Apple notified some iPhone developers that a new beta iPhone firmware 2.2 is available for testing. The new version is labeled iPhone OS 2.2 beta 1 and is accompanied by a new beta of the iPhone SDK (build 9M2611). The only differences noted by Apple are “compatibility testing”. There is no word yet of the new background push notification service that has been promised by Apple. The latest email from Steve Jobs claimed that this feature is “running a bit late”
Update: Here we see some small changes to Safari, moving the Google search bar to the top next to the address bar, making a quick search easier.
Geoff Teehan of teehan+lax posted a really in depth free Photoshop (PSD) file that has some great pieces of the Graphic User Interface for the iPhone that they created for presentations and software development. This is great for iPhone/Touch app/software designers and/or anyone else who would like to use/view the artwork.
What? Thats what I thought when I read this article over on iPhoneAtlas.com. I had to read it a couple times for it really to sink in, and I think it’s because I was a little shocked.
It seems that iPhone Software Developer/Author Jonathan Zdziarski was experimenting with his iPhone 3G and has uncovered deep within the CoreLocation preferences, that the iPhone will remotely access this address: https://iphone-services.apple.com/clbl/unauthorizedApp - to check if any unauthorized or blacklisted apps are running on your iPhone -
One of the biggest things missing in most if not all Apps from the AppStore is you cant get an update when the App is closed. This makes simple Apps for Instant Messaging and Social Networking ultimately flawed. Apple’s iPhone chief Scott Forstall spoke at the WWDC 08 and said that the reason that Apple had not implemented this was because of poor battery life from having allot of apps open and thus over working the processor, as well as how badly it worked on other mobile devices where users thought a program was closed and it wasn’t.
With the due date (July 11th) coming closer and closer to Apple dropping the 3G iPhone and Apple iPhone OS 2.0, Apple has released iPhone SDK Beta 8 (9m2199) to get developers ready for the iPhone App Store. Apple has sent out invitations to developers to submit their work (games, apps, web apps etc) so that their apps can be available on launch day.
With the release of a new SDK and Beta iPhone OS 2.0 - iPhone beta certificates issued before June 9 have now expired. Applications/Games must use the new certificate issued after June 9 in order to be authorized by the AppStore and able to run on the iPhone
The update includes iPhone firmware 2.0 version 5a345. Along with the update is a approved-developer-only version of iTunes, 7.7, which can be used to “install iPhone OS Beta 8 on your Apple devices.” just as you would upgrade/restore any prior firmware in iTunes. iTunes 7.7 isn’t included with the 1.25GB SDK update, but is available to approved developers as a separate download.
iTunes 7.7 will obviously be required for the new iPhone 3G and iPhone 2.0 firmware that will enable the AppStore, but it seems that Apple is adding a few features 3rd Party Developers have been dabbling in for some time - iTunes Remote control with your iPhone/Touch
According to an anonymous TUAW tipster:
iTunes 7.7 will allow either an iPhone or iPod touch to download a free application that can remote control iTunes from anywhere in the vicinity of your Mac (most likely over your home network). Reportedly, this free application will be available in the App Store upon the 2.0 firmware release.
Now this may just be a rumor, but as we hear more updates about iTunes 7.7, how it works with 1.1.4 (or lower) firmware (unlocked) and any news about the AppStore or iPhone OS 2.0, I will post it.
As i said earlier I am not going to try to compete with the big blogs and regurgitate the info being spewed all over the web from the WWDC Event, but if you would like to listen to the live audio coverage of the event, check out the stream below or visit iPhoneAlley.
There are of course other blogs and news sites covering this event, if you find a video stream, please share it with us and let us know.
Lumen is a simple, fun game for OS X and Windows developed by FireyFerret that will soon be available via the AppStore (on firmware 2.0) for your iPhone. The objective of the game is to light up the checkpoints by reflecting and use filters to change the colors of a laser beam through a maze of obstacles. With careful attention to detail and the colorful graphics, Lumen will be a welcomed game to the iPhone.
I personally think that games are going to be a HUGE category in the AppStore, and we are already seeing developers churning out demos and betas for their upcoming games to be distributed on Apples iPhone.
Lumen also gives us a good idea of what these apps/games should cost. This game will cost you $5 US according to the developer, which isn’t that bad, but considering that allot of iPhone users are accustomed to getting everything for free, and this game is not from a big game developer like EA for example, we are still waiting to see how all of this goes down.
Check out the developers website as well as the demo video below for more information.
With only a little over a week remaining until the rumored announcement and unveiling of the new 3G iPhone at the WWDC on June 9th, Apple has released the iPhone SDK Beta 6. The latest incarnation of the Software Developers Kit is available for download by registered Apple Developer Connection members.
Beta 6 requires the Leopard 10.5.3 update which only came out earlier today, so I am currently downloading. So far all that is reported are some bug fixes, but I am sure like all releases some new features will come trickling out as developers have some time to poke around and see what they can find.
Its finally officially been announced on Apples PR section of their website that “a team of Apple executives, led by CEO Steve Jobs, will kick off the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2008 at San Francisco’s Moscone West.”
It seems as though ChronicProductions had nothing better to do yesterday and spent his time decrypting and sniffing through the latest beta firmware for the iPhone. What he stumbled upon answers a question I had. Would the 2nd Gen 3G iPhone use the same firmware as the 1st Gen iPhone owners like ourselves? - Looks like thats a roger.