11th
iPhone 2.0 Firmware FINALLY Released
So, the time has finally come for the 2.0 firmware to be released to the public. It was “leaked” yesterday after a few people at Pownce stripped out the address of the file in the 7.7 version of iTunes as it was quitly released at the apple website. I would post the link, but you can get it offlicly from iTunes today after you the do update to iTunes. With iTunes 7.7 they add a section to the iTunes Store called App Store. Here you get access to over 500 apps for your iPhone or iPod touch. There 100+ apps that are free for you and then most of the apps are $4.99 or $9.99 but range all the way up to $50.00.
I was able to play with the apps today and I am happy to say that I feel more like my iPhone was worth my money just a little bit more. There are lots of promising apps coming out to make my phone more productive and able to keep up with my life and daily activites. One problem that I have right is now that my phone is completly worthless here in Europe. My phone doesn’t connect to any of the network here, which I guess is a good thing. But I can’t really play with the apps and take full advantage of them until I get back home. Just one more thing to look forward to once I get back.
Here are some of my favortie apps so far:
Twitterific: Works just like the desktop version of Twitterific (it gives you access to Twitter), and also uses the iPhone’s location-aware features to geotag your tweets. They have also added the feature to upload a photo to your update and uses the iPhones new Locate Me feature.
< b>iTunes Remote: This is has to be my favorite new app to use when I am at home and I get my stereo system all setup. This app links my iPhone to my iTunes and allows me to control my iTunes via my phone. It’s very, very good, and can even rate songs directly from the phone. Pretty much the perfect iTunes remote.
Google Mobile:Location aware searching with auto-suggest, contacts searching as well as local business search (typing in pizza gives you an option to search for pizza near you). Should come in handy when I get back home.
Facebook: Plain and simple, I can get on my facebook and keep up with friends. You can search your friends, do Facebook chat (nice), view your messages and do everything else you could do on the web-based portal. Only problem with it is that it crashes…. a lot. But I am sure they will have updates for it soon to fix it.
AIM: It’s as solid as you’d expect, supporting away statuses, marking contacts as favorites so you can easily find them, groups, away messages and saved messages while you’re away from the app. Because background IM notifications won’t be here until September, you’ll have to go into the app to check whether or not you have new messages. Still, it’s good that you don’t lose any. Oh, and that really annoying traditional AIM sound is still here and is still super freaking annoying. Don’t see a way to turn that off. But there is a system option to sign off when you exit.
