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7 Must-Have Additions for Next iPhone: iPhone Wishlist 2009

Posted By Mr.Gadget Published in Apple, iPhone

Mar

I don’t know how you feel, but I think the world is ready for a new and improved iPhone. Yes, it was the best phone that 2008 brought out but with the likes of the Palm Pre, HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Magic about to hit town, the title for Best Phone of 2009 may just go elsewhere.

checklist_iphone Apple stop. Before you even think of releasing it, I’ve compiled a wishlist of features that I (and many millions around the world) would love to see accompany the next iteration of the iPhone.

Please take note that this list is devised around my personal preferences and most were mentioned in my blog post regarding the “10 most annoying things about the iPhone“.

If you would like to add your own, please include your portion by adding a comment.

I’m sure Apple would love to hear what you’d like too.

Mr.Gadget’s iPhone Wishlist 2009:

sygic-iphone-turn-by-turn-3-200px 1. Turn-by-turn GPS: Googlemaps is “ok” but I miss true turn-by-turn voice guided navigation. There were positive signs at MWC 2009 that this wish may soon to be realised, however still nothing in the AppStore. Would like some sort of Apple collaboration with TomTom, Navman or Garmin.

2. Larger capacity / removable battery: One of the biggest iPhone gripes was battery life – I can only get one day’s worth of power out of the bloomin’ thing. Life would be very annoying if I didn’t have two USB chargers and a vehicle adapter. Bumping it up by a couple hundred mAh shouldn’t compromise on thickness too much.

3. Cut & Paste: Just today, I wanted to email my friend a phone number from my contact list and was faced with the “no cut’n'paste” brick wall. Having this simple, taken-for-granted functionality would definitely allow me to be more efficient with my daily workflow.

4. Bluetooth data file transfer: Being able to send data files to and from my PC and iPhone would be handy for those days when I don’t have a cable handy. It’s also nice to share photos with friend’s devices.

5. Multitasking / Background Notification: One of the bragging points of the iPhone was that it would crash much less than Windows Mobile devices – you’d hope so if it only runs one application at a time!? Jokes aside, it would be nice to IM and browse the web at the same time. It’d also be nice to be notified of events while using applications.

6. Voice Recognition: I miss the days of Microsoft Voice Command on my Windows Mobile device (queue in Microsoft-haters). Some of the cool functions I miss are: being able to voice dial (without voice training) anyone in my contacts list; request my calendar appointments to be read out to me; and also be told the time when I didn’t want a bright light shone in my face.

7. Bluetooth A2DP: The world is moving away from all things physically wired up, to the freedom of wireless connectivity. I’ve got a pair of Blueant Bluetooth Stereo Headphones that has laid dormant for half a year when it could have partnered with my iPhone, providing countless hours of entertainment while I travelled overseas last month. Bit of a waste really.

That’s my iPhone Wishlist.

What else would you add?

Here’s what my Twitter Buddies wanted:

DigitalSignals@mr_gadget Decent camera, frontal lobe integration, universal device remote control, HD projector, pen light, tin & bottle opener
GuyClapperton@mr_gadget I should of course have said ‘full A2DP compliance on Bluetooth’ if I’d been fully focused!
cdhinton@mr_gadget and zoom on the camera… Even if it’s only digital and not optical
xwheelsx@mr_gadget i phone battery , its not removable
melbournegirl@mr_gadget I blogged about the same topic a while back -http://bit.ly/3NLZw
cdhinton@mr_gadget Bluetooth file transfer is a must this time. I really miss it on the iPhone 3g
JofArnold@mr_gadget Faster processors; bakground apps; improved SMS app; push; c&p; video WITH API
melbournegirl@mr_gadget better camera, mms capabilities, background processes enabled, Bluetooth that actually works
aulia@mr_gadget I don’t wish for much, just cut, copy, paste, and ability to properly organize home screens.
Prawnsize@mr_gadget voice directions for maps – I use it to navigate in my car but it’s hard to read and drive!
andragy@mr_gadget after all that on the iphone, is there space for it to have an infra red pen and run my wiimote whiteboard?

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Tags: Apple, iPhone, iPhone 2009, Next iPhone

49 Responses to “7 Must-Have Additions for Next iPhone: iPhone Wishlist 2009”

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Guy Clapperton Says, in 3-3-2009 at 21:36:52

And an FM Radio please.

Mike Causer Says, in 3-3-2009 at 21:49:43

At least a 5 megapixel camera with video capture!
MicroSDHC external storage would be nice.
Solar panels on the back?

Mihnea Says, in 3-4-2009 at 01:09:56

I’d really love a better camera (with flash and video), louder speaker and Adobe Flash ready.

