Update: iPod touch 3.0 Software Update NOW available.
Today’s WWDC event revealed the latest OS X (Snow Leopard), new and updated MacBook Pros (13″), a new iPhone (3G S), and, most importantly and relevant to iPod touch (2G) owners, Apple officially unveiled iPhone OS 3.0. Although, if you followed any of the coverage, there is very little attention paid to the fact that 3.0 will also apply to the iPod touch (2G-only) when the software update drops June 17.
First, two caveats: 1. since the iPod touch is clearly NOT an iPhone (yay, no data plans!), it is only getting the relevant feature updates; and 2. it will cost current 2nd-gen iPod touch owners $9.95 for the update. Now for the good stuff.
The (unfortunately named) iPhone 3.0 software update that is also coming to the iPod touch includes the following major enhancements (in order of what I believe is the most useful to the least):
- Landscape keyboard
- Spotlight Search
- Cut, Copy & Past
- Push Notifications
- Stereo Bluetooth
- Automatic Wi-Fi login
- Safari “improvements”
- Sync notes
- Shake to shuffle
- Peer to Peer gaming
- Third-party game accessories
The long overdue addition of a landscape keyboard, search, copy+paste, and push notifications are the most exciting updates, at least to me.
For more, head on over to Apple’s official software update site, and be sure to check back after June 17 for a full review of the iPod touch’s new and improved features.
picture says ipod touch software update, did you shop that?
@WE: Nope, if you click thru to Apple’s site you will see:
underneath that image (emphasis added).
so does it just work off wifi? I guess I never stopped to think that you didnt need to pay for a data plan with it.
@scoffeeaddict: since there are two ways to read your question – “work off wifi?”, I’ll try to answer both ways:
- if you have a WiFi connection, the iPod touch can do almost everything the iPhone can (even make VoIP calls now with the right apps and an add on mic) except act like a telephone (and there is no camera).
- if you are NOT on a WiFi connection, a lot of apps and functions will not work or be rendered useless, including maps, weather, and obviously anything else that pulls data from the web. however, you can still see your calendar, use all the media functions, and use any apps that actually download info and save it on your touch like Instapaper and most games.
hope that helps
I can’t find the answer to this question so perhaps you guys can know:
Will the new software allow bluetooth headsets to work (i.e. the microphone part so I can Skype or even do some voice recording)?
@summit595: I can’t find a definitive answer either, although based on the following it @ least seems possible (I know that hard-wired mics do work with Skype, Fring, etc):
There is no specific mention (besides how to pair Bluetooth headphones) in the iPod touch User Guide For iPhone OS 3.0 Software, so it is really a matter of what types of Bluetooth profiles the new update adds to the device.
Definitely a good question and something I’m sure all (2G) touch owners would like to know.