Apple iPhone is no stranger to any of us. Lapped up by many, the iPhone is oft considered to be a style statement. There are others, who are so besotted with the device that no sooner any updates are made available, that the users have them installed on their phone! Many are now waiting impatiently for the new 3G updates on the Apple iPhone. There remains a huge chance of transforming the existing iPhone into a completely new one, thanks to benefits of their firmware based platform. A lot of speculation is now doing rounds about the iPhone update 2.3 – from Turn By Turn GPS to simple COPY/PASTE function, there are lot that is wanted by the users.

Video Recording Capability

However, one feature that the users really want is video recording capability. Apple has been a quite a late entrant in this category, as other phones have boasted of this feature, for many years now!

Cut, copy, and paste feature

Even the cut, copy, and paste feature has been long behind time. If this is introduced this time, it will be a simple and useful interface to all applications, be it notes or e-mails or messages, or text on Web pages.

Turn By Turn GPS

A turn-by-turn GPS system is needed to make iPhone a complete GPS device. But there are chances that Apple would not be providing the directional services, and it will come from third-party apps. There is a reason to worry in that case, for the costs would be high in this case, considering the fact that GPS maps are expensive.

It is being expected that this new iPhone 3G update will be audible. This feature will actually solve reservations of prospective iPhone buyers, as many of them are sceptical about the lack of turn by turn GPS enable directions availability.

iPhone users have been addicted to almost any technological iPhone upgrades, but the most recent update version 2.2.1, has not lived up to its expectations. The update mainly comprises of a few firmware “fixes” and stability retainers. It has good “fixes” for Safari but that is obviously not exciting enough. Also it has resolved problems relating to saving images from Mail to Camera Roll.

iPhone 3G Firmware Update

With so much of rumours doing the rounds on iPhone update 2.3, it is difficult to zero down on the right option. Apart from the copy/paste function, another benefit that an iPhone user would appreciate is to incorporate certain changes in the iPhone to make it very much similar to a desktop. It is believed that a beta version of this 3G firmware has been already released in some countries. Supposedly, it does have copy/paste, and along with it the iPhone also has a widescreen keyboard. This particular kind of keyboard is helpful both for emailing purposes as well text messages. Also, the iPhone seems to have customisation features like themes.

Types of 3g updates

3g updates can be classified into two broad types – the Official or authorized 3g updates and the Unofficial 3g updates.

Official or authorized 3g updates

The various advantages of an Official 3g Updates are that there would be a fall in call set-up failures as well as the number of dropped calls. The battery life of the iPhone would also be improved. There would be a considerable reduction in the backup time of iTunes. Email reliability would become better, especially those from POP and Exchange accounts. The time to install 3rd party applications would also be less, thus making the process faster. Hangs and crashes, due to third party applications would be lessened. Text messaging would become quicker, with widescreen keyboards. The number of repeat alerts for incoming messages would be twice. Not much time would be wasted to search contacts. The strength display of 3g signal would have an enhanced correctness. There would now be an option to clear data, if there have been ten failed ten failed pass code attempts. And along with all these advantages, there is also the feature to create a Genius play list!

Unofficial or authorized 3g Updates

One of the benefits of unauthorised 3g updates is that the user can stop a certain installation of an application by simply tapping on the icon. For music addicts, there are a few advantages. To return to the previous track, the user has to click the headset button three times. There would also be a ‘partially listened’ indication on the Podcasts listings. The iPod song lists would have the artist and album name mentioned.

It would also have improved compatibility with particular bluetooth headsets. Though this cannot be termed as a ‘new feature’ but bluetooth headsets that previously were incompatible with visual voicemail and other features, that were available on earlier firmware versions , are now supposedly working on 2.1, as claimed by different users.