iPhone Video Recording Interface, Digital Compass, Voice Control and Auto-Focus Camera [Archive]

MacRumors

Apr 7, 2009, 10:58 AM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/07/iphone-video-recording-interface-digital-compass-voice-control-and-auto-focus-camera/)

Since the release of Apple's iPhone 3.0 beta firmware, users have been scouring the configuration files looking for evidence of future iPhone capabilities. The possibility of video recording has seemed increasingly certain with files for video uploading (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/19/upload-video-screen-suggests-video-capabilities-in-next-iphone/) and editing (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/05/next-gen-iphone-802-11n-and-video-editing/) having been discovered.

A new finding, however, should put to rest any doubts about whether or not Apple is planning to include video recording in future iPhones. This screenshot, which was discovered in the latest iPhone 3.0 beta, shows the interface Apple will provide for video recording:

http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/04/07/081242-cameramr.jpg

The interface shows the normal iPhone camera interface but with a switch on the bottom right which toggles between still camera photography and video recording. The video recording is not presently functional in iPhone 3.0 beta, and the interface is not accessible by default. Only when configuration files were modified telling the firmware that a Video Camera was present will this interface appear.

Other interesting capabilities found in the configuration files include "auto-focus camera", "magnetometer" (digital compass), and "Voice Control".

Apple is expected to release the final version of iPhone 3.0 this summer, and many believe that Apple will also introduce an updated iPhone around that time as well.

Article Link: iPhone Video Recording Interface, Digital Compass, Voice Control and Auto-Focus Camera (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/07/iphone-video-recording-interface-digital-compass-voice-control-and-auto-focus-camera/)

bedifferent

Apr 7, 2009, 10:59 AM

Can't wait! I haven't had the chance in poking around 3.0 Beta 2, but I'd like to see if this is easily enabled.

Schizoid

Apr 7, 2009, 11:00 AM

...with a better quality camera hopefully.
what were the rumours? 3.1 and 5 MP (possibly for some future 'product')

dwd3885

Apr 7, 2009, 11:00 AM

I wonder if the video record will be enabled in the current iPhone, or you will have to purchase the new one to use it

gibbz

Apr 7, 2009, 11:01 AM

looks like iPhone 3.0 will be awesome.

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 11:02 AM

Magnetometer!! I'm sold.

ZunePod

Apr 7, 2009, 11:03 AM

This is just getting me more and more excited about the new iPhone, infact, I'm going to put this firmware on my iPod now and scroll through the files

angemon89

Apr 7, 2009, 11:04 AM

That's awesome. Can't wait to be able to record videos on my iPhone!

But I wonder, will this work on the 2G and 3G iPhones?

scottintosh

Apr 7, 2009, 11:04 AM

The first gen iPhone is capable of video recording because there are apps for jailbroken phones that allow it. Video quality isn't that great though

Gravity

Apr 7, 2009, 11:05 AM

My 1st gen iPhone is two years old... having purchased it on June 29 of '07. It's not holding battery charges very well these days... it dies after two hours of continuous use. I cannot WAIT for the new iPhone 3.0 and I'm definitely going to upgrade when the new phone arrives.

bedifferent

Apr 7, 2009, 11:07 AM

The first gen iPhone is capable of video recording because there are apps for jailbroken phones that allow it. Video quality isn't that great though

I forget whether iPhone 2G 3.0 allows for video recording based on the (little) information we have. Most people know that it can record video on a jailbroken iPhone, yet the quality is lacking. Knowing Apple's insistence on quality, I wonder if they will officially allow it when 3.0 is released.

justflie

Apr 7, 2009, 11:08 AM

The key phrase in all that is "auto-focus camera." Thank the good Lord. Sharper photos and videos, here we come!

Stately

Apr 7, 2009, 11:08 AM

I wonder if the video record will be enabled in the current iPhone, or you will have to purchase the new one to use it

I would think we would have it, but the next iphone will obviously be upgraded in certain ways and video for example will probably look better coming from that phone due to things like a lens change.

longofest

Apr 7, 2009, 11:08 AM

That's awesome. Can't wait to be able to record videos on my iPhone!

But I wonder, will this work on the 2G and 3G iPhones?

So far, it seems like its geared towards a future iPhone, and you won't see this functionality on current iPhones.

tiguk

Apr 7, 2009, 11:09 AM

I forget whether iPhone 2G 3.0 allows for video recording based on the (little) information we have. Most people know that it can record video on a jailbroken iPhone, yet the quality is lacking. Knowing Apple's insistence on quality, I wonder if they will officially allow it when 3.0 is released.

No, not a chance.

This is one of the selling points of the new iPhone, they're not going to enable it for previous generations, otherwise they'd have announced it as part of iPhone OS 3.0

jholzner

Apr 7, 2009, 11:09 AM

Man, I need to stop reading rumor sites 'cause it's just making the wait intolerable! My first gen iPhone will be a year and a half old in June. I originally planned on holding out until the two year mark but there is just no way I will be able to wait!

talkingfuture

Apr 7, 2009, 11:10 AM

All those features sound great, looking forward to seeing this phone a lot now.

sunfast

Apr 7, 2009, 11:11 AM

Wow. The iPhone just gets better and better!

I'm going to be jealous of all the new iPhone owners in the summer while my 3G runs out its contract.

srl7741

Apr 7, 2009, 11:12 AM

The "magnetometer" (digital compass) sounds interesting.

Lepton

Apr 7, 2009, 11:12 AM

I believe I heard something about video recording not being enabled on current devices partly because of a memory problem. Perhaps the way the hardware currently is set up, video recording causes each frame to record in a buffer in the SAME section of flash memory every time. This constant rewriting of the same physical chunk of flash would eventually wear it out and damage the hardware. Perhaps newer hardware would buffer to nonflash RAM and therefore not wear it out.

bedifferent

Apr 7, 2009, 11:12 AM

No, not a chance.

This is one of the selling points of the new iPhone, they're not going to enable it for previous generations, otherwise they'd have announced it as part of iPhone OS 3.0

Marketing marketing, that's the way of the technological world. :o

I was wondering whether Apple has had these "new" features for a while. As many have mentioned, most smart phones have had MMS, cut/copy/paste, video recording, etc. so I'd be surprised if Apple released the iPhone without planning on releasing these features sometime down the road as it would be a bit of a gamble on not knowing if they would work in a multi-touch platform. Holding these features back and releasing them slowly seems to be a good strategy at keeping iPhone sales strong.

billchase2

Apr 7, 2009, 11:13 AM

This is getting exciting! June can't come soon enough.

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 11:13 AM

YES!!!!!!! :eek:

They only have to add a LED which could be used as a light and it's perfect! :D:D

fleshman03

Apr 7, 2009, 11:14 AM

The more I hear, the happier I am that I've waited 2-years to get an iPhone.

eastercat

Apr 7, 2009, 11:14 AM

Since both versions of the current iPhones can record video, I hope that this new video recording software is available to everyone. However, I'm worried that it'll only be available to purchasers of v3.
Well, I was already excited about the inclusion of copy and paste. Everything else is vegan gravy. :)

TheSpaz

Apr 7, 2009, 11:14 AM

This is really cool looking, but I still don't need video recording. Maybe I'll use it once or twice if I get one.

georgetang

Apr 7, 2009, 11:14 AM

I believe Apple would include video recording capabilities, this would boost iPhone sales to the next level.

Consider that many end-users do not have a decent video recording device that it's portable, yeah I know, many cellphone has video recording but what about capacity?

With next iPhone boosting storage to 32GB (for high-end models) video recording would be logical.

Also, I can't wait to see Apple incorporate iChat AV Mobile on iPhone, and releasing iChat AV for Windows, this would be a killer...

That'll help Apple to expand their footprint within the PC world or Windows arena.

tiguk

Apr 7, 2009, 11:15 AM

Wow. The iPhone just gets better and better!

I'm going to be jealous of all the new iPhone owners in the summer while my 3G runs out its contract.

I'm banking on O2 allowing upgrades with an extension to the contract, just like they did when the iPhone 3G was launched.

applekid

Apr 7, 2009, 11:15 AM

What is that in the bottom left corner?

Spanky Deluxe

Apr 7, 2009, 11:15 AM

Hahahaha, I was talking about a magnetometer in the iPhone just a few days ago on here.

fleshman03

Apr 7, 2009, 11:16 AM

finalcut

Apr 7, 2009, 11:16 AM

The key phrase in all that is "auto-focus camera." Thank the good Lord. Sharper photos and videos, here we come!

yes, thanks!

Jayomat

Apr 7, 2009, 11:16 AM

wow, keep going!!! :) :apple: although i could never afford this new iphone + 3.0 OS anyway ... :o

Spanky Deluxe

Apr 7, 2009, 11:17 AM

I'm banking on O2 allowing upgrades with an extension to the contract, just like they did when the iPhone 3G was launched.

Probably but you'll likely have to pay a higher price - maybe a variable price dependent on how long you've have your 3G iPhone. They did subsidise the 3G phone after all. This wasn't a problem with the 2G iPhone to 3G upgrade since they didn't pay for the 2G phones in the first place.

sundayx

Apr 7, 2009, 11:17 AM

Magnetometer!! I'm sold.

Hellllyeaahhhh

Luke1robb

Apr 7, 2009, 11:17 AM

I'm going to be jealous of all the new iPhone owners in the summer while my 3G runs out its contract.

+1

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 11:17 AM

Marketing marketing, that's the way of the technological world. :o

I was wondering whether Apple has had these "new" features for a while. As many have mentioned, most smart phones have had MMS, cut/copy/paste, video recording, etc. so I'd be surprised if Apple released the iPhone without planning on releasing these features sometime down the road as it would be a bit of a gamble on not knowing if they would work in a multi-touch platform. Holding these features back and releasing them slowly seems to be a good strategy at keeping iPhone sales strong.

Welcome to the world of business, you don't release a product with all the functions known to mankind, you need to find a way for people to upgrade.

