hardware accessories attached to iPhone or iPod touch.

In App Purchase

Allow users to purchase content or services from your application using the Store Kit framework. This new framework handles the financial aspects of the transaction, processes payment with the iTunes Store, and provides your application with information about the purchase.
Apple Push Notification service
The Apple Push Notification service provides a way to alert your users of new information, even when your application isn't running. Send text notifications, trigger audible alerts, or add a numbered badge to your application icon.
Peer to Peer Connectivity
Add multi-player capabilities to your games using the peer to peer network connectivity and in game voice communication features of Game Kit. This powerful new framework allows any application, not just games, to communicate between devices using Bluetooth-no pairing required.
Maps
You can now embed maps within your applications using the new Map Kit framework. Map Kit works with the Google Mobile Maps Service and features panning and zooming, custom annotations, current location and geocoding.
Accessories
Using the new External Accessory framework, your application can now communicate with "Made for iPod" hardware accessories attached to iPhone or iPod touch through either the 30-pin dock connector or wirelessly using Bluetooth.
iPod Library Access
Access music, podcasts, or audio books in a user's iPod library directly from your application using the updated Media Player framework. You can play, repeat and shuffle songs or whole playlists, or create sequences of songs using custom searches.

1,000 new APIs for developers.

With the new SDK, members of the iPhone Developer Program can build applications that do even more. Developers will have the tools to enable in-app purchases — like subscriptions, additional game levels, and new content. They can also create apps that connect peer to peer via Bluetooth, communicate with hardware accessories, and use the Apple Push Notification service to provide alerts.

Learn more about the iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 3.0 beta.

Advance preview of 100 new features.

For iPhone owners, it just keeps getting better. When iPhone OS 3.0 arrives this summer, it will introduce over 100 new features, including the ability to:

  • Search your iPhone
  • Cut, copy, and paste
  • Send photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS*
  • Read and compose email and text messages in landscape

iPhone OS 3.0 Presentation by Apple

On March 17, Apple presented the blueprint for iPhone OS 3.0, the next version of the world’s most advanced mobile platform. In addition to previewing its innovative features, Apple gave members of the iPhone Developer Program immediate access to the iPhone OS 3.0 software beta and an updated Software Development Kit (SDK) with over 1,000 completely new APIs.

Link: here