iPhone Atlas

We continue to note minor, unodcumented enhancements in iPhone OS 2.2:

Better shift-key behavior iPhone OS 2.2 exhibits better behavior than its predecessors with regard to typing over capitalized letters. As described by one iPhone Atlas reader:

"I don't know if this was in 2.1 or not, but suppose you are typing and put a capitalized word in the sentence: example "I wanted to call Stuhlman" but you type the capitalized word incorrectly. If you delete the letters, when you delete the capitalized letter, the shift key on the keyboard engages, as the iPhone OS is assuming you meant to capitalize the first letter. I know this may not sound clear, but try it."

Automatic WebClip icon change One iPhone Atlas reader disvoered that launching a website by clicking on a WebClip icon is enough to get the icon to change (if it's been changed obviously). Previously, if a website changed their WebClip Icon, the only way of getting it was to delete the WebClip from your homescreen, visit the site and then 'add to homescreen' again.

Feedback? http://www.iphoneatlas.com/contact.

While the issue is not universal, some users are reporting a problem in which the iPhone OS 2.2 update locks legally unlocked iPhones (sold in Hong Kong, certain countries in Europe and elsewhere). The issue may occur if a legally unlocked phone is bought in one country then updated to OS 2.2 in another country. Among the user reports from this Apple Discussions thread:

• "Bought legally unlocked iPhone in Hong Kong. Updated to 2.2 in Germany. No my iPhone seems to be locked."
• "I bought my iPhone 3G legally unlocked from HK, and I just upgraded to iPhone 2.2, but it seems my phone is locked now. On the phone it says emergency calls only and iTunes is saying not supported SIM."

Many other users are having no problems with legally unlocked phones after the update.

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

We continue to note minor new, undocumented features extant in iPhone OS 2.2.

"Update All" back The ability to update all applications with the press of one button--a feature that was disable in iPhone OS 2.1--is back in iPhone OS 2.2.

Locked screen screenshots iPhone OS 2.2 now offers the ability to snap images of the locked screen. To take a screenshot: while holding the home button, press and release the sleep/wake button. A screen flash indicates that that the image was captured.

Feedback? http://www.iphoneatlas.com/contact.

Users continue to note a series of issues with the iPhone OS 2.2 update.

Weak or non-existent signal As has been with the case with virtually ever iPhone OS update, some users are reporting a degradation of signal after the release of OS 2.2.

One iPhone Atlas reader writes:

"I recently updated my iphone firmware from 2.1 to 2.2 and since then i have no signal from my local service provider(not 3G signal). I experienced no signal problem with the 2.1 firmware."

Another reader adds:

"Since updating yesterday, I have had serious cell connectivity issues. The phone is constantly 'Searching' for cell service in areas where it was not a problem before yesterday."

It appears that, in some cases, turning off location services can boost signal strength under iPhone OS 2.2. For other potential signal-boosting procedures, see our previous coverage.

The most reliable indicator of actual signal strength is the iPhones dB meter, which can be accessed in field test mode. Dial *3001#12345#* then press ?Call.? A dB reading below 50 generally indicates good strength.

Missing applications Some users have reported sudden disappearance of iPhone applications after the update -- even those that ship by default with the device and cannot be voluntarily deleted.

One reader writes:

"Today all of a sudden I don't have Safari or Camera. I did a sync and they're not there. Then a reset and nothing. Then synced again after the reset and nothing. Big bummer since I use Safari all the time. I'm figuring it has to be a software issue. I thought I'd throw it out there in case others are experiencing the same."

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

Failed installation Some users are unable to apply the iPhone OS 2.2 update at all, with the installation process failing partway through. In some cases, the phone may become stuck in recovery mode, typified by the image of a USB cable pointing at an iTunes logo.

If you are experiencing a similar issue, first try the steps detailed in this knowledge base article.

If you are using a Windows sytem, try completey uninstalling then reinstalling iTunes, as described in this knowledge base article.

