The iPhone has been out for a couple of weeks and by now both its users and Apple have a pretty good idea of what about the phone’s software is working well and what could stand some improvement.
As a company, Apple usually releases software updates and fixes with good regularity. I suspect — and hope — that we should see the first iPhone software update sometime in the next 2-6 weeks.
When that software update comes, here’s what I’d like to see it bring to iPhone users:
Bug fixes and increased stability
As I’ve noted previously, some iPhone applications seem to have some stability issues. I’d like to see the first iPhone software update address those problems, as well as roll in any minor bug fixes (such as the battery charge display bug). Stability and smooth operation are paramount and this kind of update would go a ways to shoring those things up.
Flash support
The Safari browser on iPhone doesn’t currently support the Flash web animation and multimedia plug-in. Though Flash isn’t an absolute requirement for web browsing, it sure makes using a lot of sites better (and some sites, though they’re frequently not very good examples of web development, are built entirely in Flash, meaning without the plug in, you can’t use the site). Walter Mossberg has indicated that he expects Flash support to be coming. I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
Ringtones
This one doesn’t actually matter to me so much, but everyone else in the world seems to want them, so why not?
The ringtones that the iPhone comes with are fine, but many people like the idea of choosing their own ringtones or grabbing snipprts of songs from their iTunes library to use. This will probably require an extra fee to Apple, but I guess getting my phone to say “phone is ringing — oh my god” from that Beastie Boys song every time I get a call would be fun.
UPDATE: Both Apple and third-party developers have released ringtone solutions since this article was originally written.
As a company, Apple usually releases software updates and fixes with good regularity. I suspect — and hope — that we should see the first iPhone software update sometime in the next 2-6 weeks.
When that software update comes, here’s what I’d like to see it bring to iPhone users:
Bug fixes and increased stability
As I’ve noted previously, some iPhone applications seem to have some stability issues. I’d like to see the first iPhone software update address those problems, as well as roll in any minor bug fixes (such as the battery charge display bug). Stability and smooth operation are paramount and this kind of update would go a ways to shoring those things up.
Flash support
The Safari browser on iPhone doesn’t currently support the Flash web animation and multimedia plug-in. Though Flash isn’t an absolute requirement for web browsing, it sure makes using a lot of sites better (and some sites, though they’re frequently not very good examples of web development, are built entirely in Flash, meaning without the plug in, you can’t use the site). Walter Mossberg has indicated that he expects Flash support to be coming. I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
Ringtones
This one doesn’t actually matter to me so much, but everyone else in the world seems to want them, so why not?
The ringtones that the iPhone comes with are fine, but many people like the idea of choosing their own ringtones or grabbing snipprts of songs from their iTunes library to use. This will probably require an extra fee to Apple, but I guess getting my phone to say “phone is ringing — oh my god” from that Beastie Boys song every time I get a call would be fun.
UPDATE: Both Apple and third-party developers have released ringtone solutions since this article was originally written.