iPhone 2.2 Hidden Features: Google Street View, Emoji, Auto-Correction Off

[Adamo]

Indeed. In my experience, the majority of folks that complain about auto-correct have never tried to actually use it in the way intended, and have never followed the directions so clearly laid out on the Apple web site. They just started off mashing keys from the first day and are pissed that the iPhone never figured out what the heck they are doing.

I find most people never even try to teach it by hitting the little "x" for example, and that it never occurs to them that by not training it in the first place, they are carving some of their stupidest (and most hated by themselves ironically), mistakes, in stone.

"xxx" is the perfect example in that if you trained it just once or twice to do it right (in the beginning), it would never be a problem thereafter. But no, that would be too sensible I guess.

I don't understand why anyone would want to turn it off. I have very slender fingers and am very agile and nimble with them, but I find it almost impossible to hit the right keys. Auto-correct works very very well for me (I spent an hour or two training it on the first day), and I can type almost as fast as a regular keyboard. Without auto-correct, my speed would be abysmal with all the poking around and backspacing for corrections. There is simply no way that anyone can type as fast with it off as with it on, period.

Why are people so incredibly stupid that they don't follow directions and blame Apple for their own failure? Why do people actually want to type slower?

If Apple puts in the option to turn it off, I hope they label it "old codger mode" or "Homer Simpson mode."

Wow, what a massive load of gumpf.

My iPhone hasn't learnt the words that I keep pressing the 'x' on, so I welcome this update so I'm not forced to use it how they think I should use it. I can type really well without making mistakes, but it somehow thinks that renaming common things and my friend's names (which aren't that common) is helping, it isn't.

"I don't understand why anyone would want to turn it off. I have very slender fingers and am very agile and nimble with them, but I find it almost impossible to hit the right keys."

So because you're rubbish, you seem to be incapable of alternative thought processes, well done! Not everyone has crap fingers.

 

[Digital Skunk]

The correction feature is useful but for me it should just be opt-in instead of opt-out.

I'd like to change auto-correction to auto-suggest-correction. If I type a word and it thinks it knows better, it would display the suggestion. I'd tap to accept the correction or keep typing to retain what I typed originally.

I agree. I have gotten use to using the touch keyboard on the iPhone and iPod Touch, but I still favor the XT9 approach done by many other phones. Not that they are superior, just different and a lot more useful at certain times. Like when I am punching in assignment, or photojournalism, or freelance. The XT9 gives me those words after the 3rd letter, then I just hit the space bar.

 

[soundsgoodtome]

What I really need is the ability to choose which calendars (i.e. calendar categories) are visible in the Calendar app. I need to view all of them, except one of them, which belongs to an employee in my home and has more events than any other category.

At home, where I have large screens, I can easily hide any calendars I don't want to see. But on the iPhone's small screen, I'm forced to view either all of them or one at a time (neither of which is useful).

This is simply a dumb oversight/omission that could easily be remedied by giving us a page with check-boxes we could use to indicate which calendars we'd like to see.

 

[rhett7660]

Has there been a list of what is being discovered in 2.2?

 

[BLACK MAC]

It's great they are finding all new features in 2.2. The real question is, when will we be able to use these features.

 

[flowney]

Will the real digital keyboard please stand up?

Dribs and drabs. The potential of a digital keyboard is just so huge that I am surprised at Apple's slowness in exploiting it more fully than this.

Why are we not seeing something more iPhone-ergonomic than KWERTY? Then, how 'bout spelling correction for non-English users.

 

[TwoBytes]

Not yet - but you will:

Where is that from?

 

[arkmannj]

Auto-Correction

Call me strange, but what I would like to see is a way to set it to 'reverse behavior'. I like the word suggestions coming up, I just wish you tapped the word to select it rather than canceling it.

