iPhone firmware question

[lotus23248]

I've had this question on my mind for a while. I also didn't know what thread to post under so I just chose this one. As far as I know the 2.0 software update is the first firmware update for the iPhone. My question is, since the iPhone3G is still missing things we wanted to see with the new iPhone such as:
-MMS messaging
-Video recording
-Copy / Paste
-Voice Command
-Bluetooth tethering
-Stereo Bluetooth
-Landscape Keyboard

I was wondering which of these specifically could potentially be integrated to any iPhone in the future through a firmware upgrade.

Thanks for your time.

Moved to All Things Apple
Anandtech Moderator
Gillbot

 

[ballmode]

Steve Jobs is that way

 

[xSauronx]

i thought they recently released (or are soon to release) and SDK so people can make more apps for the iphone without having to hack it to add features. is that not correct?

 

[Duddy]

The 2.0 Software update will feature none of those features.

 

[Duddy]

And iPhone 2.0 will be the 6th firmware released since launch.

 

[lotus23248]

I think my question wasn't clear enough sorry. I know the features I listed will not be on the new iPhone. I wanted to know if in a later firmware update those features could be added without having to buy a new iPhone.

 

[abaez]

Think it through, does the phone have the hardware to do it? Then it should be able to be done through software:

-MMS messaging - Software mainly, but possibly hardware so yes.
-Video recording - Hardware is there, so possible.
-Copy / Paste - Software, so yes.
-Voice Command - Does the iPhone have a mic? I don't think so.. so no.
-Bluetooth tethering - I don't know what this is, but it doesn't have any sort of bluetooth hardware at all, so no.
-Stereo Bluetooth - Again, I don't think there is any bt hardware in the phone at all, so no.
-Landscape Keyboard - Can be done through software, so yes.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: abaez
Think it through, does the phone have the hardware to do it? Then it should be able to be done through software:

-MMS messaging - Software mainly, but possibly hardware so yes.
-Video recording - Hardware is there, so possible.
-Copy / Paste - Software, so yes.
-Voice Command - Does the iPhone have a mic? I don't think so.. so no.
-Bluetooth tethering - I don't know what this is, but it doesn't have any sort of bluetooth hardware at all, so no.
-Stereo Bluetooth - Again, I don't think there is any bt hardware in the phone at all, so no.
-Landscape Keyboard - Can be done through software, so yes.

umm... I'm pretty sure the iPhone has a mic And it has BT too... just no tethering. Don't think it has stereo bt though either.

 

[TheStu]

I want to know why you want a landscape keyboard.... what app are you lacking it in cuz in the browser it is there. I haven't sent any email from my buddy's iphone, so I can't speak to that app.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Surprisingly all those features can be software updates.

 

[lotus23248]

Landscape Keyboard is not available in e-mail and texting on the iPhone and iPhone3G btw TheStu as far as I know.

 

[TheStu]

Ah, see that is what I get for not actually owning an iphone.

The MMS strikes me as a slight issue, especially the concept of sending them. I have on occasion (I think 3 times in as many years) sent an MMS, but it is nice to have the option when i want it, not everyone I know has email on their phone, and if they did, not all of them have the support to view an image from that email.

The landscape keyboard is up in the air for me. I prefer it for webpages (mostly from my PocketPC browsing days), but I am not sure about texting, or email.

Video recording... meh. See MMS.
Voice Command. See MMS
Stereo Bluetooth. Can't really see myself using it.
Bluetooth Tethering. Bring it on.
Copy/Paste. Useful, and would probably just take a software update.

You know, I will say this, at least you haven't complained about the lack of Flash on the iPhone. Honestly, I use Flash for games, youtube, naughty youtube, and the occasional inline flash thingy. When I am browsing on my buddy's iphone I don't miss it. According to hi, he doesn't miss it. And after seeing how much CPU usage Flash takes up on OS X on my system, I wouldn't want that on the iPhone.

 

[Tyranicus]

Originally posted by: abaez
Think it through, does the phone have the hardware to do it? Then it should be able to be done through software:

-MMS messaging - Software mainly, but possibly hardware so yes.
-Video recording - Hardware is there, so possible.
-Copy / Paste - Software, so yes.
-Voice Command - Does the iPhone have a mic? I don't think so.. so no.
-Bluetooth tethering - I don't know what this is, but it doesn't have any sort of bluetooth hardware at all, so no.
-Stereo Bluetooth - Again, I don't think there is any bt hardware in the phone at all, so no.
-Landscape Keyboard - Can be done through software, so yes.

I know this was answered, but seriously, how exactly can one have a phone without a mic?

MMS would be nice for the occasional time I want to send someone a picture. I have no use for voice recording, so I couldn't care less about that. I would love copy/paste. Voice command would be nice since it's something that every other phone has. Stereo bluetooth sounds like a big battery drain to me. I'm fine with the earphones. Bluetooth tethering would be great, but it's probably AT&T that's preventing that. They want to sell PC cards, you see. As far as the landscape keyboard goes, I usually only type with one hand, so I don't miss that feature.

 

[lotus23248]

Honestly I also have not found myself in a situation to use MMS either Stu so I could really go without it. I guess since it's such a basic feature on all other phones people have to find some reason to pick on the iPhone. If I had to pick one of those features I listed that I really would demand it would be landscape keyboard for texting because it makes it so much easier/faster to text.