What Do You Want In iPhone 2.0?

Ian Lamont writes "The predictions about the iPhone being a bust have so far been way off the mark, but that doesn't mean the device is perfect. Besides the dependence on the AT&T Edge network and the lack of an iPhone SDK, there are a boatload of UI, software and hardware issues that should be addressed in the next-generation iPhone. Some complaints include GPS functionality, allowing iPhones to be used as hard drives, adding RSS support, and turning auto-correct into auto-complete. What would you want to see in the next generation of iPhone?"

I don't want much more

[blantonl]

But this would do it for me:

1. Native iChat functionality
2. Ability to tether the device
3. Some level of copy and paste.
4. Ability to clear all SMS conversations

That's about it.

Voice dialing

[sxltrex]

EVERY phone made today should come with this feature. Many states have or are soon going to have laws that require using a hands-free set to talk while driving (CA's takes effect July 2008). While the iPhone does work with bluetooth headsets, requiring a driver to take their eyes off the road in order to initiate a call is inexcusable. I personally will not be purchasing an iPhone (although I do want one!) until this feature is added.

Flash is up to Apple...

[MacDork]

Without a native SDK, Adobe is pretty helpless in offering Flash. Bitch to Apple, not Adobe.

lame article, fit for Digg only

[Jeremy_Bee]

I was struck by how stupid most of the 15 things listed in the ComputerWorld article were and how the list seemed to be a big confabulation of every complaint we have ever heard about the iPhone. Don't we know enough already to steer clear of any article that starts with "15 things..." or "10 great ways..."? :-)

Several of these "things to fix" are things that only third parties can accomplish, several more require entirely new hardware, and most of the rest are already slated to appear when Leopard comes out. At the very least, the article could differentiate between things requiring new hardware, and things that could be 'fixed" on the original iPhone.

For software related issues, it's hardly worth talking about until Leopard is out as it's pretty clear at this point that the iPhone was originally intended to be released in a post-Leopard world and is not "all that it was meant to be" at the moment. For hardware related stuff, GPS, G3, better camera, and second camera are too obvious to really mention (over and over again).

Ho-hum (yawns)

Re:I don't want much more

[bstadil]

It was not deliberately crippled. The current chips uses too much power and would make the battery life unacceptable. Google for more info and Jobs' comments on the subject. 3G with less power is scheduled for 2Q08 if I remember correctly.

Re:I don't want much more

[jtroutman]

Everything else should be second

Don't you mean fourth?

Re:I don't want much more

[djh101010]

But this would do it for me:

1. Native iChat functionality

Download "AppTapp installer" from http://iphone.nullriver.com/beta/ [nullriver.com] and install it. Then have it install "MobileChat", or one of the other native apps for chat.

2. Ability to tether the device

Check YouTube, some guy demo'd that during week 2.

3. Some level of copy and paste.
4. Ability to clear all SMS conversations

That's about it.

Not sure I can help with the last two, but check out all of what apptap can do. Make sure you install "summerboard" so you can scroll your main screen once you get too many icons to display on one page. You'll also want to add "community sources" so you can have more stuff to choose from. The list increases a couple times a day.

Re:What's so hard about carrying 2 devices?

[adisakp]

If you already bought the $500 phone with the $70, it would kinda suck to find out you need another phone if you want to make calls you can hear in a crowded area or slightly noisy area.

Re:No Phone

[Inakizombie]

Airplane mode perhaps?

Re:I don't want much more

[Propaganda13]

Really? the iphone doesn't have voice dialing? I haven't had a phone in 10 years that didn't allow voice dialing.

LEAP/PEAP for wifi

[skeftomai]

That would be nice. Many organizations (including my school) use LEAP for network authentication.

Would it be possible for this to be implemented via software updates or a third-party app on the current-gen iPhone?

Re:I don't want much more

[shmlco]

Quotes off page one of a Google search for HTC battery life, giving 1,750,000 results...

"The only gripe I have about this device is the poor battery performance. ... I usually need to recharge it in the late afternoon because the battery gets below 10%."

"I'm very disappointed with the battery life on my 8525, especially compared to the 8125. ... I lost 10% on my 35 minute drive to work This included no voice calls but a fair amount of text messaging, internet use, and emails."

"The battery on the htc tytn sucks, ... using wifi on it for 20 minutes drains 30-40 percent of the phone already! the phone's absolutely amazing but the battery life is it's downfall."

"However when I am using the built-in wireless extensively, when I am traveling, or when I am not able to recharge at some point during the day, I have noticed a definite need for a backup power solution."

IOW, battery life under 3G would appear to be a "bit" of an issue...

Re:I don't want much more

[cjb110]

if that were the actual reason, then what about all of the 3G handsets in Europe with equal or better battery life?

its got nowt to do with battery, but rather the market. The US doesn't have a widespread 3G network, therefore it was pointless to add it...your biggest user base doesn't care. Secondly we know that like the ipod there are going to be multiple generations. So iphone v1 has lots of crappy issues, or choices that apple made but weren't sure about. iphone v2 will be the fix.

The only real surprise is that the euro operators believe that the Apple brand will overcome the horrendously high premium the iphone asks.