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 11:18 AM

The "magnetometer" (digital compass) sounds interesting.

It is, and people are really missing the significance of this. Video recording is hardly the exciting part of this find. The magnetometer is the early tech that will help the iPhone become a true augmented reality (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=681753) device.

Luke1robb

Apr 7, 2009, 11:18 AM

Magnetometer!! I'm sold.

You are kidding right? What exactly would a magnetometer do other than act as a compass? It seems like Apple would want more out of something like that? Ideas? Improved GPS or Turn-by-turn?

Jayomat

Apr 7, 2009, 11:19 AM

Welcome to the world of business, you don't release a product with all the functions known to mankind, you need to find a way for people to upgrade.

exactly... first iphone = the hype = sold
3G = hm i don't know ;)
new iphone = wow-effect is even bigger... ;)

andimaciphone

Apr 7, 2009, 11:19 AM

my current contract runs out in June on my original iPhone.
Looking forward to my next upgrade. :D

Luke1robb

Apr 7, 2009, 11:21 AM

I've been thinking about it and wouldn't it be cool if you could zoom in/out when taking a picture or (in the future) video. Simply pinch in or out. Thoughts?

niuniu

Apr 7, 2009, 11:21 AM

Can't see any jailbroken 3G'ers making the jump on this. Though it would be nice to have all these features officially :apple:

Benguitar

Apr 7, 2009, 11:21 AM

3.0 just keeps getting better and better. ;)

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 11:22 AM

What is that in the bottom left corner?I was wondering the same thing...

InkMaster

Apr 7, 2009, 11:22 AM

Awesome. Maybe it'll be finally worth it to buy an iPhone. A better camera would certainly be welcome.

arkitect

Apr 7, 2009, 11:22 AM

I get calls from O2 just about every 2nd day offering to upgrade my original iPhone to a 3G… and on the days they don't call I get text messages.
Can't wait for June… :D

Jayomat

Apr 7, 2009, 11:22 AM

yeah 4 negatives.... unbelieveable :confused:

sry

Awesome. Maybe it'll be finally worth it to buy an iPhone. A better camera would certainly be welcome.

!!!!!

Luke1robb

Apr 7, 2009, 11:22 AM

With what the founder of the Flip camera's comments today about a wifi-based flip camera and now this, can you all imagine how much video is going to be uploaded to YouTube come this June/July?!?!? HELLO user-created content!

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 11:22 AM

Is it true the Palm Pre doesn't record video?

paja

Apr 7, 2009, 11:23 AM

Marketing marketing, that's the way of the technological world. :o

I was wondering whether Apple has had these "new" features for a while. As many have mentioned, most smart phones have had MMS, cut/copy/paste, video recording, etc. so I'd be surprised if Apple released the iPhone without planning on releasing these features sometime down the road as it would be a bit of a gamble on not knowing if they would work in a multi-touch platform. Holding these features back and releasing them slowly seems to be a good strategy at keeping iPhone sales strong.

I'm in agreement with you. The viral marketing is working on me as I will be upgrading my iPhone later this year.

Luke1robb

Apr 7, 2009, 11:23 AM

I was wondering the same thing...

Its a preview of the last photo you took. It also links you back to your photo album. It's available in 3.0 already.

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 7, 2009, 11:27 AM

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 11:27 AM

You are kidding right? What exactly would a magnetometer do other than act as a compass? It seems like Apple would want more out of something like that? Ideas? Improved GPS or Turn-by-turn?

Augmented reality. Virtual data (text, images, 3D) overlaid onto reality viewed through a camera and display. Calculated by combining GPS and compass data. It'll be so sci-fi when it's evolved. NVIDIA's CEO was asked where he thinks the future of video devices will take us. His answer was augmented reality.

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 11:29 AM

OMG!!! if this only Beta 2...!!! what would it be with the FULLY-SIZED OS 3!?!?!?
let alone the actual hardware update!!!
I am sooooooo camping outside the apple store a week before they launch the new iphone!! hehehhehe....:D

Remember what they showed is only a preview, there is more to come in June plus with a new iphone, damn why does Apple always do this. :D

Buschmaster

Apr 7, 2009, 11:29 AM

I'm not sure if this has been discussed yet because I only read about a page. So, sorry if it has!

What if this ability is gained from an accessory on older versions of the iPhones?

juststranded

Apr 7, 2009, 11:31 AM

What the thing in the bottom left?

Looks like a mirror to me. To switch to the front-facing camera on the new hardware. Pretty cool.

11800506

Apr 7, 2009, 11:31 AM

There's no denying it now! This new iPhone will be great!

Buschmaster

Apr 7, 2009, 11:32 AM

What the thing in the bottom left?

Looks like a mirror to me. To switch to the front-facing camera on the new hardware. Pretty cool.
It's a thumbnail of the latest picture taken.

Luke1robb

Apr 7, 2009, 11:32 AM

Nice find Arn/company!

QCassidy352

Apr 7, 2009, 11:33 AM

The more I hear, the happier I am that I've waited 2-years to get an iPhone.

The more I hear, the happier I am that I've been enjoying my 2G iphone for two years and will be eligible for an upgrade to this marvelous new toy this summer. :D

Luke1robb

Apr 7, 2009, 11:34 AM

Remember what they showed is only a preview, there is more to come in June plus with a new iphone

Good point, I hadn't thought about the fact that they said it was a "preview" of iPhone OS 3.0. I think they get some crazy ***** up their shelves yet to come! Awesome!

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 11:34 AM

fishmoose

Apr 7, 2009, 11:34 AM

It's getting harder and harder not to plan for an upgrade this summer :D
The new features sound great!

andykemp

Apr 7, 2009, 11:35 AM

I'm banking on O2 allowing upgrades with an extension to the contract, just like they did when the iPhone 3G was launched.

Me too! I plan on passing my 3G on to my wife so I can upgrade!

TheWelshBoyo

Apr 7, 2009, 11:35 AM

What the thing in the bottom left?

Looks like a mirror to me. To switch to the front-facing camera on the new hardware. Pretty cool.

Nope...
It's what you tap to get to your Camera (and Video I'm guessing) Roll.

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 7, 2009, 11:36 AM

Remember what they showed is only a preview, there is more to come in June plus with a new iphone, damn why does Apple always do this. :D

I know!!! :D

Can't wait for WWDC on June 8th!!! just to know when the iPhone is actually coming out!!! hope it's not more than a couple weeks!!

Lesser Evets

Apr 7, 2009, 11:37 AM

Bring it.

bedifferent

Apr 7, 2009, 11:37 AM

Welcome to the world of business, you don't release a product with all the functions known to mankind, you need to find a way for people to upgrade.

`lol no kidding. I was thinking that when they released the first iPhone and everyone complained about these features being absent. Given that Apple most likely had these features under wrap since day one, I wonder if Jobs and other executives/Apple wigs have been using these features on their iPhones. Just a thought.

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 11:37 AM

By the way, I hope they will add a physical camera-key. Auto-focus by a touch screen will be a pain in the ass!

Besides the fact that a key on the side of the phone is a better position than on the front, and you'll be less shaky when taking a picture.

dougelo7

Apr 7, 2009, 11:38 AM

Wow. The iPhone just gets better and better!

I'm going to be jealous of all the new iPhone owners in the summer while my 3G runs out its contract.

Haha, in Japan they offer the iPhone 3Gs with one year contracts! Translation: I AM GETTING THE NEW IPHONE REGARDLESS!!! >:D

jlwillia

Apr 7, 2009, 11:38 AM

Can't see any jailbroken 3G'ers making the jump on this. Though it would be nice to have all these features officially :apple:

This statement is completely contradictory to itself. Don't you think that having these features officially will be the precise reason why at least some people un-jailbreak?.

That's like saying no one will buy the new iphone this summer because everyone will want it. Also, no one likes ice cream because it's too delicious. Better yet, no one wants to be Steve Jobs because his job is too awesome and he makes too much money and gets to play will all the Apple product concepts.

These are all the reasons why people WANT to do these things.

QCassidy352

Apr 7, 2009, 11:38 AM

I'm banking on O2 allowing upgrades with an extension to the contract, just like they did when the iPhone 3G was launched.

But the original 2G iphone was not subsidized, and the 3G was. If they allow upgrades with an extension each year then they never recoup the cost of the subsidy. Even if they keep you in contract forever, they're still giving you a subsidized upgrade each year and only getting back half of that through the contract before they give you another subsidy.

Can't see any jailbroken 3G'ers making the jump on this.

You say that now... ;)

bedifferent

Apr 7, 2009, 11:39 AM

How did someone discover these files? As I understand it, the iPhone has to be jailbroken in order to SSH or get full access to the file structure, right? Does this mean when RipDEV released QuickPWN for 3.0 beta 2 that these features were discovered?

hellomoto4

Apr 7, 2009, 11:42 AM

Just a guess, but I think this will be available to the "v3 iPhone" and the iPhone 3G only. Obviously the "v3 iPhone" would just have better picture quality, etc.

When Apple decided that MMS and A2DP wasn't going to be introduced to iPhone 2G, I got the impression that Apple are 'moving on' from the iPhone 2G, and wanting customers to upgrade.

patsfan83

Apr 7, 2009, 11:42 AM

What is that in the bottom left corner?

How about a preview for the forward facing camera? Select it and the large preview switches to the front camera, the rear camera now becomes the smaller preview window? Sounds very plausible to me.

stagi

Apr 7, 2009, 11:43 AM

Sweet I can't wait for video! Hopefully iChat also :)

MrCrowbar

Apr 7, 2009, 11:44 AM

Would be cool if the video compression rate would automatically go up if the accelerometer feels much movement. This way, if you do quick turns or pans, the recording bitrate could go up. Even on high end consumer cameras, you notice the artifacts on this kind of motion.