I would also love to see bluetooth support for a wireless keyboards, then I could get a nice fold up one and have little need to pack a laptop everywhere.

am and I'll through in my vote (yet again) for copy+Paste

 

[niek1986]

Wife will LOVE auto-correct off. Constantly writing e-mails in both english and portuguese - auto-correct disrupted the efficiency of portuguese e-mails.

I had the same problem but i found out this can actually done by my iPhone.. (i'll try to translate as mine is all in Dutch)

Settings -> General -> Keyboard -> International Keyboard -> ON for both Portugese and English

Now you can easily switch between languages by tapping on the globe next to the SPACE BAR.

I hope you read this.. couldn't find a way to mail you in private. Made an account for this lol.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Call me strange, but what I would like to see is a way to set it to 'reverse behavior'. I like the word suggestions coming up, I just wish you tapped the word to select it rather than canceling it.

I would also love to see bluetooth support for a wireless keyboards, then I could get a nice fold up one and have little need to pack a laptop everywhere.

Except you can't start documents on the iPhone. But I am sure there is some 3rd party app that can do that maybe?

 

[arkmannj]

Except you can't start documents on the iPhone. But I am sure there is some 3rd party app that can do that maybe?

Documents would be awesome.. I was just thinking of emails, (and even text messages in some cases)

 

[Adjei]

Does sound good, it is a pity however that Apple need a rival phone to be launched and the threat of one from Nokia before they release what people are after.

I theorize then that with the release of the Nokia rival to the iPhone that we shall begin to see more and more features being added.

Although knowing modern Apple, we iPhone users will still lack many basic features.

Right just like every phone ever made lacks on feature or another..

 

[Adjei]

Boring.
I've given up hope of any meaningful update. This update is a waste of time, and there is really no hope. Complete waste of time.

So because it's not useful to you, it's a waste of time, what about those who are interested, some people..

 

[Adjei]

Will 2.2 have the ability to automatically filter out people asking for copy and paste, and MMS? That would be great!!!!

Well said, it will make me so happy.

 

[Adjei]

This is why Apple can keep on going with holding basic features and make a fuzz when they release them, if they release them at all.

How many people where asking for the Japanese smilies thing? other than the Japanese? How useful is it?

What about Google street view? It is cool and Android is showing it off, but I don't think people were anxiously waiting for it.

I have read people requesting Turning Auto-correction off, Edit dictionary, Copy/Paste, All apps Landscape Support, Video Camera support, ToDo/Notes sync, background notification, MMS, etc. which all seem very valid and extremely useful requests. Out of those, one is being addressed and we should be grateful and keep dancing or enjoying the show? I think it is OK if you want to dance to celebrate these fabulous new features. But it is OK too, to not feel impressed or blown away by them.

Will you people stop complaining, it's just plain annoying, Apple can't add all the feature you whiners want, they'll continue to gradually add what they can, even with all these missing features the iphone is still selling well. Every phone ever made has some missing feature that a user wants.

 

[Adjei]

It's unbelievable that we're 15+ months into the iPhone world and Apple still hasn't implemented copy/paste. Aren't they tired of people griping about this? Aren't they sick of every reviewer pointing this weakness out? It's embarrassing. Just fix it already. What, are they planning to save this feature until 3.0? Ludicrous.

Oh, and where the heck is our voice-based turn-by-turn navigation app? I'm not buying a 3G until such an app is available.

And so bloody what, if copy and paste was the big deal made out by you whiners, the iphones wouldn't be selling.

 

[Adjei]

Yup it is, for all the great features to come we were promised, almost two years later and we still haven't gotten the basic ones. Life goes on, but it's a real bugger (ie impossible) when you want to forward a SMS to someone and it's quite frankly embarrassing that you can't forward a contact. I'm just glad that I don't get asked to do it, very often as it's pretty embarrassing, when I say, "yeah hold on, let me read it all to you!"

Please tell us who promised you all those features when you bought the phone..