Jon Says, in 3-4-2009 at 01:19:00

Most stuff you posted should be not on a new iphone (minus the battery stuff), but on a new iphone firmware…no need of a new iphone model for that, it already can do it

Lets hope firmware 3.0 brings all that

Alex Says, in 3-4-2009 at 08:05:59

Flash and/or another solution for Sirius/xm online

SMartin Says, in 3-4-2009 at 08:28:10

I want Bluetooth freed up so I can choose to use a small, portable keyboard if I really want to use my phone for email. There are many keyboards already available.

Also, I would love it if I could assign a speed dial key so if I need to dial (1-717) before one of my contacts, I could do it.

Video capture will come with ustream. Faster please.

How about a real case/battery with an LED flash for taking pics in low light.

Scottix Says, in 3-4-2009 at 08:31:56

1. Possible
2. Possible/Ya right
3. Possible
4. Not going to happen
5. Maybe
6. Possible
7. Maybe

8. Landscape SMS

Jesse 137 Says, in 3-4-2009 at 08:35:29

how about a 3G chip that works instead of the cheap piece of crap that’s in there now.

Robert Boyle Says, in 3-4-2009 at 08:56:18

Bluetooth file transfer
Cut and paste
Video (capture movies and do video calls)
Better camera (5 megapixels, flash, better control)
Better speakers
Tethered modem capability (OK, I know this only requires Apple to stop blocking the app, but I’m going to wish for it anyway!)
Flash

Alex Kerr Says, in 3-4-2009 at 09:31:59

Extremely amusing that everything in the wish list and the wishes in the comments are all standard on every Nokia running S60/Symbian (not just NSeries, but the really cheap and excellent 6220 Classic too).

Honestly, one wonders when iPhone fans will wake up and smell reality – everything you want already exists! And has for ages!

(Oh, and Nokia sells more of these in a week than Apple sells iPhones in a quarter, or something )

Thomas Says, in 3-4-2009 at 09:35:04

Funny, the RIM Storm has most of the things on the wish list. Sure the software is a bit buggy, but that will improve with the firmware upgrade. Hardware wise, it’s all in there!

Kikolani Says, in 3-4-2009 at 09:46:10

I have to agree with one of your Twitter buddies – removable battery so I can always have a spare.

~ Kristi

Thomas Says, in 3-4-2009 at 09:46:28

Blackberry Storm: What does it have?

1. Turn-by-turn GPS: YES
2. Removeable battery: YES
3. Cut and Paste: YES
4. Bluetooth Data Transfer: Probably (not really certain)
5. Multi-tasking: YES
6. Voice Recognition: YES
7. Bluetooth A 2DP YES

Rachel Baker Says, in 3-4-2009 at 10:07:45

Cut and Paste is a must
Better integration with Mobile Me – if I update the phone, please let it update my computer
Better Bluetooth – itunes sync with bluetooth
Better color when taking photos
The ability to turn off a ringing phone without moving the switch on the side
Easier contact navigation so that I don’t have to hear my father whine
Stop the crashing when the phone rings and the screen doesn’t come on so that you can’t answer it
I get 3 days on the battery – both my 2G and 3G but I have to turn off the 3G. Maybe they need to make the 3G radio more energy efficient!
I want a background on my screen and the ability to mod the colors – like you could with a hacked phone
Multimedia Messaging – come on guys!
reply on the email!

alex Says, in 3-4-2009 at 10:24:06

Its a good list, but I have to say I’m not too bothered about most of them apart from background tasks (I mean they would all be great) but I just wish Apple would bring the camera upto at least 2005 quality.

I mean come on the device is revolutionary in almost every way, so why has it got such a terrible camera in. 3+ megapixels, a real flash, a real button to take the photo and an easy to use camera app.

Ankur Says, in 3-4-2009 at 10:28:53

all the things your asking for (except the battery mods) are software changes. you are really just asking for something greater than iPhoneOS 2.2.1, but thats not what an actual nee device would be about. New device features are new hardware specs!

My Wishlist:

5) longer battery would be good
4) higher resolution?
3) flash for camera
2) larger capacity (32GB?)
1) a CMDA version for Verizon!!

sigh, speculations give some reason to believe it can happen, but i already know it most likely wont.

Dennis Says, in 3-4-2009 at 11:01:15

I would love to see MMS and a text forwarding option, would make the iphone more on par with older nokia handsets even. I know a lot of people who are holding off on the iphone for this simple reason.

Brian Says, in 3-4-2009 at 11:34:40

Some of this is already on jailbroken iphones.