Modern video compression works by having a keyframe (a fully stored picture) followed by frames where only the differences to the keyframe and the movement and color shift of previous frames are stored. This means if your camera is on a tripod and only a small object on the video is moving, you can set the compression very high. Panning on zooming is bad here, because there's new objects coming into view that haven't been there in the keyframe. Hard cuts actually look terrible if the first image after the cut isn't a keyframe.

bedifferent

Apr 7, 2009, 11:44 AM

This statement is completely contradictory to itself. Don't you think that having these features officially will be the precise reason why at least some people un-jailbreak?.

That's like saying no one will buy the new iphone this summer because everyone will want it. Also, no one likes ice cream because it's too delicious. Better yet, no one wants to be Steve Jobs because his job is too awesome and he makes too much money and gets to play will all the Apple product concepts.

These are all the reasons why people WANT to do these things.

I believe he meant that people jailbreak their current iPhones in order to get these features. If one has an iPhone 3G that is jailbroken and has cut/copy/paste (clippie), MMS (Swirly), video recording (Cycorder or iPhonevideorecorder3G), et al and there isn't much of a difference hardware wise with the new iPhone in June, and they can't get an upgrade option, then some may not upgrade and save the $$$. Sure, having these applications officially available is great, but when they're already available in some form on the current iPhone, why waste the funds?

Personally, I would still jailbreak it as the main reason for me is theming, I like the options given to me through Winterboard, but that's just me.

williedigital

Apr 7, 2009, 11:46 AM

You mean this kind of stuff in real-time?

http://www.raizlabs.com/blog/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/augmented_reality.jpg

It's cool, but I don't think it's very handy to be walking with your iPhone in front of you all the time. This is great in HUD-sunglasses, I wonder when that'll be available.

By the way, I don't think the iPhone will have the power to do this kind of stuff in real-time.

Funny thing is, that's essentially real life. Signs in front of stores and arrows painted on the roadway have the exact same effect. You're just overlaying a bitmap on top of it.

ivladster

Apr 7, 2009, 11:47 AM

Nice, these are very logical Apple features. But adding flash in the back is something for 4G. Apple just can't give out all features in this release.

I wonder why apple doesn't want to make its own Turn-by-Turn App.

srl7741

Apr 7, 2009, 11:48 AM

It is, and people are really missing the significance of this. Video recording is hardly the exciting part of this find. The magnetometer is the early tech that will help the iPhone become a true augmented reality (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=681753) device.

You read my mind :)

kornyboy

Apr 7, 2009, 11:48 AM

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

I'm really looking forward to this update. Bring it on.

MikeDTyke

Apr 7, 2009, 11:48 AM

The video we all knew about from the previous icons and youtube upload page.

The real meat of this article is the magnetometer & voice control.

The Magnetometer will make turn by turn far more accurate and the augmented reality stuff like street view on the Android G1 is very useful.

But the one that`s got me buzzin is voice control. You cannot legally make a phone call from iPhone whilst driving a car. Having a bluetooth headset or integrated into your car means at least now you can say `Call Jonny Ive` and the phone can respond with `I do not understand Jo`s got Hives, please repeat your command` :cool:

M.

Saladinos

Apr 7, 2009, 11:49 AM

I like the new features, but the interface is becoming too cluttered. Apple need to set about cleaning up most of the OS (especially the settings app!)

andygabriel

Apr 7, 2009, 11:49 AM

what is a magnetnometer? Help me out plz!

Porchland

Apr 7, 2009, 11:49 AM

Magnetometer!! I'm sold.

Bring on turn by turn!

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 11:50 AM

You mean this kind of stuff in real-time?

http://www.raizlabs.com/blog/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/augmented_reality.jpg

It's cool, but I don't think it's very handy to be walking with your iPhone in front of you all the time. This is great in HUD-sunglasses, I wonder when that'll be available.

You wouldn't need to hold it in front of your face the whole time, but it would be useful to access navigation like this when you need it.

By the way, I don't think the iPhone will have the power to do this kind of stuff in real-time.

Maybe, maybe not, but the fact that a magnetometer is mentioned gives a promising outlook for future features. There are older WinMo devices that can do this, so I wouldn't immediately put it past a new iPhone.

macfan406

Apr 7, 2009, 11:52 AM

if anyone knows how to enable this for us developers, then iPhone 3.0 will be amazingly awesome.... (in addition to the hacks we already enabled for MMS and Tethering...)

fleshman03

Apr 7, 2009, 11:52 AM

The more I hear, the happier I am that I've been enjoying my 2G iphone for two years and will be eligible for an upgrade to this marvelous new toy this summer. :D

yeah - I've needed to save my money that long...

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 7, 2009, 11:54 AM

what is a magnetnometer? Help me out plz!

Basically it is a little sensor built-in inside the iPhone that works exactly like a compass... and display it...

that's about it.... :confused:

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 11:54 AM

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 11:55 AM

There are older WinMo devices that can do this, so I wouldn't immediately put it past a new iPhone.Really? Is there any video material showing that?

Now I'm getting really excited! :D

theheadguy

Apr 7, 2009, 11:56 AM

There will be video recording. Got it.

This is becoming like copy and paste. Sheesh.

rhett7660

Apr 7, 2009, 11:56 AM

I think this is great news if it comes to light! With all of the add ons that are coming from the 3.0 this is looking pretty darn good!!!

aendaman

Apr 7, 2009, 11:58 AM

The more I hear, the happier I am that I've waited 2-years to get an iPhone.

+1

ivladster

Apr 7, 2009, 11:59 AM

It's getting harder and harder not to plan for an upgrade this summer :D
The new features sound great!

WOW, that's exactly what Apple wants. We all fall for it like flies on honey. =)

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 12:01 PM

Really? Is there any video material showing that?

Now I'm getting really excited! :D

I can't find the clip of the WinMo device right now. It was crude, but still shows the possibilities. Here's a clip (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7818d_gps-camera-ricoh-caplio-500se-with_tech) of a camera that uses both GPS and compass data to augment text on the screen. Again, it's crude, but the hardware is there. Software developers could make some awesome strides with this.

sonnyjames

Apr 7, 2009, 12:02 PM

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 12:04 PM

Funny thing is, that's essentially real life. Signs in front of stores and arrows painted on the roadway have the exact same effect. You're just overlaying a bitmap on top of it.

Augmented data can be much more than just bitmaps. Check out these (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M-oAmBDcZk) clips (http://www.augmentedenvironments.org/blair/2008/12/01/a-little-iphone-ar-demo/) of marker-based AR on the iPhone.

Khryz

Apr 7, 2009, 12:10 PM

Any chance the new iPhone will be able to shoot 720p Video? If so, then I won't need to buy one of these Pocket Camcorders.

yorkshire

Apr 7, 2009, 12:10 PM

Nice, but I'm still waiting to see some new pictures of the phone itself.

Just 2 months until we see this thing.

MikeDTyke

Apr 7, 2009, 12:13 PM

Any chance the new iPhone will be able to shoot 720p Video? If so, then I won't need to buy one of these Pocket Camcorders.

A 3.2MP CMOS sensor is quite capable of capturing 720p, the deciding factor will be memory bandwidth.

M. :D

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 12:13 PM

Really? Is there any video material showing that?

Now I'm getting really excited! :D

Here are some (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V6MNp_tWG0) clips (http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kit-eaton/technomix/why-your-next-gen-smartphone-will-do-augmented-reality) of Android devices running augmented reality apps.

SleepyHead157

Apr 7, 2009, 12:14 PM

this sounds great. Can't wait. These new additions are making the iPhone experience better and better

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 12:14 PM

Dagless

Apr 7, 2009, 12:15 PM

I wonder if these are features of an upcoming iPhone? Does the current model have the capability to have a digital compass?

Either way I'm waiting until the next model for the guaranteed capacity increase alone. And moneys.

GottaLoveApple4

Apr 7, 2009, 12:16 PM

I officially cannot wait anymore!! My 3G is going to my girlfriend, along with my white macbook, and I'm definitely picking up a new iPhone 3.0 and Unibody Macbook (hopefully with Snow Leopard)!! This will be the greatest day ever! :apple::apple::D

cmichaelb

Apr 7, 2009, 12:16 PM

...with a better quality camera hopefully.
what were the rumours? 3.1 and 5 MP (possibly for some future 'product')

If these rumors are true, I'm betting on either a high end iPhone with 5mp or the 3.1 still for the Touch, and 5mp still/vid for the iPhone.

BeyondtheTech

Apr 7, 2009, 12:17 PM

This may be all great and all, but I'm still hoping they'll start encrypting and digital signing the iPhone apps like Qualcomm did with their BREW apps. I think it should cut the piracy and Crackulous issue down to nearly nothing.

I don't mind the whole jailbreaking scene (doesn't really affect me), but when they start cutting hardworking developers out of applications that net them as little as $0.70 before taxes, that's where it's gotta stop.

SAG3194

Apr 7, 2009, 12:17 PM

Now is this picture of an actual iPhone running this application? Or this is just a picture of the application not running on an iPhone.

If its running on an iPhone then how the hell do I get this!

Yes I am running 3.0 Beta 2.

michael.lauden

Apr 7, 2009, 12:19 PM

i wonder what the clips will sync with.. iTunes?

aduteau

Apr 7, 2009, 12:32 PM

If these rumors are true, I'm betting on either a high end iPhone with 5mp or the 3.1 still for the Touch, and 5mp still/vid for the iPhone.

Yeah I realy hope we get that 5.0mp on the iPhone (this is getting close to that 7.0mp from Sony Erickson phone). without the 5.0mp ... its still gona be low rez pics IMHO. And filming without 5.0mp ... wow .. low rez movies too. I'd like to be able to use my iPhone how good quality pics and movies without having to switch to other gears while on the road.

Nym

Apr 7, 2009, 12:34 PM

Since some users are talking about augmented reality I just came across a great example that serves to show the possibilities of this kind of stuff.

