Recently, I tested the iPhone 3.0 Beta Operating System and after testing the new features of the phone operating system, I have come away with these three features that I can no longer live without as an iPhone user:

1)   Search your entire iPhone: Emails, Contacts, Everything

The iPhone 3.0 OS now allows for searching all content on the iPhone from a single location. Simply flip the home screen as far as it will go to the left, and a search bar will now show up. Start entering text and all of the contacts, emails, and applications on the phone will be searched for the text you type. The iPhone 3.0 search feature functions very much like the Spotlight feature in the Mac OS X 10.5 operating system, and is most likely based on similar code. This is one of the most useful and convenient features yet on the new 3.0 Beta Operating System. 

The Search Menu in the iPhone 3.0 Beta OS

Displaying Search Results in the iPhone 3.0 OS

2)   MMS: No more difficult web links, usernames, and passwords to check picture messages

Although it did not appear that the carrier supported MMS on the iPhone yet, it is nice to know that the feature is present now on the phone and will most likely be available in the official release of the new 3.0 OS. 

Creating a New MMS in iPhone 3.0

MMS in iPhone 3.0

3)   Copy and Paste

The much griped about fact that there is not copy and paste on the iPhone has finally been addressed. Although it is not perfect, it is definitely better than nothing. 

There are many other features that have been included in the iPhone operating system that are nice to have. Apple has a way of paying attention to detail and not broadcasting the fine detail that they include in their software design, but it is definitely a huge improvement from the current operating system, and will definitely reinforce the iPhone as a strong contender in the mobile platform by adding features users want.

Copying Text in iPhone 3.0

Pasting Text in iPhone 3.0