 

[Adjei]

The complaints that I am reading here are the very same reasons I left the iPhone behind and went back to the BlackBerry:

1. I have copy and paste.
2. I have MMS.
3. I have the latest version of Google Maps with all the latest features, some of which it looks like the iPhone won't be getting.
4. I have an actual spell check.
5. I can sync notes.
6. I can sync tasks, including recurring tasks.
7. I have a video camera.
8. I can edit my auto-correction list.
9. I can edit my spell check dictionary.

Those, and the following, actually:

1. I can dial a number from the home screen without having to do anything but start dialing.
2. I can dial by letter or by number (or both), as in 1-800-SUNTRUST, for example.
3. I have a removable/replaceable battery.
4. I have removable/upgradable memory.
5. I have voice dialing.
6. I have the ability to add Garmin software to my BlackBerry for true turn-by-turn spoken direction GPS navigation.
7. I have the ability to have the phone set itself for vibrate when in the holster, and tone when out of the holster.
8. Auto-view new e-mails, MMS, SMS, RSS, Facebook notices, etc. when I remove the BlackBerry from its holster.
9. Auto-hangup calls when placing the BlackBerry in its holster.
10. I can forward contact details via e-mail as an attachment.

I really like the idea of the iPhone, but it was so sorely lacking in basic functions when compared to virtually every other phone out today, that I couldn't stand using it any more. Well, that, and the fact that it would lock up on me at just the wrong times (critical situations) when trying to do something as trivial as make or receive a phone call.

I keep track of the iPhone's progress because I still am interested in it, but seeing these updates just makes me laugh. There really isn't anything big, and yet so many people are jumping for joy. There are a few here, though, that recognize that Apple still hasn't implemented missing basic features, and that Apple, once again, has missed a self-imposed deadline.

Oh, and as far as Apple's claim that copy and paste isn't easy to implement, maybe they can explain why RIM was able to include copy and paste on their touch screen device, and seeing the explanation of how it works is so basic it's embarrassing that Apple hasn't included that function on the iPhone.

Are there features I miss? Sure. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said otherwise. I miss the excellent internet browser on the iPhone. I miss the excellent SMS layout on the iPhone.

That's all I miss.

Maybe Apple will get it right eventually, but not anytime soon at this pace.

Why doesn't your new touchscreen blackberry have wifi, I mean wifi, that's a basic feature on every phone, why doesn't it have it..

 

[Adjei]

Because, Japanese are not only "bitch n'moan", they are simply not buying the iphone. This is hurting Apple. They had big plans for the Japanese market (based on the success of the ubiquitous ipod) and no one is biting. I saw one report that said iphone sales in Japan were a tiny fraction of what Apple had predicted and hoped for. (based on Softbank figures)

The emoji was just one of the reasons why nobody is buying the iphone. There are others but this might persuade some to get an iphone (and not just as a second phone!). It will also stop some of the negative press about the iphone in Japan.

When you non-Japanese "bitch n'moan", it doesn't mean so much to Apple. A lot of the people complaining here have already bought the iphone. It is not a show-stopping event. Apple will get round to your concerns when they can.

The Japanese have voted with their wallet. This is simply a rational business decision.

sorry ....

When did Apple make such prediction..

 

[tobian]

I have never bothered to ask this the whole time I've seen people ask for this because I have never found my self needing it so far. But could you give me an example of a need for this. And I don't mean "oh, my friend txt me to google ______ and I don't wanna have to type it." Give me something other than that if you could. Thanks.


*this is a friendly request btw, I'm not being a smart@ss.

okay. my example is using copy-paste when conversating via IMs. some people type faster..or.. specially when they're connected on Mac, so using full size keyboard - and I'm on the go, on iPhone. Imagine, when someone will send me text, which is somehow in conflict with text i'm just writing and I want to reply to the latest message, but already have a long line of text entered.. On Mac, I'm used to copy the text, erase it.. than react to the latest message. And when need, I can paste previous text from clipboard, if it's still actual. It makes conversation less chaotic.

another one.. email arrived! "please, check this.. Log into our account,.. username: company password: c78wK4mXSc12opLW.. thanks". Well, sometimes when you are walking, it's not comfortable to write in on a piece of paper.. when you need to type it in Safari.

