Xbox 360 owners aren’t the only ones who’ve received a software overhaul recently. The latest firmware for Apple’s iPhone went wild on Friday, but it isn’t just the usual attempt to block jailbreakers’ homebrew fun.
As well as the much publicised direct podcast access on iTunes, and Google Maps additions, there’s a whole load of new features inside which they’re keeping schtum about. Find out what they are after the break.
Home button hit back
No more repeated swiping to get back to the first iPhone screen (where most people keep their texts, calendar and Google Maps). Just hit the proper Home button from any app screen and it’ll take you back to the very first home screen. If only Judy Garland had one of these when she was stuck in Oz, things would’ve been much easier.
Emoji emoticons
The existence of these cutesy icons on the iPhone has been known about for a while, but outside of Japan, only comfortable code crackers have been able to get at them without danger of bricking the phone. 2.2 opens them up for all users, so if you’ve got any Japanese mates, they’ll be able to send you funky little picture-packed messages. Other iPhone owners will have to do some tinkering to send them, but if you’re only on the receiving end, you needn’t do anything!
Auto correct shut down
Have you had your perspicacity restricted by the iPhone’s Victorian-teacher-style spellchecker? Now you can type out words the phone doesn’t recognise without it butchering your cleverly constructed sentences at the last minute. Just hit settings, then general, and it’s under keyboard. Or keybaord, if you want.
Voicemail hi-fi
Listen to your voicemail messages and you’ll find that they seem to sound a bit better than before. You’re not imagining it: Apple really has improved the sound quality, and while that might seem like a frivolous addition, it makes all the difference when you’re trying to copy a phone number or email address down. Was that an ‘M’ or an ‘N’?
App Store update
Everyone’s second favourite online shop for iPhone has had a facelift, and you can now sort categories by top paid-for apps, top free apps and, finally, by release dates. Best of all though is the introduction of one button: Update All. Pop it once, and it’ll check all your programs for the latest versions, and get patching.
