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iPhone 3.0 Starts Apple's 2009 Off Right

18.03.2009
Let's stop treating as a tabloid rock star, evaluating its performance only on its last gig. My fellow PC World blogger David Coursey thinks that given the first few months, Apple might as well pack up and . I disagree on two points: Apple's early announcements have given enough punch, and we still have nine-and-a-half more months in 2009. Couldn't the Cupertino company release anything else this year?

The iPhone 3.0 roadmap was Apple's biggest 2009 move. I agree that cut/copy/paste, MMS, and even the push notifications fill areas the iPhone has lagged; they're not features that move it ahead. But Apple announced so much more, hanging on those features feels disingenuous.

App Store software is going to keep improving. With access to 1,000 new APIs--including jewels like Bluetooth and dock communication--we're going to see yet another wave of innovative iPhone programs. I'm also excited about the other payment methods, since a developer who can afford to eat is likely to keep making great software. Instead of rushing to the US$1 price point and gambling for a hit, companies will be able to charge for add-on extras or subscriptions.

And the iPhone 3.0 update will introduce more substantial features. What we know about CalDAV, Exchange, and other updates could be about LDAP, EAS policies, VPN on demand, encrypted profiles, and more.

Beyond the iPhone

The rest of Apple's year--I mean, the first two-and-a-half months of 2009--hasn't been bad either. But if Apple isn't leading the industry every day, should it just close up business?