Bear in mind that I'm a Flash Developer and this is a tutorial video link about building augmented reality inside Flash Player. Just take a look at the first minute of the video and you'll see a good example of what can be done using this technology. It's just a quick and basic example.

http://www.gotoandlearn.com/play?id=105

I have no idea if Apple is going down this road yet but when the landscape came out of the paper sheet I was just blown away (watch the 1st minute of the video :))

Again, I'm not upgrading my 3G this year. The 3.0 software update already has more than enough ;).

yorkshire

Apr 7, 2009, 12:35 PM

If these rumors are true, I'm betting on either a high end iPhone with 5mp or the 3.1 still for the Touch, and 5mp still/vid for the iPhone.

I think 5MP is a bit optimistic, 3.2 maybe. And I'm not sure the touch will get a camera anytime soon, but hey, one can hope?

michael31986

Apr 7, 2009, 12:35 PM

Im sure the iphone 3g will get this ONLY if were not able to upgrade. If they let 3g upgrade, which people are saying they doubt then they wont give us the video feature cause they will want us to upgrade. 2g iphone shouldn't even hope to have this since, they wont even get mms and there contracts are up.

Khryz

Apr 7, 2009, 12:38 PM

A 3.2MP CMOS sensor is quite capable of capturing 720p, the deciding factor will be memory bandwidth.

M. :D

Oh man I hope so. I was going to buy a Flip MinoHD now but I suppose I can wait a few more months.

Ridly

Apr 7, 2009, 12:38 PM

brian4610

Apr 7, 2009, 12:40 PM

If these rumors are true, I'm betting on either a high end iPhone with 5mp or the 3.1 still for the Touch, and 5mp still/vid for the iPhone.

I don't see how a camera would be any part of a high end/ low end iphone, not that big of a deal any more. I had a better camera in my phone that i had 7 years ago then what is currently in the iphone. Prices have dropped, and i can't imagine that they would be able to put the 5mp in both phones...

on a side note, i'm begging for ichat video capabilities, maybe i'm reading into ANYTHING that would hint at this as a possibility.

SFStateStudent

Apr 7, 2009, 12:41 PM

I'm standing in line already..... lol

Michael73

Apr 7, 2009, 12:43 PM

Now that video recording rumor has been put to rest - can anyone find out if the next iPhone will include a front-camera to enable video conferencing. If there's truly video-conferencing then several hundred thousand deaf people will buy it to sign to each other via video-conferencing!

There was some rumors here a week ago (?) about the forthcoming iPhone chip supporting higher data transfer speeds like 3+G or 3.5G. Anyway, nothing kills video conferencing or any app for that matter like poor implementation. My guess (and I'm not an engineer) is that video conferencing pushes A LOT of data so in addition to hardware, you need network speeds in kind to make it work well.

Dual Pistolas

Apr 7, 2009, 12:43 PM

what is a magnetnometer? Help me out plz!

Sure! I'd be glad to help you out!!!

http://***********/?q=magnetometer

nanvinnie

Apr 7, 2009, 12:44 PM

Wow, its amazing how far ahead the iphone is in some ways but in the stone age in others. One tech reporter guy said that its incredible how apple gets people excited for stuff that has come standard for years in other products. Im not bashing apple, I would have had an iphone since day one if it wasn't on stupid att.

i agree... video recording, better image quality, higher mega pixels and so on have been standard on a lot of cheaper phones for quite sometime... but it's the package that apple brings together.

no other phone combines such an array of technologies and coolness together like apple...

Reera

Apr 7, 2009, 12:46 PM

The key phrase in all that is "auto-focus camera." Thank the good Lord. Sharper photos and videos, here we come!

:o I'm excited! I hope the rumors are true!

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 12:49 PM

JayMan8081

Apr 7, 2009, 12:49 PM

Isn't this just a screenshot added on to yesterday's story about video recording?

H$R

Apr 7, 2009, 12:50 PM

Sure! I'd be glad to help you out!!!

http://***********/?q=magnetometer

haha I LOVE that site. it's so useful. I just don't get it how someone can't fine this kind of stuff these days..to lazy to google, but not to lazy to post in a forum??

about the topic: magnetometer sounds good if you're out in the nature or any kind of navigation. Video sure has to come, now it's only a question about the quality. LED flash would be nice too I think but remains to be seen.

and I hope voice control or at least dialing will come!

I am so spending my money on an iPhone this summer.

sault

Apr 7, 2009, 12:50 PM

I'm standing in line already..... lol

ha, me too. i'm selling my 3G before the hype blows up or anything gets announced and having that 500 in the bank till june. ;)

1Zach1

Apr 7, 2009, 12:52 PM

I guess I'm just pessimistic but this all seems far too good to be true, there is going to be a catch I can just feel it coming.

Randman

Apr 7, 2009, 12:53 PM

Wow. What won't iPhone3 have?

Cander

Apr 7, 2009, 12:53 PM

Wow, its amazing how far ahead the iphone is in some ways but in the stone age in others. One tech reporter guy said that its incredible how apple gets people excited for stuff that has come standard for years in other products. Im not bashing apple, I would have had an iphone since day one if it wasn't on stupid att.

Because those other products just throw stuff in for the sake of features. Apple at least seems to usually put some thought into the features it does add (for the most part).

My sister had a phone with a video camera. She couldn't figure out how to get to the videos and pictures recorded. It even took me a couple minutes to hunt it down.

Feature lists are pointless when usability fails.

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 12:55 PM

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 7, 2009, 12:57 PM

Because those other products just throw stuff in for the sake of features. Apple at least seems to usually put some thought into the features it does add (for the most part).

My sister had a phone with a video camera. She couldn't figure out how to get to the videos and pictures recorded. It even took me a couple minutes to hunt it down.

Feature lists are pointless when usability fails.

Soo true!;)

vassillios

Apr 7, 2009, 12:59 PM

They should build in a thermostat so we can see the ambient temperature

3goldens

Apr 7, 2009, 01:00 PM

bout time

NasserAE

Apr 7, 2009, 01:01 PM

The more I hear, the happier I am that I've been enjoying my 2G iphone for two years and will be eligible for an upgrade to this marvelous new toy this summer. :D

I've sold my 1st gen iPhone for $400 last summer and bought 16GB 3G iPhone with the money $299 + tax + protection accessories. I will probably do the same thing this summer depending on the new features. My guess is that AT&T will let you upgrade for the early upgrade price of $399.

fleshman03

Apr 7, 2009, 01:02 PM

From Gizmodo (http://i.gizmodo.com/5202166/iphone-30s-video-recording-interface-revealed):

One question though—in order to get the screenshot to appear, the configuration files had to be modified to tell the firmware that a video camera was present. Given the other capabilities mentioned, like the auto-focus camera, it seems like this means Apple could restrict video recording to the next iPhone only, even though the video recording possible with jailbreak apps now shows the current hardware is capable of doing it.

Let the angry bashing begin...

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 01:03 PM

From Gizmodo (http://i.gizmodo.com/5202166/iphone-30s-video-recording-interface-revealed):

Let the angry bashing begin...

LOL at anyone who thought Apple would add video to the 3g and original iphone.

goodwilldrums

Apr 7, 2009, 01:06 PM

can anyone making a list of things that previous gens of iphone didn't have tell me what is left for apple to cross out??

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 7, 2009, 01:06 PM

They should build in a thermostat so we can see the ambient temperature

I was thinking 'bout the exact same thing! it would be really cool! :D

hypermark

Apr 7, 2009, 01:07 PM

This makes perfect sense. In fact, I theorized that Apple might look to add "camera re-invention" as another one of their disruptor job targets within iPhone/iPod touch, in my post:

iPhones, App Stores and Ecosystems
http://bit.ly/Hre72

Excerpt: What if Apple decided to reinvent the digital camera as a smart, connected, programmable device? It would certainly sync up with some of the features they have recently baked into iLife, such as facial recognition and geocoding of photos.

The main thought process here is that the Flip Video cameras (recently acquired by Cisco) have proven that there is a real market for pocket sized video cameras. If you overlay that goodness on the whole iPhone platform play, what type of software value add might developers plug in on the software front?

Food for thought.

Mark

GeekLawyer

Apr 7, 2009, 01:08 PM

LOL at anyone who thought Apple would add video to the 3g and original iphone.

What's this? You mean I can't record a feature film in HD on my Newton MessagePad?! Apple, I demand a refund! Forthwith!! How dare you force me to upgrade to new hardware?!

/snark

Cander

Apr 7, 2009, 01:09 PM

I was thinking 'bout the exact same thing! it would be really cool! :D

Oh wonderful. Then we get people shoving their iPhone in their pants and letting us know the temperature of their balls. :eek:

flix4u

Apr 7, 2009, 01:11 PM

jnc

Apr 7, 2009, 01:11 PM

Wow. What won't iPhone3 have?

A swappable battery :( Meaning, video or not, I'll only be able to document the first day of any festivals I attend this summer... :(

Oh wonderful. Then we get people shoving their iPhone in their pants and letting us know the temperature of their balls. :eek:

There's an App for that (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szrsfeyLzyg&feature=player_embedded). :D

fleshman03

Apr 7, 2009, 01:12 PM

This makes perfect sense. In fact, I theorized that Apple might look to add "camera re-invention" as another one of their disruptor job targets within iPhone/iPod touch, in my post:

iPhones, App Stores and Ecosystems
http://thenetworkgarden.com/weblog/2...cosystems.html

Excerpt: What if Apple decided to reinvent the digital camera as a smart, connected, programmable device? It would certainly sync up with some of the features they have recently baked into iLife, such as facial recognition and geocoding of photos.

The main thought process here is that the Flip Video cameras (recently acquired by Cisco) have proven that there is a real market for pocket sized video cameras. If you overlay that goodness on the whole iPhone platform play, what type of software value add might developers plug in on the software front?

Food for thought.

Mark

Yes, it makes perfect sense! (I mean it, despite the sound of sarcasm.)

Ah to be a Newbie again... I had all those hopes and dreams that made sense too. Then Apple decided to release products like the new-buttonless-shuffle, a $800 MacMini...

