Music Features on the iPhone 3.0 Update

Apple has shown the new 3.0 version update of its iPhone operating system. While copy-paste capability dominates the headlines, other features benefit music fans and musicians. However, third party radio and music streaming applications are still hindered, as Apple favors its own built-in music player app over others like Pandora and Last.fm.

iPhone applications will now have the ability to access your iTunes music library, which will help out mobile Djs, but the feature is only available to apps, and any kind of synchronization interface is still unavailable for getting your own files to and from the device.

A new programming protocol allows two iPhones to connect directly via Wi-Fi, without needing an Internet connection. Developers might use the tool to synchronize virtual instruments between phones.

It will be possible to use the iPhone to control hardware wirelessly. Peripherals like real instruments might be playable via iPhone in the near future. On the downside, Apple is requiring proprietary licensing for hardware developers, continuing its conservative “made for Apple” stance on hardware. So don’t expect MIDI jacks anytime soon.

Audio recording will for third-party applications using a standardized protocol, instead of the consumers having to conjure up custom workarounds. On the other hand, radio and music apps like Pandora, Last.fm, and AOL Radio are disadvantaged against Apple’s built-in iPod app. It seems like these applications still can’t play in the background while performing other tasks, such as browsing the Web or reading e-mail.

The main focus of the 3.0 update is enabling third-party developers to create new applications and hardware. But, since Apple retains the right to block any app at any time, and some of the benefits end up skewed with the company’s supreme control over what modifications can be performed on the iPhone.

Are you enthused about the changes? Are the features hyped up to be more practical than they really will be?

Photo via images.macnn.com
Source: Synthopia