At a function held at its US headquarters, Apple previewed the third generation of iPhone software, due to be released in the 2nd half of 2009, which it said will encompass over 100 other new features.
These include:
- MMS, which gives the ability to send and receive photos, contacts, audio files and locations with the Messages app;
- the ability to capture and send audio recordings on the go with the new Voice Memo app;
- landscape view will be available for Mail, Text and Notes, giving users a wider screen to work on.;
- search capabilities will be expanded, allowing customers to search within Mail across other features;
- a search function called Spotlight will lets people hunt for information in multiple applications at once, including Notes, Calendar and iTunes.
Among other things, software developers now will be able to create applications that have items for sale within them, such as electronic books or additional levels of a video game.
Despite the record sales and world wide exposure that the iPhone has had since it was launched in 2007, many users wondered why it couldn’t cut and paste text.
Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vice president of iPhone software, said it was “not obvious” how to get past several hurdles, including getting cut and paste to work with the device’s touch-screen interface.
