MattSnodBlog

If you're looking for the all-encompassing review of Apple's new 3.0 software for the iPhone, this ain't it. But hopefully, like me, you have a very short attention span and want just the cool stuff. Here it goes. (Click on any of the thumbnails to see the full size.)

What I like:

• I had serious doubts about Apple's proposed implementation of cut and paste on the iPhone 3.0, but they have once again knocked it out of the park. It uses a simple interface that lets you select the word you tap or drag out handles (with zoom-in feature for fat fingers) to define the beginning and end of the selection.
• I'm really liking the universal search. And putting it one button push away was a great move, too. All you have to do is hit the home button, as long as you're on page one of your apps. If you're on a subsequent page, you need to hit it twice (once to get to page one and once to get to the search view).
• Contact view offers two new more buttons along with Text Message: Share Contact (e-mail only) and Add to Favorites.
• With the new voice recorder, if you "tap" the microphone image in the voice memo app, the VU meter moves.
• Voice mail now shows you more information about the caller from the list screen, like which contact's number a voicemail message came from (mobile, work, home, etc.). If it's an unknown number, it shows the area code's city.
•  Find My iPhone rocks. This is the utility, available to MobileMe members, that helps you find your iPhone if you've lost it. It also allows you to remotely wipe it if it's been stolen. I tried this feature, and even with a first-gen iPhone without GPS, it narrowed my search down to a block. This could certainly help you determine that you left it at your mom's house or at work or in a cab. It also lets you have the phone play a tone (even when silenced) for 2 minutes and push a text message to the phone as a call-to-action for someone who may find it. Very cool. Even if you had not planned on ever signing up for MobileMe, $99/year is almost worth it alone to have that insurance plan.

What I don't like:

• Running the 3.0 software on my first-gen iPhone makes it even slower -- at some points, quite unresponsive for a few seconds, which is annoying. Transitions among apps is slower, typing responsiveness is slower, everything's just a bit slower. Since I plan on getting the iPhone 3G S tomorrow, I won't complain about this too much.
• It could just be me, but the keyboard keys seem just a little bit thinner. Anyone else think that?
• The voice memo app allow you to "share" voice memos but via e-mail only. I would expect an MMS, wireless, or BlueTooth option to be available on other carriers or on AT&T later this summer.
• As someone who has dealt with digital media production for years, the voice memo visual VU meter is a joke. It's not representative of real levels. In fact, when I spoke very loudly just to reach the 0db level, the actual playback was completely distorted. It's more of a fun addition than something useful.

What I wish they had added:

• Native syncing of iPhone Notes with a desktop Mac app.
• A To-Do list on the iPhone calendar that would sync with iCal.
• Multiple-select deletion of anything that the iPhone "lists," such as text messages, voice mails, etc. You can do this with e-mail. It should have been an easy addition.

I'd like to hear what you like or don't like, too. Please send in your comments.