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 7, 2009, 01:12 PM

Oh wonderful. Then we get people shoving their iPhone in their pants and letting us know the temperature of their balls. :eek:

been thinking about that for while haven't you?? :confused:

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 01:13 PM

What's this? You mean I can't record a feature film in HD on my Newton MessagePad?! Apple, I demand a refund! Forthwith!! How dare you force me to upgrade to new hardware?!

/snark

+1 (just for usage of forthwith)

Cander

Apr 7, 2009, 01:13 PM

I may just have to be in line and be the first in my town again to get the iPhone. I got sniped by the local news crew on my way out. I looked like a shill wearing the AT&T hat they gave me. :rolleyes:

Ubuntu

Apr 7, 2009, 01:14 PM

I wonder if the video record will be enabled in the current iPhone, or you will have to purchase the new one to use it

New one. They always do that.

Cander

Apr 7, 2009, 01:14 PM

been thinking about that for while haven't you?? :confused:

You got me. :o

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 01:15 PM

I guess I'm just pessimistic but this all seems far too good to be true, there is going to be a catch I can just feel it coming.

Well, maybe it's time they started collecting souls as part of payment.

d0mth0ma5

Apr 7, 2009, 01:15 PM

Looks like o2 will be getting another 150 odd quid from me this summer. I was planning on holding out another 12 months but its beginning to look more and more ominous...

PolySciSurfer

Apr 7, 2009, 01:17 PM

Wow, could apple be any lamer with this? My blackberry pearl has been doing video recording for 3 years. Get with it apple, and stop handicapping your devices.

storyofstuff.com

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 7, 2009, 01:18 PM

You got me. :o

LOL!! :D

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 01:18 PM

New one. They always do that.

Especially since the old optics/lens/CMOS/whatever would only produce blair witch quality video the size of a thumbnail. The video feature was definately waiting on some hardware that would prevent it from being trashy.

badcrumble

Apr 7, 2009, 01:19 PM

No indications of a front-facing camera. That's expected, but still, a pity.

efice32

Apr 7, 2009, 01:19 PM

How about a preview for the forward facing camera? Select it and the large preview switches to the front camera, the rear camera now becomes the smaller preview window? Sounds very plausible to me.

No. Not at all. It's a thumbnail of the last image/video you took. It's already in 3.0.

jnc

Apr 7, 2009, 01:21 PM

Especially since the old optics/lens/CMOS/whatever would only produce blair witch quality video the size of a thumbnail. The video feature was definately waiting on some hardware that would prevent it from being trashy.

And how would they retroactively add auto-focus, aynway?!

Hoping for a 5MP with LED. optical zoom.... I mean come on, the N95 had that, two years ago. oh and while I'm dreaming, a front-facing cam for "iChat for iPhone". :D

roberry82

Apr 7, 2009, 01:21 PM

Oh the wait is killing me... and seeing stuff like this makes it even worse!

So yeah, I'm thinking video recording/photo snapping, both is an AUTO FOCUS lense? I'm interested to see how well it all really works together, and am hopeful the camera app will get a little "snappier"; the lag between tapping to capture an image to when it shows up is way too long.

The button in the center is no longer a little camera icon, but it's a record button now... grayed out red in the screenie, but im imagining once you're recording video is appears as active/the red light turns on, letting us all know we're....we're....we're recording video on our iPhones!

If there is indeed wireless upload to youtube/mobileme, the net will be flooded with iphone vids come this summer. ha ha

powers74

Apr 7, 2009, 01:22 PM

I guess I'm just pessimistic but this all seems far too good to be true, there is going to be a catch I can just feel it coming.

4 year contracts?:eek:

chrmjenkins

Apr 7, 2009, 01:22 PM

For the people crying fowl that this would only be a available on a new iphone, it's obviously more than just forcing an upgrade (else they'd try to restrict copy/paste or some other software feature)-- it's also about quality control. Video on jailbroken phones isn't very good, but this one should drastically improve that.

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 01:22 PM

Wow, could apple be any lamer with this? My blackberry pearl has been doing video recording for 3 years. Get with it apple, and stop handicapping your devices.

storyofstuff.com

Ha! Ha! Ha! :D Nobody uses the pearl. Blackberrys are for eating. Thats why the company I work for has a scrap yard of blackberrys and they issue iPhones now.

gnasher729

Apr 7, 2009, 01:27 PM

The Magnetometer will make turn by turn far more accurate

Not really. Once you are moving, your GPS knows exactly what the direction is. For example, you may be 20.14m east and 13.26m north of your location one second ago, so it knows exactly your speed and direction. Where it does make a difference is when you are standing still. If you stopped at a traffic light with a very light car, and some strong people turned your car around in the other direction, GPS wouldn't notice until you start driving.

efice32

Apr 7, 2009, 01:29 PM

i wonder what the clips will sync with.. iTunes?

Probably iPhoto since videos taken with digital cameras already sync to it.

eff pc

Apr 7, 2009, 01:29 PM

what gives?!?!?!?! Really apple? no 12 MP camera? no 1080p video recording? what am i supposed to do...use a actual video camera for my next movie? thats so 2008. and really apple? no breathalyzer? i want to know if i can drive home after drinking my sorrow away about how bad the iphone still is. apple is a disgrace.
// sarcastic

but yeah ill be in line to replace my 2g iphone the day it comes out. can't wait!
// serious

JMax1

Apr 7, 2009, 01:31 PM

chrmjenkins

Apr 7, 2009, 01:32 PM

If you stopped at a traffic light with a very light car, and some strong people turned your car around in the other direction, GPS wouldn't notice until you start driving.

I hate when that happens!

what gives?!?!?!?! Really apple? no 12 MP camera? no 1080p video recording? what am i supposed to do...use a actual video camera for my next movie? thats so 2008. and really apple? no breathalyzer? i want to know if i can drive home after drinking my sorrow away about how bad the iphone still is. apple is a disgrace.
// sarcastic

but yeah ill be in line to replace my 2g iphone the day it comes out. can't wait!
// serious

The breathalyzer is completely possible with 3.0 :D

jnguyen4

Apr 7, 2009, 01:32 PM

when apple says summer, do they mean in june when theres the wwdc?

Michael73

Apr 7, 2009, 01:33 PM

If you stopped at a traffic light with a very light car, and some strong people turned your car around in the other direction, GPS wouldn't notice until you start driving.

Wow - this JUST HAPPENED TO ME! Now I need an iPhone!

MistaBungle

Apr 7, 2009, 01:34 PM

Although details are still scarce on these new features, they are making it almost irresistible to upgrading from the initial iPhone. MMS, AD2P, possibly movies, compass...

Compass used for turn by turn GPS?

edit: LTTP on the compass.

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 01:37 PM

Not really. Once you are moving, your GPS knows exactly what the direction is. For example, you may be 20.14m east and 13.26m north of your location one second ago, so it knows exactly your speed and direction. Where it does make a difference is when you are standing still. If you stopped at a traffic light with a very light car, and some strong people turned your car around in the other direction, GPS wouldn't notice until you start driving.

Your assessment is accurate, but in actuallity GPS updates "direction" purely by updated postioning, the fact that your "facing" a particular direction on your screen is computerized deductive reasoning. Try driving in reverse for a while down a highway and see what happens. GPS only calculates based on received signals and does not communicate back to the satellite. Nor does GPS directly connect with your device, your device just acquires 3 signals and triangulates based on what is essentually "lapsed data time".

The compass feature would allow your phone to work with the GPS (by way of processing, not directly) and tell you what way you are facing directly. your on screen arrow would move with you. :cool:

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 01:39 PM

Unless you THEN started driving backwards!

Exactly my point! GPS doesn't know which way you are going at all, the computer just makes the path based on constantly getting a new position. The compass will allow better walking directions too!

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 01:40 PM

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/04/07/exclusive-apple-iphone-30-screenshots-leak-out/

Hattig

Apr 7, 2009, 01:41 PM

A swappable battery :( Meaning, video or not, I'll only be able to document the first day of any festivals I attend this summer... :(

Because there aren't a dozen solar chargers available for the iPhone already ...

although hanging that outside your tent is tantamount to saying "please steal my gadgets!" I guess.

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 01:41 PM

Wow, could apple be any lamer with this? My blackberry pearl has been doing video recording for 3 years. Get with it apple, and stop handicapping your devices.

storyofstuff.com
So they shouldn't add it because Pearl or whatever has it? :rolleyes:

DELLsFan

Apr 7, 2009, 01:42 PM

Oh wonderful. Then we get people shoving their iPhone in their pants and letting us know the temperature of their balls. :eek:

LOL! It'd make the PhotoSwap app so much more ... poignant, don't you think? :D

Seriously, I'm thrilled with the Voice Control news! There shouldn't be any reason why THIS can't come bundled with the 3.0 package and work in existing phones. In fact, it's long overdue - up there with Copy/Paste even.

Magnetometer? Um ok ... sure, whatever ... Just give us our TomTom app, thank you very much! :cool:

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 01:43 PM

when apple says summer, do they mean in june when theres the wwdc?
Probably announce in June, ship in July.

Johnner1999

Apr 7, 2009, 01:43 PM

this might have been talked about already:

but what if the 3.2MP camera is for the front near the screen and the 5MP is for the back?

Cander

Apr 7, 2009, 01:43 PM

So they shouldn't add it because Pearl or whatever has it? :rolleyes:

We should all go to a BB Storm fansite and post how lame it is that they are adding WiFi in the next Storm when the iPhone has had it for 2 years. :p

Johnner1999

Apr 7, 2009, 01:45 PM

Wow, could apple be any lamer with this? My blackberry pearl has been doing video recording for 3 years. Get with it apple, and stop handicapping your devices.

storyofstuff.com

so with this logic BB should recall/stop making any device that has a cruddy web browser, no HTML email etc etc

fleshman03

Apr 7, 2009, 01:47 PM

For what it's worth, MacEnstein (http://macenstein.com/default/archives/3686)has is wondering if the lack of a better camera in the original iPhone and iPhone 3g was due to Apple forcing an upgrade path...

