iPhone Software v1.1.3 enhances Maps, SMS, more...
At the Macworld Expo on Tuesday Apple announced a free software update for its iPhone handset that allows users to automatically find their location using the redesigned Maps application; text message multiple people in one message; create Web Clips for their favorite websites; customize their home screen; and watch movies rented from the new iTunes Movie Rentals right on their iPhone.
New iPhones shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes, the company said.
"iPhone doesn't stand still -- we're making it better and better all the time," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "We've delighted millions of users with this revolutionary and magical product and it's great to share these improvements with them."
Maps, one of the most popular and helpful applications on iPhone, has a new interface that is simpler and easier to use and adds incredible new features such as the ability to find your location automatically. With just the tap of a button, iPhone can now triangulate your position using nearby Wi-Fi base stations or cellular towers. You can use this as a starting or ending point for directions or to find local points of interest. The new hybrid map view combines map view and satellite view so you can see major street names overlaid on satellite imagery.
Users can now also create Web Clips -- icons on the home screen that take you directly to your favorite websites, including to the exact spot you have zoomed into. Web Clips are a great way to easily track websites that you frequently check such as news, blogs, sports sites and movie listings. In addition, users can now customize their home screen by repositioning any of the icons, and even create up to nine different home screens that they can easily flick between.
iPhone's new software update also adds the ability to send the same SMS text message to multiple people, and iPhone saves a history of your text messages, so with one tap you can send a new message to the same group.
With Apple's new iTunes Movie Rentals, movie fans can rent movies on their computer, easily and quickly transfer them to their iPhone, and watch them anywhere on iPhone's 3.5 inch screen. Users can also now navigate forward or backward through their movies by chapters, select alternate language tracks and view subtitles, if available.
Pricing & Availability
The iPhone software update 1.1.3 is available immediately for free via iTunes 7.5 or later for all existing iPhone customers in the US, UK, Germany and France. New iPhone products shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes.
New iPhones shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes, the company said.
"iPhone doesn't stand still -- we're making it better and better all the time," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "We've delighted millions of users with this revolutionary and magical product and it's great to share these improvements with them."
Maps, one of the most popular and helpful applications on iPhone, has a new interface that is simpler and easier to use and adds incredible new features such as the ability to find your location automatically. With just the tap of a button, iPhone can now triangulate your position using nearby Wi-Fi base stations or cellular towers. You can use this as a starting or ending point for directions or to find local points of interest. The new hybrid map view combines map view and satellite view so you can see major street names overlaid on satellite imagery.
Users can now also create Web Clips -- icons on the home screen that take you directly to your favorite websites, including to the exact spot you have zoomed into. Web Clips are a great way to easily track websites that you frequently check such as news, blogs, sports sites and movie listings. In addition, users can now customize their home screen by repositioning any of the icons, and even create up to nine different home screens that they can easily flick between.
iPhone's new software update also adds the ability to send the same SMS text message to multiple people, and iPhone saves a history of your text messages, so with one tap you can send a new message to the same group.
With Apple's new iTunes Movie Rentals, movie fans can rent movies on their computer, easily and quickly transfer them to their iPhone, and watch them anywhere on iPhone's 3.5 inch screen. Users can also now navigate forward or backward through their movies by chapters, select alternate language tracks and view subtitles, if available.
Pricing & Availability
The iPhone software update 1.1.3 is available immediately for free via iTunes 7.5 or later for all existing iPhone customers in the US, UK, Germany and France. New iPhone products shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes.
Comments
I'm a little miffed that iPhones get this for free but us Touch owners have to pay $20.
There's a reason for this, but it's complicated.
C.
where's 10.5.2?
<removed comment... mis-read question.>
I love my touch but this nickel and diming of faithful Apple customers has got to stop.
Hopefully after enough pressure is put on Apple they will make this upgrade available for free like every other upgrade.
And if Apple has an explanation for why I have to pay. Give it to me straight, I'm an adult, I'm sure I can handle the Sarbanes Oxley chat.
1.1.3 for iPod Touch is free too (a 165.5MB download). It's the extra apps that are $20 and they are a separate download.
If that's the case, the whole thing's very misleading.
This is going to be another PR nightmare for Apple. Because many people are going to complain about it. These apps are not bundled software. Otherwise they would be available for sale separately for iPhone users as well as old itouches.
Just do the right thing Apple make the apps available, move everyone up to the same level and move forward.
Stupid little things like this keep Jailbreak in business. There is always a bite out of the Apple with Apple. Why do they make it so hard for me to love them.
20$ for something that Jailbreak will do for free. There is no compelling reason to upgrade to 1.1.3 if you have Jailbreak. Can anyone mention one?
I love my touch but this nickel and diming of faithful Apple customers has got to stop.
Hopefully after enough pressure is put on Apple they will make this upgrade available for free like every other upgrade.
And if Apple has an explanation for why I have to pay. Give it to me straight, I'm an adult, I'm sure I can handle the Sarbanes Oxley chat.
That's a ridiculous comparison.
Jailbreak is an unauthorized bit of software. If it works for you, fine, but don't compare Apple to these guys. most people would rightly prefer to get it from Apple.
Reason or not, five new programs for $20 is little enough to pay.
If that's the case, the whole thing's very misleading.
No it's not. That's exactly what Jobs said. The update is free, but the programs cost $20.
No it's not. That's exactly what Jobs said. The update is free, but the programs cost $20.
I'm talking about Apple's texts and so on:
That's a ridiculous comparison.
Jailbreak is an unauthorized bit of software. If it works for you, fine, but don't compare Apple to these guys. most people would rightly prefer to get it from Apple.
Reason or not, five new programs for $20 is little enough to pay.
They're not new.
and new touch owners don't pay for them.
So why do I not return my touch and get a new upgrade to the new apps for free?
I'll take the store credit.
I'm talking about Apple's texts and so on:
That doesn't say anything. Was that from the store, or just a blurb?
Last I looked the store was still down.
They're not new.
and new touch owners don't pay for them.
So why do I not return my touch and get a new upgrade to the new apps for free?
I'll take the store credit.
So, do it!
I don't really care what the reason is. Apple is allowed to sell features.
this MWExpo was probably one of the most disappointing ones. This mediocre iPhone update is missing many basic features such as: voice-recording, video-capture, voice-dialing. WTF
No, the phone update was a very good update. Just because the features you want weren't there doesn't make it bad.