Now that iPhone 2.2 has had some time to bubble, we're taking the liberty to pour everything we know about the smartphone update into one pot.
As we already reported, the major new features are the addition of remote podcast downloading as well as enhancements to Google Maps. Other than that, a few fixes here and there, such as reducing the number of dropped calls, so Apple claims. Here's the less obvious stuff included in the update:
- The update addresses several security issues with the iPhone. Most notably, it fixes a security flaw that enabled anyone with physical access to bypass the security code screen and view e-mail, contacts and bookmarks. This comes a bit late: Apple promised this security issue would be fixed in September.
- The update, however, doesn't address another major security flaw, which involves the iPhone taking a screenshot whenever you press the Home button.
- Apple said the update "improves Safari performance," but the company didn't mention that the look of the browser interface has also changed. The address bar is a bit smaller now, thanks to the iPhone omitting "http://" from the web address.
If you delete an iPhone app, Apple wants you to rate it first. A message will pop up, allowing to choose a star rating before the app disappears.
- Have a whole ton of apps, filling several pages on your Home screen? Holding down the Home button brings you back to the primary Home screen, saving you the trouble of swiping all the way back if you're on page 5, for example.
- The App Store now displays multiple screenshots of apps, whereas before they only displayed one.
- iPhone screenshots can now be previewed on iPhoto, whereas before they were displayed as blank images.
We'll continue to update this story throughout the day with more discoveries. Did we miss anything? Feel free to point it out in the comments below.
