IPhone OS 2
2008 mobile operating system

iPhone OS 2 is the second major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iPhone OS 1. It was the first version of iOS to support third-party applications via the App Store. iPhone OS 2.2.1 is the final version of iPhone OS 2. It was succeeded by iPhone OS 3 on June 17, 2009.
iPhone OS 2 was released on July 11, 2008, with the iPhone 3G. First-generation iPhones and iPod Touches running iPhone OS 1 are upgradable to this version, but it costs $9.95 on the iPod Touch. This version of iOS introduces the App Store, making third-party applications officially available to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Before the public release of iPhone OS 2, Apple held a keynote event to announce the iPhone OS Software Development Kit ("SDK") to developers. Originally it was called 1.2.
01Default apps
02History
iPhone OS 2 was introduced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference keynote address on June 9, 2008.
iPhone OS 2 was released on July 11, 2008. It was released alongside the iPhone 3G and ran on the first-generation iPhone as well.
03Features
- A new built in app called the App Store was added. Before the application was introduced, the only way to install custom applications on the device was via jailbreaking, which was unsupported by Apple. 500 applications were available for download at the launch of the App Store.
- The Mail app had a redesign, with push emails that provide an always-on capability. It also supports Microsoft Office and iWork attachments. Other new features include support for true BCC, multiple email delete, and the ability to select an outgoing email.
- The ability to save images has been added.
- On the iPhone, the iPod app gained the ability to create music libraries.
- The ability to set the default language to Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Dutch, Korean, Brazilian, and Portuguese was added.
- The software now supports WPA2 and 802.1X internet protocols.
- The Contacts app and iTunes Store app both get redesigned home screen icons, though the latter only affects the iPod Touch.
- A search bar was introduced to Contacts alongside the ability to import SIM contacts.
- MobileMe support has been added.
- The calendar app gains the ability to create multiple at a time, which are color-coded to differentiate each other.
- When the device is in landscape mode, the calculator app displays a scientific calculator. The app icon was also updated.
- Settings now can turn Wi-Fi back on while in Airplane mode, as well as the ability to turn Location Services on or off.
04Reception
Rene Ritchie at iMore said, "Overall, iPhone Firmware 2.0 is a stunning achievement that really puts the iPhone on par with the Apple II and Mac as one of the great revolutions in modern technology. It takes it beyond simple Phone + iPod, or even smartphone, and makes it the leading contender for the next great shift in computing." However, they criticized it for having stability issues and overall sluggishness.
Macworld said, "The iPhone 2.0 software is full of the kind of refinements that you'd expect from a second-generation Apple product. The iPhone OS still isn't perfect, and we wish Apple had addressed some lingering shortcomings, but it's a welcome step-up for what was already arguably the best mobile platform on the market."
05Update price for iPod touch
The update from iPhone OS 1 to iPhone OS 2 was free for iPhone users; however, it cost $9.95 for iPod touch users, due to accounting rules and the need to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These accounting rules were later changed after lobbying from Apple and other software companies. Free copies of the iPod touch update circulated online. Minor updates to iPhone OS 2 were free for iPod touch users.
06Supported devices
07Version history
| Version | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | July 11, 2008 | Initial release on iPhone 3G
|
| 2.0.1 | August 4, 2008 |
|
| 2.0.2 | August 18, 2008 |
|
| 2.1 2.1.1 |
September 12, 2008 September 9, 2008 |
Initial release on iPod Touch (2nd generation), not released on iPhone 3G
|
| 2.2 | November 20, 2008 |
|
| 2.2.1 | January 27, 2009 |
|
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “IPhone OS 2”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- IPhoneOS 2 iPhone 3G.png by Apple, Fair use
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.