Yes, it would be useful.. but it's no tragedy now

 

[lazyrighteye]

Being able to turn auto correction off would be amazing!

It could be I haven't hit the caffeine train yet...
But weren't pre 2.0 users allowed to Enable/Disable Auto Correct via Settings?
And didn't Auto Correct learn, pre 2.0??
No?
Really?
Huh.

I so want to say I was telling a new 3G user about Auto Correct (specifically, it's ability to learn), showed him an example by typing "omfg" a few times and it never worked "learned."

Wow. I really felt these were features already existed.
Maybe I should go back to bed and start again tomorrow...

 

[noxtos]

Will 2.2 have the ability to automatically filter out people asking for copy and paste, and MMS? That would be great!!!!

Great idea. I have a better one: Give us copy & paste, and we will stop yearning for it.

 

[Adamo]

And so bloody what, if copy and paste was the big deal made out by you whiners, the iphones wouldn't be selling.

It is a sore point, hence why people are whining about it - and why can't they, after spending so much on a phone to find that the competitors have this feature, yet we do not? If they can have e-mail, web-browsing, 3G connectivity and all the rest, why no functioning Bluetooth, copy and paste and the option for a Bluetooth keyboard?

I'd love for someone to come up with a document-making program, but the keyboard support would need to be there.

 

[ifonline]

Why doesn't your new touchscreen blackberry have wifi, I mean wifi, that's a basic feature on every phone, why doesn't it have it..

That's the best you've got in return? No WiFi? I have no idea why the Storm has no WiFi (or if it definitely doesn't have it). Don't care. Not getting the Storm. However, I can also be big enough (and not take it personally) to acknowledge that RIM makes its share of mistakes, and for those that would want WiFi on this particular model, I can understand when they become angry that it doesn't have it.

Besides, not having WiFi doesn't particularly cripple the phone, now does it? 3G/EDGE/GPRS still give connections to the outside world. Certain missing features on the iPhone do cripple it, however, and keep it from being a much, much better device. Apple's inability to keep to their own deadlines doesn't particularly help, of course.

The particular BlackBerry model I am getting next does have WiFi, and 3G/EDGE/GPRS, plus GPS, yadda yadda yadda. It doesn't have a touchscreen. For me, that's perfect. I don't want a touchscreen keyboard. If Apple would make an iPhone device with a physical keyboard, I might think about the phone again. As I said earlier, I like the idea of the iPhone, but its current implementation is too much flash and not enough substance. It's currently a "wow, look at me" phone. It can be so much more.

The iPhone failed me one too many times at work, and because my phone calls at work are critical, I can't have the phone fail. And to be clear, I'm talking about failures when doing such tasks as, oh... answering the dang phone.

So, I'm sorry that it seems I have hurt your feelings, but the reality is that the iPhone has a ways to go to be a serious phone. It's a second-to-none media device and internet tablet, but not such a good phone. On that note, maybe you can answer me this: why has Apple still not implemented stereo bluetooth on the iPhone/iPod Touch? The BlackBerry can do it, as can many other media-centric devices. Irony here is that the BlackBerry hasn't been considered a media-centric device, and yet has had this ability for quite a while now. The iPhone, with its arguably better media capabilities? Nope. Not possible.

 

[Adjei]

It is a sore point, hence why people are whining about it - and why can't they, after spending so much on a phone to find that the competitors have this feature, yet we do not? If they can have e-mail, web-browsing, 3G connectivity and all the rest, why no functioning Bluetooth, copy and paste and the option for a Bluetooth keyboard?

I'd love for someone to come up with a document-making program, but the keyboard support would need to be there.

Because they already knew those features weren't included but still went ahead and bought the phone but now complain about it, makes no sense.