Mobile Blog (test)

this is my first mobile blog entry. done with the iphone over wi-fi network in royal plaza hotel in singapore. cool...

iPhone Update!

I was about to get my iPhone during a trip to Singapore last week but the price was much higher (S$1000+) than the listed online price (US$399). Just yesterday I also dropped by at Greenhills and saw that it has also been selling there for over a week now. Prices started around 50k and it's now somewhere at 30k. I felt lucky after deciding not to get one for now after hearing news of a software update (firmware version 1.1.1) released by Apple a few days back that killed unlocked iPhones.

The added features in general don't make the iPhone significantly better (and majority of the users probably haven't expected any of these), but it seems hardware/software capabilities of the device have not been maxxed out yet. This could mean more updates to come bundled with tougher cracking and hacking protection. Here's a quick list:

• iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
• Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
• Home Button double-click shortcut to phone favorites or music controls
• Space bar double-tap shortcut to intelligently insert period and space
• Mail attachments are viewable in portrait and landscape
• Stocks and cities in Stocks and Weather can be re-ordered
• Apple Bluetooth Headset battery status in the Status Bar
• Support for TV Out
• Preference to turn off EDGE/GPRS when roaming internationally
• New Passcode lock time intervals
• Adjustable alert volume
• A bunch of security fixes for Bluetooth, Email and Safari

... and the bad news -- For those who bought the unlocked iPhones, they are probably still in the 1.0.2 version -- and if they downloaded and install the latest update, they might no longer be useable (dead!). If they try to downgrade it back, the phone functionalities might no longer be available and it turns into an expensive iPod Touch.

The 1.0.2 version works fine with 3rd party software (which by the way is free or cheaper, and sometimes with better functionalities) while the 1.1.1 unlocking tools are 'in progress'. I am waiting to see this happen before I get one, so I can have a better estimate of how fast and reliable the "developer community" will be against Apple's standards. If the unlocking tool doesn't come out until the Asia release, I'll just buy straight from Apple stores.