As a happy jailbroken iPhone user, I have found that Cycorder works quite well for recording video on the iPhone, as does Qik. I see no technological reason why Apple could not support video recording on the current crop of iPhones (albeit perhaps at a lower frame rate), yet something inside tells me Apple’s decision to include a crap camera for as long as possible was a calculated move to help justify its “upgrade path”. Just as GPS was a big enough hardware specific upgrade to convince many 1st gen iPhone users to upgrade, I wonder if including one of the lowest res cameras found in any mobile phone for TWO hardware generations was not deliberately intended to add perceived value to the next iPhone revision.

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 01:47 PM

Voice dialing too, seems Apple is covering all their bases.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/07/iphone-3-0-video-recording-interface-compass-support-spotted/

Eddy Munn

Apr 7, 2009, 01:52 PM

A PhotoBooth App for the iPhoine would go down well. ^^

utahnguy

Apr 7, 2009, 01:54 PM

You are kidding right? What exactly would a magnetometer do other than act as a compass? It seems like Apple would want more out of something like that? Ideas? Improved GPS or Turn-by-turn?

A magnetometer is actually a pretty useful addition. One of the aspects that helps app developers make such intuitive applications is how many ways the iPhone can be "aware" of it's current state. With an accelerometer and GPS it "knows" where it is geographically and spatially, now with the addition of a magnetometer it will have a MUCH more precise lock on that location. Imagine your iPhone siting on a table, if you tip it up or down by picking up one end or the other it can sense this. If you were to spin it like the hand on a clock, it currently has no way of knowing.

The benefits in GPS navigation are obvious, it will help know which way you're pointed. But the benefits in other apps are endless, it will help developers create apps that know EXACTLY how you're holding the phone and respond accordingly. I can't wait to see the creative ways this will be implemented.

jnguyen4

Apr 7, 2009, 01:57 PM

Probably announce in June, ship in July.

so do you think that the 3.0 software will be released in june? or in july with the new phone?

lukin

Apr 7, 2009, 02:04 PM

I like these features... but I don't want to hear about too many more until I hear about amazing new battery technologies that will let you use your phone (and all these features) on the go for at least 8 hours.

Eddy Munn

Apr 7, 2009, 02:05 PM

I think they will announce the iPhone 3.0 Software at the WWDC, and let users download it for existing iPhones / iPod Touch's.
They will most probably reveal the new iPhone too, but delay it's release by a month or so into July.

rockosmodurnlif

Apr 7, 2009, 02:06 PM

Thank God. Now we can stop hearing complaints about how the iPhone doesn't record video and start hearing complaints about the video quality.

avigalante

Apr 7, 2009, 02:23 PM

Let's hope they also improve battery life -- my main complaint with the iPhone 3G.

nfl46

Apr 7, 2009, 02:28 PM

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 02:38 PM

so do you think that the 3.0 software will be released in june? or in july with the new phone?

July with the new phone, same as last summer.

macfearless

Apr 7, 2009, 02:44 PM

i agree... video recording, better image quality, higher mega pixels and so on have been standard on a lot of cheaper phones for quite sometime... but it's the package that apple brings together.

no other phone combines such an array of technologies and coolness together like apple...

Exactly! This is what we should be focused on. Not the fact that other devices have all of this. Excellent point. :D

dvdhsu

Apr 7, 2009, 02:45 PM

Augmented reality. Virtual data (text, images, 3D) overlaid onto reality viewed through a camera and display. Calculated by combining GPS and compass data. It'll be so sci-fi when it's evolved. NVIDIA's CEO was asked where he thinks the future of video devices will take us. His answer was augmented reality.
That would be unbelievable.
I have to agree with him.

OMG!!! if this only Beta 2...!!! what would it be with the FULLY-SIZED OS 3!?!?!?
let alone the actual hardware update!!!
I am sooooooo camping outside the apple store a week before they launch the new iphone!! hehehhehe....:D
Well, I really want it, but I'm gonna have to wait for the unlock for it to come out. I'm planning on using it on T-Mobile. :D

You mean this kind of stuff in real-time?

http://www.raizlabs.com/blog/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/augmented_reality.jpg

It's cool, but I don't think it's very handy to be walking with your iPhone in front of you all the time. This is great in HUD-sunglasses, I wonder when that'll be available.

By the way, I don't think the iPhone will have the power to do this kind of stuff in real-time.
It's actually not that hard to do it in real time, if you have a decent stereo camera and a compass. I don't think that much processing power would be required. Especially when the iPhones have multi-cored CPUs.
By the way, I hope they will add a physical camera-key. Auto-focus by a touch screen will be a pain in the ass!

Besides the fact that a key on the side of the phone is a better position than on the front, and you'll be less shaky when taking a picture.
Yah, but it would detract from the sexiness of the device.
Would be cool if the video compression rate would automatically go up if the accelerometer feels much movement. This way, if you do quick turns or pans, the recording bitrate could go up. Even on high end consumer cameras, you notice the artifacts on this kind of motion.

Modern video compression works by having a keyframe (a fully stored picture) followed by frames where only the differences to the keyframe and the movement and color shift of previous frames are stored. This means if your camera is on a tripod and only a small object on the video is moving, you can set the compression very high. Panning on zooming is bad here, because there's new objects coming into view that haven't been there in the keyframe. Hard cuts actually look terrible if the first image after the cut isn't a keyframe.
That would be excellent, and IMO, more practical than augmented reality.
Funny thing is, that's essentially real life. Signs in front of stores and arrows painted on the roadway have the exact same effect. You're just overlaying a bitmap on top of it.
Well, when you're new to someplace, it could be very useful.

I wonder why apple doesn't want to make its own Turn-by-Turn App.
Apple's not going to make it, because they will need to use maps. Considering that Apple doesn't own any of these maps, they would have to make deals with other companies, such as Google.

megfilmworks

Apr 7, 2009, 02:45 PM

...with a better quality camera hopefully.
what were the rumours? 3.1 and 5 MP (possibly for some future 'product')

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/03/apple-ordering-3-2-and-5-megapixel-camera-sensors-for-iphone-and-future-product/

dvdhsu

Apr 7, 2009, 02:48 PM

I'm sure after the new iPhone comes out this summer, people will be complaining about it doesn't have a physical keyboard or something like that. smh!

Its about time Apple implemented these features! Darn. Now, where's my 3rd generation iPhone?. lol.

I'm positive that they're not going to implement a physical keyboard. This is what sets them apart from other phone companies.

dvdhsu

Apr 7, 2009, 02:49 PM

A magnetometer is actually a pretty useful addition. One of the aspects that helps app developers make such intuitive applications is how many ways the iPhone can be "aware" of it's current state. With an accelerometer and GPS it "knows" where it is geographically and spatially, now with the addition of a magnetometer it will have a MUCH more precise lock on that location. Imagine your iPhone siting on a table, if you tip it up or down by picking up one end or the other it can sense this. If you were to spin it like the hand on a clock, it currently has no way of knowing.

The benefits in GPS navigation are obvious, it will help know which way you're pointed. But the benefits in other apps are endless, it will help developers create apps that know EXACTLY how you're holding the phone and respond accordingly. I can't wait to see the creative ways this will be implemented.

A turning game!
Turn towards "Chicago".
400 points!
The faster you do it, the more points you get!

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 03:03 PM

A turning game!
Turn towards "Chicago".
400 points!
The faster you do it, the more points you get!

I was thinking of something where you face other iphone users over long distances... Think about something like Loopt, but it tells you what direction to face to achieve line of sight. It could also be useful while camping... quickly you could determine, "hey, John is 300 yards that way!".

The Phazer

Apr 7, 2009, 03:04 PM

This is all super awesome news. The only thing that concerns me is that the camera app doesn't seem to get some extra controls which it could do with, and there's no sign of a flash toggle... Anyway, no need to panic too much just yet. And auto-focus and a magnetometer will be great.

Right now someone in Apple who figured no one would ever find this stuff in the beta is losing a bet... :-)

Phazer

Cander

Apr 7, 2009, 03:06 PM

It could also be useful while camping... quickly you could determine, "hey, John is 300 yards that way!".

Going to keep the iPhone charged by plugging it into a tree?

iMule

Apr 7, 2009, 03:06 PM

Ya'll do know that you're eligible for an upgrade after having your iPhone for a year anyways right? That's what I was told by a friend of mine who works for at&t. I will be eligible on the release date of the '09 version since I got it on the release date of '08. All you have to do is save 20 bucks a week, hide it some where, and by the release date you will at least have enough dough for a good down payment on one.

11800506

Apr 7, 2009, 03:14 PM

BGR also got some shots of the Accesibility setting items and it looks like 3.0 will have a setting to optionally turn on a battery percentage reading.

Link (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/04/07/exclusive-apple-iphone-30-screenshots-leak-out/)

Bevz

Apr 7, 2009, 03:14 PM

Magnetometer? Um ok ... sure, whatever ... Just give us our TomTom app, thank you very much! :cool:

Yeah and that TomTom app will work so much better and be a lot cooler with a compass! For one thing the map will be able to scroll round to the direction your facing ;)

Stately

Apr 7, 2009, 03:14 PM

No indications of a front-facing camera. That's expected, but still, a pity.

It sure is. But it would probably be a tease, as AT&T would probably find a reason to charge you for using it anyway. I feel unless Apple eventually goes with other carriers, AT&T will cause the ruination of a great product. :mad:

alexapplemac

Apr 7, 2009, 03:22 PM

Wow. The iPhone just gets better and better!

I'm going to be jealous of all the new iPhone owners in the summer while my 3G runs out its contract.

Last time, o2 let existing first gen iphone customers upgrade to the 3g version for free (free handset or pay a little extra for the handset depending on the capacity / tariff) providing they start a new 18 months contract. Won't they do this again for the next iphone? I'm hoping so, I got my 3g iphone last august..

