While the release notes accompanying Apple's most recent iPhone firmware beta listed "compatibility testing" as version 2.2's sole change, MacRumors reports that a series of hidden features are also included, most notably support for Google Street View for the Google Maps application. Street View delivers to users panoramic, street-level photographs of selected cities within Google Maps--the feature was recently demoed in T-Mobile USA's forthcoming G1, the first handset powered by Google's Android mobile operating system.
In addition, iPhone 2.2 will feature support for Japanese emoji icons--pundits have cited the absence of these emoticons and avatars a principal reason behind the device's failure to catch on with Japanese consumers. Apple also will allow users to disable the iPhone's auto-correction features with the device's Keyboard settings. The computing giant has not yet said when the iPhone 2.2 firmware will be available.
For more on the iPhone updates:
- read this MacRumors article [1]
Related articles:
Google debuts first mobile app for iPhone [2]
Google revamps iPhone [3] applications suite
Links:
[1] http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/06/iphone-2-2-hidden-features-google-street-view-emoji-auto-correction-off/
[2] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/google-debuts-first-mobile-app-iphone/2008-07-11
[3] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/google-revamps-iphone-applications-suite/2008-01-14