WiFi problems Some users are reporting an inability to connect to WiFi networks after the iPhone OS 2.2 update.

One reader writes:

"After the 2.2 firmware upgrade, my phone does not pick up nor automatically connects to my wireless network, it is permanently on 3G. T tried rebooting my phone, didnt make any difference."

Among the potential fixes for WiFi connectivity issues are:

• Turn WiFi off then on in Settings.
• "Forget" the currently configured connection and allow it to reconfigure
• Switch the router to WPA2
• Remove all spaces from the WPA pass phrase
• Remove all security from the router until a stable connection is attained then reconfigure the security

Our sister site, News.com, reports that, just two days after Apple released its iPhone 2.2 update, the iPhone Dev Team has released a jailbreak of the firmware.

The team on Saturday posted to its blog QuickPwn for 2.2 and Pwnage for 2.2 for Windows and Macintosh machines along with instructions on how to jailbreak iPhone 3G phones on 2.2.

The blog also includes a word of caution about baseband, the chip that controls the connection between the phone and the mobile phone network:

"Think of it like a cable modem or other peripheral that is attached to your home PC that needs occasional updates. When a software update is released and presented to you within iTunes the baseband is sometimes updated (to fix bugs or add new features). The 2.2 update for the iPhone 3G contains such an update, so running the vanilla updater straight away with iTunes will reprogram and update the baseband. This could be bad for certain people, depending on your ultimate aim."

The iPhone Dev Team, which has been at the forefront of every jailbreak and unlock procedure for each new iPhone model and OS iteration, is apparently very close to the elusive unlock for the iPhone 3G. A recent post to the team's blog states that the following tasks have now been accomplished: Unsigned code execution on 3G baseband, Reverting 01.45 baseband to previous versions, and ore.

Apple has released a new version of the iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 2.2. According to developer contacts, the new release includes the following enhancements:

• SDK support for targeting non-Mac OS X platforms, including iPhone OS SDK.
• GCC 4.2 & LLVM GCC 4.2 optional compilers for use with Mac OS X 10.5 SDK
• Updated assistants to create new projects, targets, and source ?les
• Toolbar uses a single popup to choose platform, target, and debug/release
• Integrated SCM support now works with Subversion 1.5

The SDK is available only to registered developers.

Apple has posted a new version of the iPhone user guide, which includes several additions related to iPhone OS 2.2. These include instructions on Google Street View usage and more.

Some excerpts:

• "If you're taking public transit, the overview screen shows each leg of the trip and the mode of transportation, including where you need to walk. The top of the screen shows the time of the bus or train at the first stop, the estimated arrival time, and the total fare. Tap to set your departure or arrival time, and to choose a schedule for the trip. Tap the icon at a stop to see the departure time for that bus or train. When you tap Start and step through the route, detailed information about each leg of the trip appears at the top of the screen. "
• "Turn Auto-Correction on or off: Choose General > Keyboard and turn Auto-Correction on or off. Auto-Correction is on by default."

Apple has released iPhone OS 2.2. Among the listed improvements:

Enhancements to Maps:

• Google Street View
• public transit and walking directions
• display address of dropped pins
• share location via email

Enhancements to Mail

• resolve isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
• improved formatting of wide HTML email

Other Enhancements

• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Podcasts are now available for download in the iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular networks)
• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off keyboard auto-correction

The new release is available through iTunes, but you may need to update to iTunes 8.0.2 first.

Problems after updating or other feedback? Please let us know.

iPhoneHellas.gr is claims that iPhone 2.2 firmware will debut on November 21st. The site claims that the information is from a "reliable" source.

The site also goes on to explain all the new features in iPhone OS 2.2 that we've covered before, including rating of deleted Apps, and Google Street View and Bus Schedules, etc.

iPhone 2.2 betas have been distributed to developers for testing for close to a month now.