Apple released the long awaited iPhone OS 3.0 firmware (Build 7A341) for both iPhone and iPod touch via iTunes. This software update is a major update and adds over 100 new features. If you would like to quickly upgrade to 3.0, connect your device to iTunes via USB and click on Check for Updates and the iPhone OS 3.0 will start downloading and it will update your iPhone.

Features:

• Copy and Paste: Quickly and easily cut, copy, and paste text from application to application. Select entire blocks of web text with a tap. Copy and paste images from the web, too.
• Landscape Keyboard: Want more room to type? Rotate iPhone to landscape to use a larger keyboard in Mail, Messages, Notes, and Safari.
• Spotlight Search: Find what you’re looking for across your iPhone, all from one place. Spotlight searches all of your contacts, email, calendars, and notes, as well as everything in your iPod.
• Safari: Enjoy faster performance, autofill user names and passwords, and more.
• Auto Wi-Fi login: Log in to a Wi-Fi hotspot and iPhone automatically logs you in when you connect again
• Find My iPhone: Find your iPhone if you lose it and protect your privacy with Remote Wipe.
• Shake to Shuffle: Give iPhone a shake and it shuffles to a different song in your music library.

That’s just a few of the features iPhone OS 3.0 will offer, for the full list of features click here.

iPhone OS 3.0 IPSW Downloads:
iPhone 2G EDGE 3.0 ipsw Download
iPhone 3G 3.0 ipsw Download
iPhone 3G S 3.0 ipsw Download

iPod touch users can go to iTunes and buy the firmware update for $9.95USD – here {iTunes link)

Today at WWDC, Apple announced that the long awaited iPhone OS 3.0 will be available June 17th. iPhone OS 3.0 brings in over 100 new features.

A few of the mentioned features include:

• MMS: While the inclusion of multimedia messaging in iPhone OS 3.0 was discussed at Apple’s previous media event, Apple today revealed the MMS will not be available for AT&T customers until “late summer”, as much as several months after the launch of the new operating system. A number of other wireless carriers throughout the world will be supporting MMS at launch.
• Internet Tethering: At its previous media event, Apple chose not to focus on tethering, addressing it only in a Q&A period by saying that while the functionality is being built into the iPhone OS 3.0, cooperation from carriers would be needed in order to enable it. During today’s keynote, Apple announced that tethering via USB and Bluetooth will be offered on a number of carriers at launch, although AT&T will not be supporting it for the time being.
• “Find My iPhone”: A newly-advertised feature only for MobileMe subscribers allows customers to track the location of their lost iPhone, send alerts to the device, and perform remote wipes for data security. If later found, wiped iPhones can then be restored by syncing with iTunes.

This major update to the iPhone OS will be available for free to all existing iPhone users and will be $9.95USD to iPod Touch users.

Ahh, gotta love new updates coming to the iPhone OS 3.0 Beta and then finding out iTunes 8.2 might have Blu-Ray support. Yeah, finally Blu-Ray support coming to iTunes and long awaited Mac. Pretty awesome.

As of right now, there’s no mention of new features on Beta 4 of the iPhone OS 3.0 but I’m sure there’s great new fixes and a much much more stable beta.

Over at Macrumors, one of their forum posters discovered that iTunes 8.2 Pre-Release refers to Blu-Ray Data, of course, suggesting that the final release of iTunes 8.2 will fully support Blu-Ray discs.

You may be thinking, why blu-ray support on iTunes? Well, I have an idea on why blu-ray would be great, and thats for backing up your iTunes purchases. (Yes, I do buy stuff from iTunes) Before, you would be able to back up onto CDs and DVDs and now, hopefully, you’ll be able to back up onto Blu-Ray discs assuming, of course, you have a blu-ray burner. What do you guys think on the idea of Blu-Ray support coming to iTunes? Good idea? Bad Idea? Let us know in the comments!

- source: macrumors.com

Awhile ago, we mentioned voice control was found in iPhone OS 3.0 beta. The folks at Ars Technica have provided some details but specifics are still unknown, unfortunately. Apparently, the code name of this cool feature is “Jibbler” – Pretty awesome code name – “Jibbler” will enable both voice synthesis and voice recognition on the iPhone OS 3.0.

