iPhone Firmware 2.2 Brings Google Maps Street View, Emoji Support

One of the reasons that I absolutely love my iPhone is the simple fact that it is and continues to be a better phone than the day I bought it. With the daily improvement of the Application store and the frequent firmware updates, it doesn’t give me a chance to stop loving it, because it’s a new phone almost every month. Case in point is the new iPhone 2.2 firmware update coming soon, that will add Google Maps' Street View to the Map app.

Granted that this is been a long time coming, but it is a welcome addition to the iPhone. Also the update is bringing the ability to turn off the keyboard's auto-correction feature, and emoji support. The emoji support I’ve never quite understood, but for some reason people love them.

If you’re able to pick up an iPhone, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

[Mac Rumors via Gizmodo]

Faux GPS For The iphone Via Firmware Upgrade

Gearlive is showing off some screen shots of firmware 1.1.3 upgrade for the iphone, that gives it some things that should have come with it in the first place. Check the bullet points:

• The ability to send an SMS message to multiple people is now there
• Google Maps application can now pinpoint your location using cell tower triangulation
• Google Maps can now display the Hybrid map view
• You can now drag and drop application icons on your home screen
• The home screen supports pagination
• You can now add web bookmarks to your home screen

The GPS even though it a Faux GPS is a welcome edition to the iphone, and a feature that Apple themselves should have had at the launch. There are more pictures that are at the Gearlive website, so hit the jump for them. Thanks to Gizmodo for this info.

[Gearlive via Gizmodo]

Street View Now Available in Google Maps

Now with Google Maps you can click on a street and you're virtually there. Street view is a limited feature that could be called experimental because of the limit of cities available, was just rolled out by Google a few hours ago.

But it doesn't make it any less cool though.

Click the Street View button on the top, select one of the camera icons then you can do a virtual walk around that city. It's also great to go full screen, and it almost feels like you're there. What's the catch? They only have five cities available right now (San Francisco, New York, Denver, Las Vegas and Miami) that have imagery. Check the video below for a demo.