iPhone/iPod Touch 2.1 Firmware, iTunes 8 released

[eliu87]

After the Stevenote, iPhone/iPod firmware 2.1 was released, as was iTunes 8.

For iPod Touch Owners
The iPod touch 2.1 upgrade is free of charge for all who purchased the previous 2.0 update, otherwise, it is $9.95 (uh-oh, Apple's starting to charge for more and more updates ). It is about 240MB in size.

For iPhone Owners
Before you head over to iTunes to update, note that the 2.1 firmware for the iPhone has not yet been released. It will be released on Friday, and will be free of charge.

New in 2.1
V2.1 supersedes V2.0.2 and all previous firmware versions.
Apparently, Apple was not so tight-lipped on this.

The Mail and Safari apps are reported to load faster (I haven't seen a difference).

Added to the Music app is the new Genuis feature which can create instant playlists based on a song (to access it, you must accept Genius conditions, go to Playlists>Genuis OR select any song, tap, and click on the molecules icon)

Installing apps are faster. (True! Before, it took like 5 minutes. Now, depending on size, as fast as 30secs.)

Minor cosmetic changes (in Music and Videos for example, the song names have same details below them)

New in iTunes 8

This is free for all. You need V8 to update to V2.1.

Supposedly backs up the device faster (True! Much faster. )

Supports Genius Feature and Genius Sidebar (like an advanced mini-store)

New Grid view for viewing songs/videos

In the bar in your device summary tab, a new category called Apps has been introduced to tell you how much space apps are taking.



Quicktime 8 was also released.

[soloxis]

2.1 Firmware for iPhone has been released. No problems for me, everything seems snappier.

[theconfuzed1]

And... *ahem* for jailbreakers.

[macrocker]

No jailbreaking talk here! lol
I don't seem to find much difference in my iPod other than the GENIUS!!
installing apps 5 minutes?! What a joke that has never happened to me before...

[theconfuzed1]

I sent a PM to Jason, and asked him if we're allowed to discuss jailbreaking, but he didn't answer me.

[artemisliero]

ehm... 5 minutes to download an app!? O.o well that's never happened to me... Well I don't want to upgrade my iTunes since the "Remote" app isn't compatible with it yet. It a great free app try it

[theconfuzed1]

Safari still crashes. That's been my biggest gripe from the beginning. You don't always have co tell over what happens with third-party software, but Safari is one of their own!

[artemisliero]

Eh? Safari has never crashed for me...

[asmeurer]

Safari only crashes for me when I try to load a big data url. In other words, not enough memory.

[Avalon]

Yeah I really hate it when that happens, I seem to also notice little changes in this update, like lyrics. Or was this in the older purchasable update? (I skipped it for the 2.0.0).

You know what I want to see in the new update?
Cheaper price,
Apples own in built app for IM (supporting all of them),
And the setting to turn off the d**n auto-correct feature.

[asmeurer]

Lyrics were in the older purchasable update, at least (I started from there).

[Subaru]

Mhm good to know... but what applications signed as working with firmware 2.0??? Will they still go with 2.1??? If not I'm staying where I am...I have some applications that I don't want to loose because of update...but yes that faster installing would be good reason to update...if it will be free :]

[asmeurer]

I haven't heard of any apps working on 2.0 and not 2.1. Are you running a jailbreak? The best way to check is to look up the apps in iTunes. It should say if they require a certain OS.

[macrocker]

They should work correctly. Nothing important to run apps has changed, just added.

[Subaru]

Yes I run jailbreak mainly for winterboard themes and one "special" application (not mentioning the rest )
In that case I will wait for 2.1 and ability for programs to break it...and I will give it a try...the biggest disadventage of it is that it deletes all data and I will have to install everything from begining...nah I will put that away for weekend or some other bigger free time maybe... for now 2.0 is OK mostly ;D