CUPERTINO, Calif. - Apple unveiled the new 3.0 software for its popular iPhone on Tuesday. The actual operating system arrives this summer.
According to reports, the update offers 100 new features as the company seeks to keep core users, win over more and also bring on many more application developers.
One of the top new features is copy-and-paste functionality for text, HTML blocks and photos in Apple iPhone apps. Third-party developers will also be able to feature the same ability in their products for the phone.
The new OS also includes Multimedia Messaging Service support for sending and receiving photos, contact information, audio files and locations. Among the additional new features are recordable voice memos, which can be edited; greater calendar support; iTunes sync for notes; Bluetooth support; protection from phishing; and greater parental controls.
Though the public won't get 3.0 for several months, Apple is offering beta versions to developers.
Apple has sold 17 million iPhones since its June 2007 launch, VP of iPod and iPhone product marketing Greg Joswiak told press Tuesday. Versions of the iPhone are now available in 80 countries, 77 of which are also able to access Apple's App Store, which features more than 25,000 applications and has received 800 million downloads to date.
For more about the new 3.0 features, see reports by MacWorld and Information Week, as well as Apple's own iPhone 3.0 webpage.
