Chicago (IL) - The 2.1 firmware update may be the most critical update for the iPhone yet, even Steve Jobs dedicated only two minutes of time to the software during yesterday’s Let’s Rock event. The update is already available for the iPod touch and is expected to be posted for the iPhone on Friday. According to Jobs, the 2.1 update addresses "lots of bugs" and finally fixes 3G the iPhone 3G’s connectivity issues such as dropped calls.

The software, posted for the iPod touch earlier this morning, is a available as a free 240 MB download for users with devices that already run a 2.x firmware. Those who are still running a 1.x firmware can upgrade to version 2.1 firmware for $9.99.

Apple clearly pitches games, the application store, the Genius playlist feature and Nike + iPod support as the main features of the iPod touch 2.1 firmware. However, there is also support for 17 languages, 30 international keyboard layouts and 19 dictionaries. There is a scientific calculator, the integrated App Store, MobileMe and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support as well as voice recording functionality, which requires Apple's new $80 earphones that come with a remote and microphone.

The mail application now shows CC/BCC/From fields, a sorting feature for From and To fields (not only by Date Sent), reply from a different account, send with BCC, and full Office and iWork attachment support.

Apparently, Apple also tweaked the code to increase the responsiveness of the user interface more responsive and make transitions a bit smoother. Applications should load faster and delays when using the virtual keyboard should be gone. Several online reports confirm dramatically faster back up prior to synchronizing with iTunes, as well as faster loading times of contacts. A bug that caused crashes and unexpectedly shut down applications has been fixed.
 

3G issues resolved?

The iPhone version of the 2.1 firmware is scheduled to become available this Friday. It will offer everything that is included in the iPod touch version, but it should also bring features specific to the mobile phone.

Jobs specifically said the 2.1 iPhone firmware will result in "fewer dropped calls," alluding to 3G connectivity issues like the inability to maintain a stable 3G connection, dropped calls and reduced data transfer speeds. It is generally believed that over-conservative settings in the current iPhone 3G software cause the handset to advertise excessive power needs to cell towers.

Jobs also promised that the new firmware will deliver "big battery life improvements".

didn't I heard the same fix from patch 2.02?

Sep 10, 2008 13:23     

yea, seem like apple just say bug fix on their patches and all your writers comes up with all sort of stuff that apple suppose to be fixing in these patches! I heard drop call 3G fixes on the last 2 patches and yet I am still having a problem. Problem is not just tower or software but iphone getting a weak receiption strength and probably due to the tiny antenna.... it's not just drop call...I am not getting 3G at all from place to place that AT&T said has 3G coverage. Also when drop from 3G, it goes straight to no service instead of trying EDGE... Battery life is very weak, has to recharge every day when I only talk on the phone or surf for less than half an hour a day. and that is with 3G and wifi turned off... I think they might have added new feature on their small apps but I doubt that they had fixed anything related to connection.... You writers had been talking about 3G fix in next patch since patch 2.01, 2.02 and now 2.1... I just don't trust you guys since officially apple just said it's a "bug fix" and that's about it... and every patch is like 200-400M? WTF? not that much is fixed...do they need to re-load every freaking file on every patch? And the back up is a joke...can't they do just backup differences like datawarehouse? every sync do a backup....WTF? I think some are just design flaws on hardware... like some weak wireless modems..no software is going to fix everything...

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Updates costs money?

Sep 10, 2008 13:59     

"Those who are still running a 1.x firmware can upgrade to version 2.1 firmware for $9.99." I'm glad I get FREE updates from Microsoft. Screw you Apple!
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Why No "mass storage device" for iPod Touch?

Sep 10, 2008 14:28     

Umm how about using the ipod touch as a storage device? On my old ipod mini, i can plug it into a usb port on my computer and then use it just like any other flash storage drive. However on the top of the line ipod touch this feature is missing. Even though the touch has far more storage from 8 to 32GB vs my mini's 4GB. I would like to be able to carry my work documents on my ipod touch without having to unlock it and using 3rd party software, to achieve what the older ipod models, and just about every competitors models can do flawlessly. So why did they not keep this feature and why don't they bring it back?

