IPhone OS 3.0 : Exactly How Advanced is "Advanced"?

Don't mess with a good thing. And the iPhone is definitely a good thing. Most iPhone users will tell you they couldn't imagine living without it, but how much better can it get? How could Apple possibly cram another 100 features into the already unbelievable software included in iPhone SDK 2.2.1. Well, this is what Apple developers are telling us to get ready for. . .and leaves us begging the question, "How advanced is "advanced" when it comes to the new iPhone software?

As always, Apple has revealed just enough about the new software to leave us impressed but wondering just how good it's going to be. Sometimes Apple "lifts the curtain" to reveal something truly groundbreaking and spectacular, and sometimes all the hype results in just so-so. Where does OS 3.0 fall in this spectrum?

Hailed to be the "world's most advanced mobile platform," anticipation of OS 3.0 is certainly raising expectations. Among the most touted of the 100 new features are the ability to send files via MMS including contacts, photos, and audio files; the ability to search your iPhone; cut, copy and past functions; and (drum roll. . . ) you'll be able to use the landscape function to read and compose email and text messages.

Wait a minute. These are all great things, and something that will make the iPhone just one step closer to being a replacement for our laptops, but is this really a spectacular reveal? Either Apple is saving the best for the actual launch of OS 3.0, or this is really it. In one sense, it seems like these are things that should have already been included in previous versions. This is the picture in my head: One bespeckled geek turns to another and says "Hey, wasn't Larry supposed to do the copy and paste programming? Oh crap, I guess we'll have to get that next time." And, to the average user who takes the iPhone's technology for granted, these new features do seem a bit like an afterthought.

Maybe the people who'll be happiest are the developers. The new software will include 1,000 new APIs just for them, allowing them to build applications that will wow the world. After all, they're the ones who make the apps that make the iPhone what it is. Apple claims that the new SDK will allow developers to enable in-app purchases for new content, games, subscriptions, etc. and to create apps that allow peer-to-peer connections via Blue tooth. Push Notification service will also provide alerts.

Aha, now we're getting to it. Apple has focused on new features that will allow the apps to be even better, and after all, isn't that what we're all most interested anyway? Better apps = better iPhone as far as the majority of us are concerned. So what does the new iPhone software mean? Personally, I don't think we'll be disappointed, but there's only one really important question to ask: It's not how much better will the new iPhone be, but just how great will the new apps be once the developers get their hands on OS 3.0?