Last week I identified 13 new features of iPhone Software 3.1, plus an additional four new features that come from 3.1 in conjunction with the new iTunes 9. I have since learned more on the new features in iPhone Software 3.1. The following list is not exclusive, so for example if you want to learn about how 3.1 provides a improvements to the Bulgarian keyboard, you'll have to look elsewhere—I suspect that the website iPhone в България (iPhone in Bulgaria) will provide full coverage—but this is what I think will be of most interest to iPhone J.D. readers.
- The new anti-phishing features that warn you of potentially fraudulent websites is actually a feature you can turn on or off. By default it is turned on, but you can go to Settings --> Safari --> Fraud Warning to turn it off. When the feature is turned on, it works by comparing the URL to a list of known malicious websites maintained by Google. Of course, the protection is only as good as Google's blacklist, which may not know about the latest bad sites. Moreover, even for the sites on that list, Macworld reports that the feature doesn't always work very well. The danger of a security system that contains holes is that it could lull you into a false sense of security. My recommendation is to keep the Fraud Warning turned on as a second layer of protection, but continue to rely on your good common sense as your first level of protection as you surf the internet and follow the sage advise of Sgt. Phil Esterhaus from Hill Street Blues: "Hey, let's be careful out there." [UPDATE: For more on this feature, read my post from 9-15-2009.]
If you record a video on your iPhone 3GS, the video is synced to iPhoto on a Mac (or your photos folder on a PC). Under 3.0, those videos were not synced back to the iPhone. With iTunes 9 and iPhone 3.1, there is now an option under the "Photos" tab when you connect your iPhone that allows you to "include videos." Turn that on and when you sync a folder or event from your computer back to the iPhone, videos will be synced along with photos. Once synced back, you can no longer use the editing features to trim the video, but you can still share videos via e-mail, MMS, uploading, etc. Thanks to this excellent iLounge post listing new 3.1 features for making me aware of this one.
- I have seen reports like this that 3.1 improves battery life. I have also seen some reports claiming just the opposite. I haven't myself noticed one way or the other yet.
- Calendar event alerts are now displayed in a pop-up, much like push notifications.
- iPhone security is important to everyone, but especially for lawyers with confidential information on their iPhones. Like other iPhone updates, 3.1 includes several security enhancements, and Apple has posted this article describing them if you want the nitty gritty details.
- There is one security enhancement that is specific to iPhones using Exchange for e-mail. As noted in reports like this, the iPhone is now supporting Exchange encryption policies (which were previously ignored), if your company imposes such a requirement. This is no big deal with the iPhone 3GS because it already supports Exchange-required encryption of data on the device, but if you use an earlier model of the iPhone that lacks this support, you may become locked out of your company's e-mail. I consider this a security improvement, but your iPhone certainly won't seem "improved" if you are locked out of your e-mail. If this problem affects you, the solution is apparently to have your server administrator disable the encryption requirement for your iPhone. Or you could upgrade to the iPhone 3GS. Here is a support article from Apple itself on this issue.
- There is now preliminary support for "augmented reality" apps such as the upcoming New York subway app that I previously discussed. According to the Games Alfresco website, an iPhone developer can now create an app that overlays graphics on a live video screen. However, apparently it is still not possible for the app to analyze the video on the screen.
Macworld reports on a change to the way that MobileMe works to help you find your iPhone. If you misplace your iPhone in your house and use MobileMe to play a sound on the iPhone so that you can find it, the ringer now plays at maximum volume, even if your iPhone's ringer volume was turned down. That certainly makes sense.
- There was a widely reported problem in 3.0 that made it possible to see e-mails from POP accounts that had been deleted. iPhone Alley reports that it appears that this bug is fixed in 3.1.