11800506

Apr 7, 2009, 03:29 PM

Bevz

Apr 7, 2009, 03:29 PM

Last time, o2 let existing first gen iphone customers upgrade to the 3g version for free (free handset or pay a little extra for the handset depending on the capacity / tariff) providing they start a new 18 months contract. Won't they do this again for the next iphone? I'm hoping so, I got my 3g iphone last august..

Yeah, i got upgraded to the 3G model by O2 in the same way... Although this time the 3G was subsidized so not sure they will do the same thing... Although... Having said that when i moved onto the original iphone contract, i was already just 6 months into an existing O2 contract with a subsidized phone (a motorola) and they kindly waved all fees with that one and even let me keep the motorola! So... Fingers crossed they'll still be kind to their existing iphone customers and let us upgrade without being stung with a full contract buy-out!

Roessnakhan

Apr 7, 2009, 03:31 PM

Yeah, i got upgraded to the 3G model by O2 in the same way... Although this time the 3G was subsidized so not sure they will do the same thing... Although... Having said that when i moved onto the original iphone contract, i was already just 6 months into an existing O2 contract with a subsidized phone (a motorola) and they kindly waved all fees with that one and even let me keep the motorola! So... Fingers crossed they'll still be kind to their existing iphone customers and let us upgrade without being stung with a full contract buy-out!

I'd like that, but its doubtful.

jholzner

Apr 7, 2009, 03:36 PM

They did this because the original iPhone wasn't subsidized. However, the iPhone 3G was subsidized so they'll likely require buyers to pay the "qualified upgrade price" or full price.

Ha...I've read this explanation a million times and yet people still don't get it! Prepare to explain for the next two years. :rolleyes:

jnc

Apr 7, 2009, 03:37 PM

Yes, Apple is late to the game, but I'm interested in what silly little "iSpin" they'll add for this. Multitouch zoom? Shake to upload to YouTube? heh...

Bevz

Apr 7, 2009, 03:38 PM

I'd like that, but its doubtful.

Well, the motorola they let me off with was £300 to buy at the time in the shops so they did lose on the deal... I admit they were doing anything at the time to get people to sign up to iPhone contracts so you may be right, i might just be sighing for the moon.... But... so far O2 have never failed to offer their iphone customers (or existing customers) a cheap upgrade path... So their is a distinct possibility they will do the same this time around.... It's worked *very* well for them so far :cool:

encephalon

Apr 7, 2009, 03:40 PM

chris200x9

Apr 7, 2009, 03:40 PM

hmmm all these new features are tempting me! I have an iphone I swore never to buy another one due to its closedness but dammit apple stop making it look so good!

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 03:43 PM

Yes, Apple is late to the game, but I'm interested in what silly little "iSpin" they'll add for this. Multitouch zoom? Shake to upload to YouTube? heh...So I guess they shouldn't add it eh, which phone has every feature known to mankind. Even the Palm Pre people are touting doesn't have video recording.

JBaker122586

Apr 7, 2009, 03:45 PM

But the one that`s got me buzzin is voice control. You cannot legally make a phone call from iPhone whilst driving a car. Having a bluetooth headset or integrated into your car means at least now you can say `Call Jonny Ive` and the phone can respond with `I do not understand Jo`s got Hives, please repeat your command` :cool:

M.

Not to say I'm not excited about voice control, but you legally can make a call from the iPhone. In about 80% of places, there's no law against using cell phones while driving. In the places that there are laws, they state that you can't talk with the phone up to your ear. You can still dial and use BlueTooth.
Also, most car BlueTooth systems allow you to voice dial with any phone, including an iPhone.

viccles

Apr 7, 2009, 03:48 PM

I can hardly wait until June as well, all these announcements are making me excited. I will definitely buy an iphone again as long as the battery life is increased. These features sound awesome though1

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 03:54 PM

Going to keep the iPhone charged by plugging it into a tree?

Your iPhone must suck. I take mine camping and it lasts all weekend, at least in standby. Nobodies saying to watch a stolen copy of Wolverine and drain your battery. I just meant, you could use it in that scenario. Granted, by Sunday, my charge is pretty pathetic, usually in the Danger Will Robinson arms flailing 10% range.

skiwhitman

Apr 7, 2009, 03:55 PM

Wow, could apple be any lamer with this? My blackberry pearl has been doing video recording for 3 years. Get with it apple, and stop handicapping your devices.

storyofstuff.com

OMG! I HATE my Blackberry Pearl! tiny screen, unresponsive and stupid ball (pearl), crappy suretype keyboard, and 2-3 "butt calls" a day. The only reason I keep it is........hmmmm......well, Verizon, I guess, and my damn contract.

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 03:55 PM

Yeah and that TomTom app will work so much better and be a lot cooler with a compass! For one thing the map will be able to scroll round to the direction your facing ;)

I don't think that guy read any of the thread, that has been explained in DETAIL several times...

W1LLk

Apr 7, 2009, 03:58 PM

I think you guys are missing a major point regarding the inclusion of a magnetometer: It will allow the device to calculate yaw, which the accelerometer is unable to do. This will provide another useful method of physical input for applications.

Easy with the yaw, you might confuse more people... aeronautical/nautical terms freak people out. But your absolutely right. Think of watching someone playing X-Plane with this. LMAO.

nitramwin

Apr 7, 2009, 03:59 PM

Does anyone want to speculate on if Steve will be giving the 'ol introduction to the June event?

binaryskies

Apr 7, 2009, 04:08 PM

Donz0r

Apr 7, 2009, 04:14 PM

WoooHoo! I'm officially super excited for June.

I know a lot of people use their iPhones for different things, but one thing I really really wish that I was able to do is record video and take better pictures. I like taking videos but not to the extent that I'm gonna bring a point and shoot or video camera out with me when I go out at night or wherever I'm at.
There is just too much evidence for this: from tons of evidence in the 3.0 betas to the hardware manufactures leaking information about camera orders, it's definitely going to happen!
I got a 3G on launch day last year, but since my father uses his cell phone probably once a month, I used his upgradeability to upgrade my phone (family plan) so I have a 3G and I'm upgrade eligible.
Looks like I should get my excuse ready for why I'll be late to/not at work on launch day!

It's about time apple rounded off the iPhone's features. The past 2 years were spent developing the iPhone and iPhone 3G with the basic software and app store. Now that that's under control they've been able to pay more attention to the software itself as well. We're finally getting all these features that other phones have had for years. Soon all of the iPhone lack of mms/videorecording/copy and paste/etc. bashing will come to an end when iPhone 3.0 software and the new iPhone are released. I'm officially pumped.

I really hope that Steve presents it, I could see Apple doing that at the keynote. Most of it is presented by Schiller but then "And now, to talk with you about our iPhone development, I'd like to invite Apple CEO Steve Jobs onto the stage" (roaring applause) I can't wait.

Only one question remains.... Live feed? or Spoiler-Free stream?

randomusername

Apr 7, 2009, 04:17 PM

Does anyone find the "record" button to be a little creepy and HAL-like?

Gasu E.

Apr 7, 2009, 04:17 PM

OK, but will it do MRI scans?

Donz0r

Apr 7, 2009, 04:18 PM

Ah, just more reason why I cannot wait for June. :D

Now, They need to add a FLASH to the camera. Something that MOST phones have, even my brother's crappy LG flip phone has one.

I really hope Steve comes back. I'm betting he will.

Apple doesn't add anything to the iPhone unless it meets their high quality standards. That's why there's no video (and will not be any video in 3.0) on the original and 3G iPhones.
I had an LED flash on my SE W810i which was a great cameraphone- but it didn't do much. It did, in some dark situations, lighten up things close to you but it only worked within 3 feet of the object.
If apple adds a flash to the iPhone it will have to be truly effective and worthwhile : that's just the way they make products.
I don't think they will add one purely based on the fact that it would make the iPhone less 'pretty'.

Cander

Apr 7, 2009, 04:19 PM

Donz0r

Apr 7, 2009, 04:24 PM

Your iPhone must suck. I take mine camping and it lasts all weekend, at least in standby. Nobodies saying to watch a stolen copy of Wolverine and drain your battery. I just meant, you could use it in that scenario. Granted, by Sunday, my charge is pretty pathetic, usually in the Danger Will Robinson arms flailing 10% range.

with 3G off right?

I've noticed that the big difference for me is whether 3G is on or not.

I go to school in an area without 3G but in the summers I work in an area with 3G. I have no problems with my iPhone battery using edge/wifi. I'll do heavy internet usage and the iphone will easily last all day. But using the 3G network it kills the battery so much faster.

binaryskies

Apr 7, 2009, 04:26 PM

Apple doesn't add anything to the iPhone unless it meets their high quality standards. That's why there's no video (and will not be any video in 3.0) on the original and 3G iPhones.
I had an LED flash on my SE W810i which was a great cameraphone- but it didn't do much. It did, in some dark situations, lighten up things close to you but it only worked within 3 feet of the object.
If apple adds a flash to the iPhone it will have to be truly effective and worthwhile : that's just the way they make products.
I don't think they will add one purely based on the fact that it would make the iPhone less 'pretty'.

That is true. A flash would take away from it's beauty in their eyes. I had the LG VX-9800 with a nice flash on it. It wasn't anything like a Speedlight, but it did make a difference. And thinking about it.. I would rather have something that is totally awesome and works great, then something I have to be ashamed about while using it.

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 04:30 PM

That is true. A flash would take away from it's beauty in their eyes. I had the LG VX-9800 with a nice flash on it. It wasn't anything like a Speedlight, but it did make a difference. And thinking about it.. I would rather have something that is totally awesome and works great, then something I have to be ashamed about while using it.No, I rather have a LED-flash than video-recording. Not for the photos (because that's useless) but for the light-function. I use the 3-LED light of my K850i very often, and I think it's extremely handy.

