Top 10 iPhone 3.0 feature demands for the 2009 iPhone

So, the iPhone 3G – the iPhone 2.0 – has launched at last. Here’s what I want for iPhone 3.0, which is all the stuff left out of the iPhone 3G!

Ok, ok, so the iPhone 3G – the iPhone 2.0 version – has JUST launched today. You can read the story here. But already, the Steve Jobs "reality distortion field" is wearing off and people are noticing what's missing.

Also, this article is in homage to my colleague Adam Turner’s article on Top 10 iPhone 2.0 feature demands - but so much was left out of the iPhone 2.0, that I had to write a list of what I want in the iPhone 3.0! Read on...

1. Tethering

The new iPhone 3G makes no reference to being able to use it as a 3G modem. That’s a shame – so many other phones can do this it’s not funny. No voice or data plans have yet been announced – perhaps Apple’s done an amazing deal to get unlimited or near-unlimited 3G data, and no carrier wants that abused on laptops. But it doesn’t matter – I still want to be able to tether my iPhone to my PC or Mac – by Bluetooth, or USB cable – in the iPhone 3.0 if possible.

2. iTunes Wireless music/video/podcast syncing

Although the iPhone 2.0 software for the iPhone 2G and new 3G models lets you synchronise your emails and calendars to MobileMe, a new online feature that costs US $99 per year (AUD $119 per year), replacing .Mac, there’s still no wireless synchronising of iTunes with a computer, as far as I can tell.

3. Better camera, video capture and flash.

The iPhone 3G’s camera is still only 2 megapixels! Where’s that 3.2 megapixel or 5 megapixel camera we were all expecting? It’s gone AWOL. And there’s no mention of video camera capabilities either, even though third party apps for jailbroken 2G iPhones now enable the feature – if you purchase the app. Maybe something will come in the official App Store – but for now, it seems to be the same camera features. And there’s no flash! Other cameras offer a ‘Xenon’ flash that’s like the type you see in real cameras. iPhone doesn’t even have one of the LED flashes. Sigh.

4. Video calling and a front camera

So, what happened to the video calling features that 3G provides? Not available on the iPhone 3G. There’s no front camera, so even IF video calls are possible, you’d have to turn your phone around so people can see you. But it’s likely video calls are not possible – and they probably can’t even be received, which is also a shame. We’ll have to see when it launches, but videocalling and video chatting with iChat looks like it’s a no-go.

5. Copy and paste

What happened to copy and paste? Still not available. Maybe someone will make an App for the App Store, but it won’t be a ‘native’ thing that would have Apple’s totally smooth way of doing things. Which is a shame.

Please read on to page 2 – there’s plenty more missing that I really want to see in iPhone 3.0, like better Blueooth, more storage, removable battery, turn-by-turn voice directed GPS and much more, including a number 11 in what is supposed to be a Top 10 list!

6. Better Bluetooth
What happened to Bluetooth? There’s still no A2DP that I can see for wireless stereo Bluetooth headsets and no profile so a wireless keyboard can be used with the iPhone for even easier data entry. C’mon Apple, you’re crippling the iPhone – wireless stereo headphone listening would be cool. But the specs make no mention of it...

6. Better Bluetooth
What happened to Bluetooth? There’s still no A2DP that I can see for wireless stereo Bluetooth headsets and no profile so a wireless keyboard can be used with the iPhone for even easier data entry. C’mon Apple, you’re crippling the iPhone – wireless stereo headphone listening would be cool. But the specs make no mention of it...

7. More storage!

What happened to the 32GB iPhone 3G? It’s missing, that’s what. There’s a 32GB iPod Touch, but no 32GB iPhone. Perhaps it will come later this year, just like the 16GB 2G iPhone and 32GB iPod Touch arrived late last year.

Still, it would have been nice to see it now – plenty of people would have gone straight for that model. 8GB and 16GB doesn’t cut it in a world of 160GB iPod Classics.

8. A removable battery.

Apple, you’ve managed to increase battery life, but that doesn’t mean that I still don’t want a removable battery. It’s such a simple thing – what’s the big deal? Yes, you can buy batteries that can connect to the dock connector to recharge the main battery, but I’d rather carry around a spare charged battery instead. But this will probably never change.

9. Haptic feedback

Feeling a slight ‘vibration’ when you press on-screen virtual keys is something that’s standard on quite a few other touch-screen phones. Maybe it chews through too much battery life, and maybe Apple’s saving it for the iPhone 3.0. But I’d still like to see – and feel it.

10. MMS messaging.

Yes, I know that I can send an email to someone with a photo attached. But what if I want to send a photo as an MMS to a non-iPhone owning friend? Can’t do it, or at least, no MMS capability was mentioned. Perhaps an App Store app will bring this feature, but it should be part of the iPhone software as standard.

11. Other stuff - turn-by-turn voice GPS, FM radio, Voice recording etc etc etc etc!

Hey, this is supposed to be a top 10 list, right? Ah well. What about support for Flash, or Java? Other browsers? Voice recording? An FM radio? And is the GPS going to have turn-by-turn voice navigation? Will Google enable that? Or will it be something to purchase from the App Store?!

What do you want from iPhone 3.0? What other features are missing? Let me know