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In reply to [yo]

Sep 10, 2008 14:40     

Thanks for sharing your comment. Let me just say something in defence of "us writers" :) We never explicitly wrote that 2.0.1 or 2.0.2 are GOING TO fix 3G issues. We wrote that many hope the updated firmware would fix these issues. Apple has never acknowledged or promised that 2.0.1 or 2.0.2 will fix specifically 3G issues. As for2.0.2, the company spokeswoman told USA Today that it delivers "bug fixes." ReadMe files accompanying the update didn't revel more neither. It shouldn't come as a surprise that we, other online media outlets and users were wondering what is it exactly that this update fixes - that's why we spend so much articles on following this story. As for the latest update, we didn't made these claims up. You can go on Apple.com today to watch streaming video of the "Let's Rock" event in order to hear and see Steve Jobs himself explicitly saying that 2.1 firmware will fix "lots of bugs" and deliver "fewer dropped calls." It is as unambiguous as unambiguous gets - coming direct from the company CEO. So, if you need someone to blame if 2.1 doesn't solve your problems - blame it on Steve Jobs, not journalists who report on the news ;). Anyway, tnx for commenting the article. Take care.

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$9.99 is kind of silly.

Sep 10, 2008 15:01     

Don't know how their marketing thinks.. yes...$9.99 won't get apple much money.... for a million phone may be extra 10mil? but now if these people get a free upgrade and stay with the AT&T junk contract for a month longer instead of going to competitor...apple could have get it all back from the kickback from AT&T.... or of course, people can stay with 1.0 and let their phone get outdate faster and switch back to verison....

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Re: Yo and the $9.99

Sep 10, 2008 17:27     

Yo, the $9.99 is for people who own the iPod Touch and are running 1.x firmware. For iPhone owners, the update is free. It's because of the way they're counting the profit on the iPhone vs. the Touch. WhyNot, check out the App Store and get Air Sharing, it's free for about the next week and a half and it will turn your Touch into a wireless shared drive on your Mac/PC/Linux box.
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@yo

Sep 10, 2008 17:51     

You don't know what you are talking about. The iPhone gets the updates for free. Even the first iPhone gets the 2.0-2.1 for free. But with the iPod Touch if you bought it like a year ago you would have to pay 10 bucks to use 2.0 firmware. Apple did this because the 2.0 firmware was a huge update. Basically you get a lot more than if you had just 1.0. But if you have bought a newer iPod Touch or have already have 2.0 then you don't need to pay. This is the first update ever that apple has charged more for. I am kinda in the fence on if it is o.k. or not but at least the new firmware is not restricted to a new iPod!

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@Apple Fanboys

Sep 11, 2008 08:32     

So charging $10 for an update is OK? So if Microsoft released a Service Pack and charged any amount of money, would you be OK with that? Of course not, you would tar and feather the hell out of Microsoft.
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Headward, Get Some Reading Comprehension

Sep 11, 2008 15:20     

The charge is due to the Sarbanes - Oxley act, so I'd expect MS to follow the law (though it wouldn't surprise me if they tried to skirt it, if they thought it could give them some advantage in the marketplace). Considering that their service packs mostly address bugs and security issues, rather than adding significant features, any kind of charge would have to be backed by a decent set of new functions.

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@Cromag

Sep 11, 2008 16:44     

I looked up the SOX(Sarbanes - Oxley act). I'm no lawyer but wikipedia states that's for the Enron scandle about posting profits and losses. So no it doesn't apply. "Considering that their service packs mostly address bugs and security issues, rather than adding significant features, any kind of charge would have to be backed by a decent set of new functions." What did SP2 add for Windows XP? More functionality, firewall, etc. So although most service packs address bugs and security issues some add more to them. But do try again apple fanboy.

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Headward: Not a Lawyer, and None Too Bright.

Sep 12, 2008 00:34     

It was a piece of legislation signed into law, in part, because of the Enron scandal, it's not as though the application of the law is limited to Enron. And what do you think the $10 charge is? A charitable donation? Some portion of that is going to counted as profit, though it's anyone's guess as to how much. From here: http://www.macworld.com/articl...touch.html "It’s an accounting requirement that if you upgrade a device that’s not on a subscription, you have to charge,” Needham and Company financial analyst Charles Wolf said. “Apple has a choice of what to charge, but they have to charge.” That was in reference to a previous iPod Touch upgrade. So, all in all it's a good thing you're *not* a lawyer, as you'd only be fit to be hired by fools. As for whether SP2 was good enough to rate a charge or not, well, that's up for debate, one which I really couldn't care less about. Bottom line, whether MS felt it was substantial enough to levy a charge is immaterial; if they are in violation of the S-O Act then there is an organization with oversight into such matters that may or may not take them to task over it.

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What about update with my bad connection?

Oct 21, 2008 02:35     

My connection is drop every 5 minutes.So update is cancle all the time. And i restart from the beginning.How can i go through this prob: . Can i seperately download.IF u know ,just mail to me.thanks u
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