Donz0r

Apr 7, 2009, 04:40 PM

No, I rather have a LED-flash than video-recording. Not for the photos (because that's useless) but for the light-function. I use the 3-LED light of my K850i very often, and I think it's extremely handy.

Well if that's your preference then so be it.
I used to have an LED on my old phone that I used all the time as a flashlight, now I dont have one on my iPhone 3G, no big deal. But I would looooovveee video recording.
I would have to say that 90% of people would choose video over an LED

ipoppy

Apr 7, 2009, 04:48 PM

primod808

Apr 7, 2009, 04:48 PM

i hope apple will add the geo tagg camera feature just like the sekai camera does now that it has a magnetometer (digital compass)

ethan028

Apr 7, 2009, 04:49 PM

Any ideas on how to enable this stuff in 3.0 already people? :)

TuffLuffJimmy

Apr 7, 2009, 04:58 PM

Apple doesn't add anything to the iPhone unless it meets their high quality standards.

Where did you hear that? Apple is a company like any other. They'll add a feature when they know it's the most economical idea. They hold back features so people will buy into them later. Since when has Apple had a single .0 release that met anyone's standards?

DSG

Apr 7, 2009, 04:59 PM

Question...do you think that everyone in UK at least, will be able to upgrade their iPhone from previous 3G to next one V3? The same way like that happened last summer just pay for handset and restart 18 months contract again? Is that mean I can keep old iPhone etc?
:confused:

Pretty obviously, no.

The original iPhone cost £269 upfront - there was no requirement for the hardware cost to be subsidised by 18 months' worth of monthly payments. The 3G phone is heavily subsidised at the point of purchase by the monthly payments. Any early upgrade is bound to require the payment of a fee as a result. Hence I kept my original iPhone, for which the 18 month contract will expire in the next few weeks and I should be free to upgrade, hopefully, for little or nothing.

zombitronic

Apr 7, 2009, 05:00 PM

I think you guys are missing a major point regarding the inclusion of a magnetometer: It will allow the device to calculate yaw, which the accelerometer is unable to do. This will provide another useful method of physical input for applications.

Don't forget about augmented reality... :) Anyway, I wasn't quite sure what "yaw" was, so I looked it up. Wikipedia has a very simple picture explanation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_dynamics). If you were holding your iPhone straight up in portrait mode, tilting it towards or away from you would be pitch. Tilting it clockwise or counter-clockwise would be roll. Rotating the direction while still holding it upright would be yaw. As you've said, the compass will handle yaw and the accelerometer handles pitch and roll.

I'm wondering, however, just how many magnetometers the iPhone would need to be completely "self aware" of its position. When in portrait mode, everything works as indicated above.

When held upright in landscape mode, however, pitch becomes what was formerly yaw, roll stays the same (since you basically "roll" from portrait to landscape), and yaw is the movement that was formerly pitch in portrait mode. So would you need an additional magnetometer to operate yaw in landscape mode? I would think so.

Finally, if you're laying your iPhone flat on your hand as you would with a regular compass, you'd need one more magnetometer to operate yaw in this position. (This was previously roll in both portrait and landscape mode.)

So, is this correct? In order for the magnetometer to operate in every orientation the iPhone would need 3 magnetometers.

DSG

Apr 7, 2009, 05:01 PM

Apple doesn't add anything to the iPhone unless it meets their high quality standards.

You think? So why is the camera so pathetic?

bjornm

Apr 7, 2009, 05:02 PM

...with a better quality camera hopefully.
what were the rumours? 3.1 and 5 MP (possibly for some future 'product')

Definately. I'm hoping, though it is not realistic, for a 0.61 MP camera.
It would allow for 960x640 images; perfect for video chat, display photos on iPhone and postings on the web.

As we all know, as long as you don't use the extra resolution, it is only doing you bad.

Goona

Apr 7, 2009, 05:03 PM

You think? So why is the camera so pathetic?

Actually it's not pathetic, it's actually good, sure it's not pushing numbers like 12 megapixels but it takes good pics, go and check some of the photos taken on this forum from it.

DSG

Apr 7, 2009, 05:07 PM

Actually it's not pathetic, it's actually good, sure it's not pushing numbers like 12 megapixels but it takes good pics, go and check some of the photos taken on this forum from it.

Yep - good pictures in spite of the camera. Doesn't mean that there couldn't have been something a hell of a lot better. Not in terms of pixels, either. The camera was chosen, I imagine, because it looks neat and disrupts the design as little as possible. Such considerations are, at Apple, paramount.

freddiecable

Apr 7, 2009, 05:09 PM

my hopes are:

3.2 MP for the iPhone Nano (2.8 or 3.0")

5 MP for the iPhone (3.5")

They have to release an alternative size.

ipoppy

Apr 7, 2009, 05:17 PM

Pretty obviously, no.

The original iPhone cost £269 upfront - there was no requirement for the hardware cost to be subsidised by 18 months' worth of monthly payments. The 3G phone is heavily subsidised at the point of purchase by the monthly payments. Any early upgrade is bound to require the payment of a fee as a result. Hence I kept my original iPhone, for which the 18 month contract will expire in the next few weeks and I should be free to upgrade, hopefully, for little or nothing.

I dont think 3G was heavily subsidised since Apple said before release that 3G will be much cheaper than original iPhone, which was. Plus Apple dont want left angry people, which will be a lot in this case, behind with 3G iPhone. That wouldn't be good marketing move anyway. I need to call O2 tomorrow; see what they got to say.:rolleyes:

dacreativeguy

Apr 7, 2009, 05:18 PM

So far, it seems like its geared towards a future iPhone, and you won't see this functionality on current iPhones.

The rumor mill says that iphone 3 will have a more powerful processor than iphones 1 and 2. That may be why they haven't enabled video to this point.

Donz0r

Apr 7, 2009, 05:18 PM

Definately. I'm hoping, though it is not realistic, for a 0.61 MP camera.
It would allow for 960x640 images; perfect for video chat, display photos on iPhone and postings on the web.

As we all know, as long as you don't use the extra resolution, it is only doing you bad.

+1

Sooo many people buy into this megapixel myth! 2 megapixels is about 1600x1200 resolution!! A better LENS is needed for better pictures. More megapixels just means excess data to transfer. The only situation in which you would need more than 3 megapixels is if you going to blow up the image drastically, or zoom in really far.

encephalon

Apr 7, 2009, 05:34 PM

Don't forget about augmented reality... :) Anyway, I wasn't quite sure what "yaw" was, so I looked it up. Wikipedia has a very simple picture explanation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_dynamics). If you were holding your iPhone straight up in portrait mode, tilting it towards or away from you would be pitch. Tilting it clockwise or counter-clockwise would be roll. Rotating the direction while still holding it upright would be yaw. As you've said, the compass will handle yaw and the accelerometer handles pitch and roll.

I'm wondering, however, just how many magnetometers the iPhone would need to be completely "self aware" of its position. When in portrait mode, everything works as indicated above.

When held upright in landscape mode, however, pitch becomes what was formerly yaw, roll stays the same (since you basically "roll" from portrait to landscape), and yaw is the movement that was formerly pitch in portrait mode. So would you need an additional magnetometer to operate yaw in landscape mode? I would think so.

Finally, if you're laying your iPhone flat on your hand as you would with a regular compass, you'd need one more magnetometer to operate yaw in this position. (This was previously roll in both portrait and landscape mode.)

So, is this correct? In order for the magnetometer to operate in every orientation the iPhone would need 3 magnetometers.

I am not familiar with the technical abilities of digital magnetometers, but I agree that the ideal solution would allow the device to calculate its angle to magnetic north in every orientation. Anything less wouldn't give us a full implementation of determining yaw. I guess we will have to wait and see what Apple is able to accomplish.

DSG

Apr 7, 2009, 05:34 PM

I dont think 3G was heavily subsidised since Apple said before release that 3G will be much cheaper than original iPhone, which was. Plus Apple dont want left angry people, which will be a lot in this case, behind with 3G iPhone. That wouldn't be good marketing move anyway. I need to call O2 tomorrow; see what they got to say.:rolleyes:

It was free at the point of purchase on the £45 plan. The 3G iPhone was sold with a business plan no different to that of any other phone. You'll be able to upgrade early, but only on the payment of a fee. And O2 definitely won't answer any questions about future iPhone hardware. Save your time.

BohoTrash

Apr 7, 2009, 05:36 PM

Well, summer 2009 = Party Time! :cool:

lshaner

Apr 7, 2009, 05:38 PM

Wow! Such blatant violations of the NDA!

Stormbringer

Apr 7, 2009, 05:40 PM

Don't forget about augmented reality... :) Anyway, I wasn't quite sure what "yaw" was, so I looked it up. Wikipedia has a very simple picture explanation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_dynamics). If you were holding your iPhone straight up in portrait mode, tilting it towards or away from you would be pitch. Tilting it clockwise or counter-clockwise would be roll. Rotating the direction while still holding it upright would be yaw. As you've said, the compass will handle yaw and the accelerometer handles pitch and roll.

I'm wondering, however, just how many magnetometers the iPhone would need to be completely "self aware" of its position. When in portrait mode, everything works as indicated above.

When held upright in landscape mode, however, pitch becomes what was formerly yaw, roll stays the same (since you basically "roll" from portrait to landscape), and yaw is the movement that was formerly pitch in portrait mode. So would you need an additional magnetometer to operate yaw in landscape mode? I would think so.

Finally, if you're laying your iPhone flat on your hand as you would with a regular compass, you'd need one more magnetometer to operate yaw in this position. (This was previously roll in both portrait and landscape mode.)

So, is this correct? In order for the magnetometer to operate in every orientation the iPhone would need 3 magnetometers.I'm nearly 100% sure the magnetometer will work in all directions.

I don't know how the accelerometer works though, is it able to detect if the device is in regular position or upside down? It's completely flat, and in the same direction (so the magnetometer doesn't detect a change), only difference is that the display is facing upwards or downwards.

Does anybody know this?