Not much information is known at this time, but according to our own people familiar with the matter, Jibbler appears be an enhancement to the iPhone SpringBoard application, the Finder-esque app that acts as a launcher and will support the newly announced 3.0 Spotlight search. Jibbler may be controlled via the iPhone headset — button squeezes could be used to record short voice segments from the user, which Jibbler will then interpret. Voice synthesis can then be used to give the user a response, similar to the latest generation iPod shuffle, which can “read” playlists and track names — the difference being that the iPhone hardware itself could handle real-time voice synthesis.

Ars Technica also notes evidence that the feature code-named “Jibbler” could possibly be made available via the SDK for third-party developers could make use of it. There is also no indication whether or not the application will be limited to the next generation iPhone – But I assume it will be limited to the next gen hardware, just because the new iPhone might be having a better cpu.

Hey guys and gals, Just in case you hadn’t noticed, Apple has made the iPhone 3.0 highlight event online for all of you to watch and enjoy and wish you had that iPhone 3.0 firmware update already!

You can watch the live event at apple.com

Enjoy! and remember to follow us on twitter! We’re @iphonedashhacks

Apple highlighted the iPhone and the upcoming iPhone 3.0 firmware update today in a live event in the Apple campus in Cupertino, CA. Some of these features are freaking awesome!

• In-App Purchasing: Allows developers to sell additional content from within applications. Highlighted uses include magazine subscriptions, eBooks, additional levels and items for games.
• Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: Find other devices running the app via Bonjour over Wi-Fi of Bluetooth. Good for gaming, but also other applications for sharing data.
• Third-Party Accessory Apps: Allowing accessory manufacturers to create applications to interface with their hardware accessories.
• Push Notification: Rather than using background processes that hamper battery life, utilize third-party server to push badge, text, and audio alerts from applications.
• Turn by Turn: Apple will allow developers to use CoreLocation for turn-by-turn GPS directions.
• Cut, Copy and Paste: Available across all apps. Shake to undo or redo.
• Landscape keyboard: Available in all key applications, including Mail.
• MMS: Picture messaging now available.
• Voice Memos: Record notes, lectures, interviews, etc.
• Spotlight Search: Available across all applications. Systemwide search available from main home screen by flicking to the left.
• A2DP Bluetooth: Support for stereo bluetooth headsets.

You might notice that tethering is no where to be found in that list, it was addressed in the Q&A section of the event. Apple is building the client side of tethering into OS 3.0, but cooperation from carriers is also required in order for it to be offered.

The iPhone 3.0 update is available to all registered iPhone Developers as a free beta today and it will be fully released this summer. Shame that Apple dropped the details on this amazing update and are making us wait a couple of months before it releases! This update will be free to all iPhone users and as always, it will be $9.95USD for iPod Touch users.
Some of the above features will sadly not make it to the first generation iPhone (iPhone EDGE/2G) because of hardware limitations. The features that wont make it include, MMS and stereo bluetooth. So if you got an iPhone 2G go upgrade! Apple also revealed that bluetooth support can be activated for the second generation iPod Touch.

Apple has posted an iPhone OS 3.0 Preview page listing a few of the highlights. A video of today’s media event will also be posted to the page later today.

- sources:
macrumors.com
apple.com

Engadget is reporting that Apple will be hosting a media event on Tuesday, March 17th to demonstrate iPhone OS 3.0, the next major upgrade to the iPhone OS (firmware). Apple will also provide details on the new SDK (Software Development Kit) to help developers in creating applications for the new operating system.

Apple’s calling this an “advance preview of what we’re building,” so we’re not expecting anything ready to go as of the 17th, but hopefully this will allow developers to start building toward future functionality (hey, how about some push notifications?), and presumably users won’t have too many months to wait after that for the real deal.

Apple previously hosted a media event for iPhone’s “roadmap” and it appears this upcoming event will follow the same theme. The event is scheduled for 10 AM Pacific in the Town Hall auditorium on the company’s campus in Cupertino, CA.

- source: engadget.com