Technology

What’s Included in Apple’s January iPhone Update

Apple’s January iPhone updates comes loaded with impressive new features.

I, by luck of the draw, decided to plug my iPhone in and check for updates tonight. Having totally forgot about the news of Apple’s January iPhone update release, I was a bit surprised to find that there was an update available. Goodie I thought to myself, I love fresh updates, especially from Apple. So I clicked update and let my iPhone sync up with iTunes. After playing with it for a short while and checking out some great January update videos, here’s what sticks out as kick-ass.

New Map Features

• Apple has introduced the ability to find your starting location automatically, using Wi-Fi base stations and/or cellular towers. No more typing the same starting location over and over!
• Another great feature introduced in this month’s update is hybrid viewing mode. It mixes the satellite and map views; it overlaps street names onto the satellite map.
• They’ve also added the Drop Point feature which enables you to pinpoint your exact location on the map. Drop Points can also be stored as bookmarks for later use.
• The last impressive update for the Map application is the show live-traffic option. This shows traffic patterns on major interstates and highways, allowing you to effortlessly avoid traffic jams.

Customization of Home Screen

• I find this to be the single coolest iPhone update to date, the ability to add Web Clicks to the home screen. Now your favorite web-sites can be accessed quickly and easily using this innovative new feature. Simply visit your favorite blog, web-site, or forum and click the plus button at the bottom of the Safari browser, and voila!, a new icon appears on the home screen, linking directly to your saved page.
• Drag N’ Drop has always been the easiest way to do things. Now you can drag n’ drop icons anywhere on the home screen; it’s totally customizable too, add, delete, and rearrange your entire home screen!
• Apple also thought ahead to the future, allowing iPhone users to use up to nine separate home screens, all one-hundred percent customizable.

Send SMS Messages to Multiple People

• Have you ever want to send a picture to two or more friends but hate the pain of doing it individually? This update has your covered, simply select SMS, add as many contacts into the address box as you’d like using the plus sign and click send. Now everyone can see your vacation snapshots!
• The SMS application also saves conversations, so your group of contacts will be saved as one group, allowing you to collect responses in one place.

Extra Treats

• Movies rented in iTunes can be uploaded to your phone; watch your favorite movies on your iPhone.
• Buy songs at the Wi-Fi iTunes music store using gift-codes.

Overall, great updates to the iPhone. I can’t imagine life without my iPhone, I wonder how I ever managed with-out it. It’s a wireless computer, cellular telephone, and a television all wrapped up into a sleek, shiny, pocket-size case. Make sure you update your iPhone software to the latest version as soon as possible!

All of the features are covered in this video from Apple.

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