iPhone 3.0 Update: 10 Hidden Features

It has been a crazy night trying to download the latest iPhone update, with many reporting that they are unable to access Apple's servers due to unusually high traffic. But Apple's servers are now up to scratch and everybody should have the 3.0 software update installed on their iPhone and iPod Touch.

If you haven't had a proper run-down through all the new features in the iPhone 3.0 software update, our colleagues from Macworld have a comprehensive hands-on review. But now that many had the chance to play around with the new iPhone OS, plenty of undocumented features and nifty updates are starting to show up.

I have complied for you this list of the top 10 hidden gems within the iPhone 3.0 update, which are some of the most important undocumented features so far. If you find any more, make sure you leave them in the comments, so that everyone gets to try them.

Adjustable Song Scrolling Speed

Previously, while listening to a song, you had a simple dot on the song bar to rewind or fast forward. But now in the 3.0 update, you can scroll through songs at various speeds. Put your finger on the scrolling point and it will start glowing. Now, if you drag your finger left or right, you will scroll through the song at "high speed", and if you do this movement while dragging your finger down the screen, the speed decreases to "half speed", "quarter speed" or "fine scrubbing".

Special Characters In Messaging

The 3.0 keyboard has a few extra special characters when holding certain signs down. For example, when you hold down the ".", you also get "...", the dash "-" also displays an em-dash "-" and quotations and apostrophes display "<<" and ">>" and can also be curved. Another quick tip is to hold and press on the numeric button while in letters mode and slide your finger to the desired punctuation sign. Then, the letter keyboard will come back automatically.

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What’s up with the iPhone 4G?

While myriads of business users breathlessly await the release of iPhone OS 3.0, leaks have begun to surface indicating that Apple may be busily working on releasing the next generation iPhone. For purposes of this column we’ll call it iPhone 4G—although it may or may not work on 4G networks and that may or may not be the real name of this next gen device.

Since rumors are so near and dear to my heart, as evidenced by my recent missive on the Palm Pre, let’s see what rumors are circulating around this newest iPhone.

According to rumor central, an anonymous poster on a Chinese website has published what claims to be the specs for Apple's next iPhone. If these rumors become fact, iPhone users who upgrade will enjoy the following new features:

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In preparation for iPhone 3.0, Apple posts iTunes 8.2

Apple on Monday released iTunes 8.2, an update to its music jukebox software and online store interface for the Mac and Windows. It’s available for download through the Software Update system preference.


Apple notes that iTunes 8.2 now supports iPhones and iPod touches equipped with the iPhone 3.0 software update. Other accessibility improvements and bug fixes have also been made.

Apple also improved security in iTunes 8.2. According to a notice, Apple has improved bounds checking in 8.2 to prevent a stack buffer overflow problem that could lead to unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution.

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