-Video recording
-Upscaling the camera to 4.0 mp (by taking many pictures)
-an app called xgps, it is supposed to have turn by turn, but I don’t have an unlimited data plan so I cannot test it.
-copy and paste
-file transfer via lan to a pc
-unlocked for other carriers
-mms
-even a buggy safari extension to view more than just youtube and quicktime videos, (vimeo worked)
-get app store apps for an illegal price of free!
-hell you can even change your background to the not black one

You guys should definatly jailbreak yours

Glen Raphael Says, in 3-4-2009 at 14:57:38

The apps screen doesn’t scale – I have seven pages of applications and spend way too much time trying to find stuff. I’d like filing categories/tabs, the ability to cram more apps on the screen, and the ability to delete/hide apps I never use such as “YouTube”. I’m not sure it’s practical to expect Apple to provide any of this, so what I’d prefer is that they allow 3rd-party vendors to sell replacements for the apps screen. All they need is (1) a settings item that lets you assign something else to capture presses of the big button, and (2) an all-purpose way to get the old behavior back if you change your mind. I suggest that one of the reset modes (holding the button for 3 seconds?) pops up a control that includes the option to change back.

Once they merely *allow* 3rd-party replacement/enhancement, power-user tools will pop up to address all the other needs and the normal user will be none the wiser.

james Says, in 3-4-2009 at 15:18:45

The new iphone needs better resolution. Lots of recent phones have 480×800 resolution.

Rick Says, in 3-4-2009 at 16:37:04

My 1 and only tip going forward with iPhone is to:

- Form strategic partnership with Google to buyout AT&T, Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, & T-Mobile to launch AG Unified Networks and make IT the primary carrier of iPhone

Jeff Says, in 3-4-2009 at 17:46:32

For me the ONLY reason I have avoided an iPhone (although I am a huge Apple fan with an iMac, iPod nano, iPod Touch, and MacBook Pro!) is the terrible camera. Even the cheapest phones have at least a 3.2 MP camera with auto focus. Many of the median range have 5 MP with high end having 8 MP (and Sony Ericsson coming out with a 12 MP this year). And iPhone only has a 2 MP with no auto focus? For a ‘media’ device, it lacks one of the most important media features: capturing your day to day life in pictures. It amazes me with Apple’s focus on iPhoto that they would skirt so badly on a camera on iPhone. For that reason, I bought a Nokia 5800 instead (since it has all the other features that iPhone has, PLUS has a 3.2 MP Carl Zeiss camera). I agree with everyone here…if they want to compete with the rest of the world, the next iPhone should have a 5 MP with autofocus and either dual LED or Xenon flash.

amber Says, in 3-4-2009 at 23:43:54

how about the ability to text and receive picture messages without going through at&t’s website. (Or at least make that website compatible with Safari.)

mamelouk Says, in 3-4-2009 at 23:55:53

a compass
a thermometer

Tim O'Brien Says, in 3-5-2009 at 00:15:33

More accessibility. Not just voice recognition (which makes the first step towards an audio interface for the profoundly blind), but better accessibility for those of us with reading glasses. More landscape mode, more zoom, scalable fonts and alternate color schemes. More details at http://www.timobrienphotos.com/large-print-ideas/iphone-access/.

sarah Says, in 3-5-2009 at 00:43:29

Lars Says, in 3-5-2009 at 02:13:34

As a business phone it’s pretty much useless (but I still use it…). I miss a powerful mailbox search function. When the phone is synced to my exchange accountt with some thousand mails it’s extremely annoying when you have to use 3rd party software for the search itself, then exit the same program while noting date/time and then enter the mail program, where you again use 3rd party software for cut/paste (subject to having a jailbroken phone).

Grant Says, in 3-5-2009 at 02:24:33

I want to always be able to rotate the screen, I find i’m more accurate at typing if im in landscape mode, but email, SMS etc don’t run in landscape mode.

Jim Mortleman Says, in 3-5-2009 at 02:47:37

Agree with most of yours, plus:

- Decent camera with flash and integrated video recording.
- Built-in call recording app (not possible for third parties to develop under Apple’s curent sandboxing rules)
- Ability to keep position of apps on screen the same after restore from backup
- An end to the arbitrary nine-page limit on installed apps
- Ability to save data from third-party apps for transfer to other device.
- Themes

Ideally, everything you can do on a jailbroken iPhone, Android or Symbian phone you *should* be able to do with the unadulterated iPhone – though how long it will take Apple to heed this call (if ever) is anybody’s guess.

Leah Says, in 3-5-2009 at 04:38:07

I would also like to see an fm radio…or at the very least the allowance of the satellite radio application. Would make my life easier. I jump thru hoops to listen to sirius right now…ugh…the multitasking thing would be nice too..

cordsweat Says, in 3-5-2009 at 06:27:08

All you people complaining should shut up while you can still save face. Everyone knew that this phone was not capable of any of these things.

