haniblog

If you have an original or a 3G iPhone and upgraded to the latest 3.0 software you must be one happy bunny. Aside from the top-tier features in what has become a brand new phone there are lots of little changes and not-so-obvious features I found. So here’s the Little iPhone Features Guide™ (mini version):

My Number

Entering your phone number in Settings > Phone > My Number will make it visible in the Contacts or Address Book apps. All you have to do is go to the top of your contacts and pull the list down. Above the Search field you should see your number appear. Nice.

Share Contact

Another new 3.0 feature is the ability to send your contacts to someone else over MMS. In the address book there’s now a Share Contact button. Tapping that will bring up the Messages app with the contact information enclosed.

Maps + Compass

This is a 3GS feature only and it’s pretty impressive. Tapping on the “Where am I” icon at the bottom right of the Maps view takes you to where you are using a combination of GPS and WiFi lookup. Tap on it again and the map rotates to show you the direction you’re facing. According to the Apple iPhone how-to pages, Maps will display a cone from the blue dot which denotes the accuracy of the reading – the smaller the angle, the greater the accuracy.

From time to time you may get a strange error whenever the compass is used, like the image below. I have to say I did get strange looks from people when I was waving my iPhone around like a divining rod!

Data Detectors

In the Notes and Mail apps any telephone number or address is automagically recognised. Tapping on a phone number will pop up an alert asking if the number should be dialled. If an address is detected and selected, the Maps app will launch and take you to that address. Very cool.

I’m sure there’s more and I’m keen to try out the Nike+ integration but the 3.0 upgrade is full of changes. It’s always the little things…