Apple’s iPhone OS 3.0 and the unannounced Podcast features
By Will Park on Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 11:30 AM PST In Announcements, Apple, Applications, Hottest Hardware, iPhone, iPhone OS
Apple did say yesterday that there were over 100 new features packed into the iPhone 3.0 OS. Then they left us hanging after demonstrating just a handful of new features. But, we’d prefer it that way. There’s nothing like a long presentation filled with application demonstrations to lull us to sleep. So, as they do with their desktop-class operating systems, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) showed off iPhone OS 3.0’s headlining features (like Cut/Paste and Stereo Bluetooth), saving the lesser details for the Apple-loving masses to find out for themselves. Details like the tweaked Podcast interface.
Apple only recently enabled Podcast downloads on the iPhone with the release of iPhone 2.2 OS, and this time around, Podcasts are getting even more attention. MobileCrunch has uncovered some previously unannounced Podcast features that are expected to go live with iPhone OS 3.0:
- No more Podcast Shuffle or Repeat in iPhone 3.0 OS
- Mail icon allows you to email podcasts’ iTunes links
- 30-second rewind button
- Playback-speed control
- Variable playback search (”scrubbing”) – place finger on playback slider and move to search for a particular section of the podcast. Moving your finger above or below the slider causes playback search to speed up or speed down.
We’re sure the iPhone 3.0 OS is packed with little unmentioned tid-bits like this. We’ll keep our ears to the ground for more developments, you keep your eyes glued on IntoMobile, ‘kay?
[Via: MobileCrunch]
What also is needed is better control of the playback position during podcasts. The touch and drag is too crude during long podcasts. The linear playback nib is hard to grab and drag in precise increments. There should be a virtual wheel like the classic iPod for scrolling within the podcast.
The new FF and RR features sound like sorely needed moves in the right direction. But until I hear further I am assuming that Apple has still neglected show descriptions which is the most problematic piece of the iPhone podcast. Amazing that they’ve gotten the show description issue right for so many years on the classic iPod platform and they have so far completely ignored it with the iPhone. How in the world can they keep overlooking this!?!?
I can’t believe they got rid of the repeat functionality. That was one of my favourite bits! I listen to music podcasts that are an hour long so it’s handy to have it on a loop.
Repeating podcasts is critical for foreign language lessons. I can’t believe I updated to 3.0 to lose this functionality!