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iPhone 3.1 code goes beta

Video boost, pointless buzzing

iPhone Software 3.0 shipped a mere two weeks ago today, but version 3.1 is already in the hands of developers in beta form.

According to reports from PC World and AppleInsider, as well as on forums and blogs, version 3.1 was distributed to developers on Tuesday.

Included in the beta are not only the bug fixes that dot-X updates inevitably include, but also enhancements to Voice Control, video editing, vibration feedback, and the dialer interface.

According to reports, the 3.1 beta includes:

  • Added support for Voice Control over Bluetooth headsets, a function missing in 3.0.
  • Video editing - trimming, actually - with an added option to allow you to save an untrimmed version of the clip you're slimming down.
  • Pressing and holding a home-screen icon to allow for wiggling-icon rearrangement will be accompanied by vibration feedback - an odd addition that will do little more than reduce battery life, in our opinion.
  • Dialer-interface improvements will add the ability to paste in phone numbers and the conversion of alphanumeric phone "numbers" into actual dial-able numeric strings.

Developers also note that 3.1 adds "under-the-hood" improvements as well, including better support for OpenCL and Quartz graphics, plus a new API that will allow third-party apps to access the iPhone's video-editing interface.

Also, MMS is enabled by default in the beta - although there has been no announcement by AT&T when that functionality will be enabled for US iPhoners.

There's also no word on whether iPhone Software 3.1 will address the overheating issues reported by some iPhone 3GS users - a problem, we hasten to add, that we haven't experienced with our personal 3GS. ®

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