All the features you said the iPhone is lacking was known about. Us people, with real smartphones, laughed at how ridiculous it was for someone like you to purchase such a piece of junk.

Now, you come on the internet to complain? Don’t buy a piece of junk like that and then say you want something better. You should know this by now. Apple is in it to make money. There was no reason why the first iPhone wasn’t 3g. Wait…nevermind. There was a reason why it wasn’t 3g. Apple wanted to make money off the consumers that they knew full well would just buy one that was “faster”.

The first gen iPhone got the same update to the OS and had full access to the application store. Shame on all of you for coming on here complaining for something as stupid as this.

My prediction…This year Apple will release a new iPhone. This time, it will just have a removable battery. No MMS, no video recording, etc. That’ll shut you up for another year.

Greg Says, in 3-5-2009 at 06:44:41

Things you didn’t mention:
1. Landscape SMS & email.
2. Ability to customize SMS & email notification sounds.
3. Better camera, with a flash.
4. Ability to shoot video.
5. MMS capability.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 3-5-2009 at 07:04:18

@All Thank you for sharing! I hope someone @ Apple is reading this and taking note.

Mr. Michael Says, in 3-5-2009 at 10:27:08

I want the iPhone to go in Verizon.

Victoria Says, in 3-5-2009 at 10:49:30

The option to select any song or playlist as your alarm! Unbelievable that the classic and nano iPods have this function yet the iPhone and iPod Touch lack this! Seriously Apple get your act together!

Simon L Kelly - Sydney, Australia Says, in 3-5-2009 at 11:05:10

iPhone 3.0 Needs

Tri Band HSPA 850,900 & 2100 Mhz
Covering Australia ,NZ ,S.E Asia & Europe

Full Bluetooth functions.

3.2Mp Camera @ least maybe cram a 5Mp in.

Record Video in Quicktime player.

Battery for 48 Hours use making Travel much easier.

Kris Says, in 3-5-2009 at 13:22:24

Must Haves:

-LOUDER SPEAKERPHONE!
-Better bluetooth
-video capture
-better battery options
-cut and paste

Extras:

-Picture messaging would be nice ; )

*Bonus Features*:

-(A good) Flip or slide-out Keyboard!!!! (messed my pants)
-Front face video (for conferencing)
-Hard Drive

kychaiy Says, in 3-6-2009 at 04:03:48

the iphone has blutoth file transfre for mac (noy sure for pc) just go to the bluetooth menue on the mac find your device an d click send file

Scott Lansing Says, in 3-6-2009 at 04:09:18

These are all great suggestions, especially for those folks who’ve yet to purchase an iPhone, like me. I’m usually more with it in adopting new technology, but this whole recession thing in conjunction with student loans and the only job I can get being at a restaurant, makes it a little hard to shell out for the worthwhile splurge.

Besides, I’m an avid cut-and-past-er.

Sports Memorabilia Says, in 3-9-2009 at 09:20:53

does anyone know when the new iphone is coming out?

I too and another waiting for the next generation since this one has been out for so long and we all know how technology is out dated after a week!

Uzair Says, in 3-9-2009 at 19:32:53

I want atleast a 5MP camera in the next iPhone.

FREE iPhone Wallpapers Says, in 3-9-2009 at 21:09:58

I want it to make me a sandwich!

Clint Says, in 3-9-2009 at 21:28:02

FM Radio???

meinrosebud Says, in 3-10-2009 at 17:42:02

Yeah for bluetooth bigh time!

dmonta Says, in 3-11-2009 at 09:26:05

Text Messaging Templates. I hate having to type out basic messages I should be able to select form my own personal list.

Free MacBook Says, in 5-23-2009 at 21:13:43

What are your thoughts on a new iPhone coming this June/July? There have been a lot of rumors and John Gruber has posted on his site (www.daringfileball.net) a few predictions and bits of info from a few sources.

I do wonder where Apple are trying to go with all these small updates…

iPhone 3G S announced at WWDC | Mr.Gadget Says, in 6-9-2009 at 08:25:51

[...] the iPhone 3G S and it comes with a whole swag of improvements; many of which were mentioned in our 7 Must-Have Improvements for the iPhone 3G post a couple of months [...]

Seth Says, in 9-13-2009 at 04:28:09

I have to agree with one of your Twitter buddies – removable battery so I can always have a spare.
Thanks!

Dean Moore Says, in 9-29-2009 at 08:52:25

Better battery life! Love my iphone just the way it is though… but yeah, beter battery would be nice.

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7 Must-Have Additions for Next iPhone: iPhone Wishlist 2009

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