Not long to go now – at 6pm UK time on Monday the new iPhone(s) will be revealed. I’ve already wondered about the hardware, but what lies ahead for the new software? Much functionality will be added through third party applications, but what can only Apple add, in the core of OS X iPhone?
What do we already know?
Leaks of the development builds have already shown that OS X iPhone 2.0 will include:
- Exchange support (inc. ActiveSync & remote wipe)
- geo-tagging of photos
- email mass delete
- full-screen Safari (effectively a widget platform)
- Bonjour (zero-configuration networking)
- playing of embedded YouTube video in web pages
- saving web images to the phone
…and probably some more bits that I’ve missed. This is all great. From a consumer perspective, there are a few important items that I would also like to see Apple nail in the new firmware.
Essentials
Expanded Bluetooth
The iPhone’s Bluetooth implementation is so minimal that I’ve turned it off. This post details the BT profiles that are not supported. For starters, I miss being able to send and receive files to nearby phones. Then there’s PAN, attaching a keyboard, printing, not to mention using the best music phone on the market with a stereo headset (via A2DP). Implementing Bluetooth properly would raise the iPhone to the market standard.
Better SMS
Again, the iPhone is severely lacking in this respect, as SMS handling can only be described as “adequate”. I’d like to be able to forward texts and to compose drafts, like you can on every other phone. I think this is really important to help the iPhone flourish in text-happy countries of Europe and Asia.
Also, MMS support. Yes, I know, mobile email is on the rise, but there are still plenty of people who use MMS – because you’re guaranteed to get the photo to the person wherever they are. Unless they’re using an iPhone.
Video recording
Carrier subsidies are likely to bring the cost of the iPhone way down. If you want to interest teenagers, then video recording is a must. VGA @ 30 frames per second please Mr Jobs.
Very nice to have
Search
Now we’re moving beyond just run-of-the-mill to more interesting stuff. A search through contact names would be good. Search through any contact field would be better. A Spotlight-style search through all device data to return relevant matches would be awesome.
Copy and paste
I’m wondering how much regular consumers care about this, but if the iPhone is to become a platform upon which people can really work (not just play), then copy and paste is essential. It is one of the most requested items in the blogosphere, and would cut down on a lot of the workarounds and general faffing about that is currently needed.
Greater file support
File viewing support is limited to some image files, Word, PDF and Excel. No Powerpoint, no RTF, not even any of Apple’s own iWork formats. This needs to be expanded within the Mail client at least. I’ve a feeling that editing these documents will come via thrid-party apps.
One Inbox
Let’s cut down on the back and forth navigating. Implement an additional combined inbox within Mail, so that you can see all new messages at once, just like in Apple’s desktop Mail client (and many others).
Full TV-Out
We know the iPhone can do it – because Steve Jobs has already demo’d it during his keynotes. Having TV-out for all applications, coupled with a Bluetooth keyboard, would turn the iPhone into a fairly competent mobile computer for most. You only have to look how it works on the Nokia N95 to see how effective it can be.
Wow factor
Automatic synchronisation
Over-the-air synchronisation is coming for Exchange, we know that. But wow factor? Can’t plenty of phones do this already? Yep. But I bet you none of them will be as seamless as Apple’s implementation. The wow will be that you don’t have to think about it – it just works.
Video calling
Yes, every 3G phone can do it with a front-mounted camera can do it. But are they interoperable with desktop clients? Nope. If anyone can pull this off, Apple can, plus it’s one of those magic little moments that Steve Jobs loves demonstrating.
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Improving software, coupled with carrier subsidies in many more markets, will drive massive sales numbers for the iPhone in 2008. 10 millions units is likely to be a conservative estimate. As ever, “under-sell and over-perform”.
Of course, I’ve no idea what if any of the above we’ll see, but I can’t wait to find out 
See you on Monday!