iPhone 3.0: The Simple List of What’s New

Apple announced its new iPhone 3.0 operating system Tuesday afternoon. The 3.0 update brings a host of new functionality, including some long-requested and frequently predicted features. It’s expected to become available by summer for free to all iPhone 3G users. The update will work on the original iPhone as well, though all of the features will not apply. iPod Touch users will be able to get the 3.0 OS for $9.95.

Here’s a quick and simple list of the most noteworthy new features:

• Full landscape keyboard support across all key applications.

• Cut, copy, and paste! Works between applications.

• MMS support, along with added ability to forward and delete individual or groups of messages.

• Push notification support.

• Integrated option to mail multiple photos straight from a photo album.

• Note synchronization. iPhone notes will be able to be synched up with Macs or PCs through iTunes.

• Shake-to-shuffle music playing support (a la iPod Nano).

• Wi-Fi auto login.

• Stereo Bluetooth support.

• Overall enhanced Bluetooth capability. Will now be able to connect to someone else via Bluetooth and transmit contact info, play games, or share any other kind of information.

• YouTube account support.

• Auto-fill support.

• New global phone search, called Spotlight. Located to the left of the first page (you’ll finger-flick left to find it). Will allow you to search everything on your phone.

• Expanded Stocks app with news headlines and detailed market info.

• Added support for CalDAV and.ics subscriptions with Calendar app.

• New Voice Memos application that lets you easily record and share voice notes to yourself.

• Native Meebo IM support.

• A thousand updates to the developer SDK, including support for in-app e-mail, proximity sensor, streaming audio and video, shake API, and more. Details for programmers here.

You can also find detailed information on all of the features and additions at Apple’s official iPhone 3.0 site.