iPhone/iPod Firmware 2.0

It's a few months ago when the firmware for iPhone (and also iPod) was released. The actual version is 2.0.2 and it brings loads of new features. In my opinion, the firmware 2.0 was mainly designed for the iPhone 3G but it also works on the older version of iPhone and also on iPod Touch.

The firmware 2.0 costs about $10 but it includes the older applications (known as 'apps for $20'). So you have the mail client, Google Maps viewer, weather forecast, and notes by default. And these application are very usable. Moreover there is one more application called 'App Store' where you can download tons of programs and games. Some are free and some are paid but you need to have an account on the officialy Apple App Store to download and install these apps (even if they are free).

The calculator, which is a native application, was improved. The old one was just simple, applicable only for the basic counts. But I missed the goniometric functions (sinus, cosinus..), square and third power, sqare and third root and the brackets. Now you get these functions just by turning iPod into the landscape position, which also makes the input line longer.


New games are just fine. One of my favourite is Asphalt 4, a well know game for mobile phones. I didn't play any of Need for Speed but I guess Asphalt 4 is a kind of this game. You have a car which you can improve/or change by buying add-ons from money you earn from a won race. When you win a race, you unlock another map and so on. You simply control this game by two fingers (the right part of the screen means turning right and vice versa) or by tilting the iPod.

Another game is Texas Hold'em which is poker in fact. I haven't ever played poker before but now I can't throw it off =). The opponents are very realistic. They are happy \o/ when they win and sad when lose the game and the tallier applauds you when you win.



There are also several ways how to jailbreak this firmware. It's for people who don't want to pay for these apps and games. For Mac users is there the Pwnage Tool (developed by the worldwide known iphone dev team :p) and for Windows users exists WinPwn. Both are very simple to use and provide you to download and install for free.