iPhone 3.0 First Look: iTunes & App Store
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Once you’ve updated to 3.0, you’ll likely spend some time looking around for the obvious new features. You’ll cut and paste some text, write a note in landscape, download an app with push notifications…you get the idea. But did you remember that with iPhone OS 3.0, you can now download movies, T.V shows, and content from the iTunes U store? I doubt downloading feature-length movies through a 3G connection would be likely, but a fast WiFi signal at an airport before a long flight would serve this ability well.
The iTunes servers have taken a bashing this morning as thousands of users downloaded the major software upgrade. There have been quite a few issues, but if you’ve managed to successfully update, a world of video, audiobooks and educational media is now just a few taps away.
You can now get the entire iTunes Store direct on your iPhone or iPod touch, not including iPod games, of course. With the added ability of changing users and redeeming gift vouchers on the fly too, you’ll feel like you have more control on your iPhone.
As a student, it’s great to see iTunes U spreading out, and I hope more universities around the world, not just in the US, starting using the service. You may remember Stanford’s iPhone Developer course that proved a massive hit with developers and beginners alike.
Having access to the iTunes movie library on the go is also great, but download speeds really depend on your WiFi connection. With movies ranging from 1GB to 2GB, you could be waiting for a while. I would prefer to download a movie on my Mac, then sync it across. But, as always, it’s nice to have the option, and it works better for TV shows and music videos.
Changes to the App Store are a lot less significant. You now have the option to change your iTunes account and redeem gift vouchers, as with the iTunes Store app. Also, viewing screen captures of apps is a lot slicker now, as all the screen captures load with the page; so, when you scroll down, they’re all there to scroll through.
While you’re waiting for TomTom to release their application, or for more titles to hit the App Store using push notifications, check out the additions made to the iTunes Store. After browsing for a couple of minutes, I often find a new song or album that’s worth a listen, or now a trailer to a decent movie, or an interesting lecture I’d like to watch. The iPhone was a powerful handheld device two years ago, and it just keeps getting more intuitive, simple and entertaining to use.
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