7 reasons to love iPhone OS 3.0

A new operating system for the iPhone – OS3.0 – has just been unveiled and will be pushed to devices on June 17th, with notable features including:

Find My iPhone Because it’s not exactly uncommon to misplace your phone, now you can track it down using MobileMe from any browser. It locates the phone on a map, allows you to remote wipe the device if it’s been stolen, and / or play a sound for locating it around the house - even while on vibrate.

TomTom GPS app TomTom navigation will be able to be integrated with the iPhone, featuring many of the same features as standalone GPS systems, such as turn-by-turn directions, voice prompts and route planning, with accessories available such as a car cradle and external speaker.

Movies on the go Now you’ll be able to rent and purchase movies from the phone, along with audiobooks.

New and improved Safari The mobile version of the web browser is claimed to run JavaScript 3x faster, and supports QuickTime X-style HTTP streaming of audio and video. There's also AutoFill for forms, and improved HTML 5 support including audio and video tags.

Multimedia Message Service The iPhone is so far ahead of most other phones, it’s bewildering when they miss some of the basics – like the ability to send a pxt. MMS will initially be available for 29 carriers, although it’s not yet clear when it will be available in New Zealand.

Cut & Paste Users have been screaming for this functionality since the phone came out, and now it’s here. You can cut, copy, and paste words and photos, including between applications, and images and content from the web.

Internet Tethering Now you can use your iPhone as a 3G modem for your Mac or PC laptop, enabling you to surf almost anywhere, although there’s no word yet on when this will be available for New Zealand customers.

With the Jesus phone only available through Vodafone in New Zealand, spokesperson Paul Brislen said they don’t know when the phone will be available, although he believes it will be in the “second wave” of release dates worldwide, which will be before August.

Meanwhile Apple Australia and New Zealand communications manager Fiona Martin said she was unaware when New Zealand’s release date would be, other than that it wasn’t in the first wave released on 19 June. The second wave is scheduled for 26 June, and for the 80 countries in the last wave, there is no release timeframe yet available.