First-look Review: Apple iPhone OS 3.0

Announced in March, v3.0 is not so much a new OS as a group of features -- some new and some that are improvements over those that already exist. The CRN Test Center took a quick first look at 3.0 on a first-generation iPod touch which, unfortunately, is incapable of supporting everything the OS has to offer.

As usual, a major prerequisite of loading 3.0 is the latest version of iTunes (currently 8.2.0.23). When the device is synced to the computer via iTunes, the new software can be downloaded and installed. The entire process from the start of download to completion took us about 20 minutes but, obviously, times will vary depending on many factors.

New features available to all users include the larger landscape QWERTY keyboard in Mail, Messages, Notes and Safari; parental controls that allow parents to block children from accessing applications based on a new age-rating system; and a new push notification system that will let applications designed around it receive over-the-air information (such as sports scores) and notify the user -- even when the application isn't running.

Cut, Copy and Paste, one of the most desired features that fans have been blasting Apple about since the first generation, is also finally making its debut on version 3.0. Although a long time coming, it was almost worth the wait, based on its implementation. Cut, Copy and Paste on 3.0 appears to be well thought out and is easy to use. Simply highlight a portion of text on the screen, and it is noted with a line before and after the respective first and last word. By clicking on a small dot below the line, the user can adjust the length of highlighted coverage.

What we liked most about the way this feature works is that a magnified window appears above the user's finger and displays exactly where the line is within the text. This is much easier than any other touch-screen device currently available that supports it, although RIM has come close with its recent OS upgrade of the Storm. When the finger is released, the window changes into a button with the appropriate selections.

Another welcome element is what Apple is calling Spotlight Search. With a flick of the finger to the right of the main home screen, a search field appears with results displayed below dynamically as the user types. What makes Spotlight Search special though is its ability to search contacts, e-mail, calendars and notes, as well as all the stored music and video. Results are then organized in respective groups. Our testing showed this feature to work well, and fairly quickly.

Although a little gimmicky, the Shake to Shuffle addition works exactly as the name implies it will, shuffling playback to a new song whenever the device is shaken. While this was fun to play with in the lab, we couldn't help but wonder how it would function in the real world while jogging or driving on a pothole-riddled road.

The latest OS version also incorporates Bluetooth stereo support, but because it only functions in generation 2 and higher devices, we weren't able to test it out. Many other small additions and enhancements are included with 3.0, as well as a few unique to the iPhone.

IPhone OS 3.0 is available now for free to all iPhone owners. Those with an iPod Touch will have to pay $9.99 for the upgrade.