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 [1] and AppleInsider [2], as well as on forums [3] and blogs [4], 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 [5] reported by some iPhone 3GS users - a problem, we hasten to add, that we haven't experienced with our personal 3GS. ®

Links

1. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145256/apple_prepping_iphone_31_software_update_beta_out_now_for_developers.html
2. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/07/01/iphone_software_3_1_to_enhance_video_editing_and_voice_control.html
3. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=736518
4. http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2009/06/30/iphone-31-nondestructive-video-editing-bluetooth-voice-control/
5. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/29/3gs_burn_claims/

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