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Things I'd Like To See In The Next iPhone Firmware Update

Without going overboard with suggestions (because that would be too easy), here are a few things that Apple could add to the iPhone with the next minor or major firmware update.

Rumors about what the next iPhone firmware update might bring are far and few between. Until more information floats to the surface, these functionalities and/or improvements shouldn't task Apple too much.

1. More Bluetooth Profiles: Most phones I test these days have the OBEX Bluetooth profile. OBEX is short for OBject EXchange. This profile lets users transfer a file, such as a picture or video, from one Bluetooth device to another. That means between two phones and between a phone and a PC, etc. Another profile I'd sorely like to see added is A2DP. A2DP stands for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, a.k.a., stereo Bluetooth. These would not be difficult to add, and might actually make a few people happy.

2. User-Defined Graphic EQ: This feature is hit or miss even on music phones. The iPhone 3G has 22 preloaded equalizer settings to adjust how music playback through the iPod sounds. I've tried them all, and none of them do what I want. If an entry-level Nokia phone can have a 5-band graphic EQ, so can the iPhone. If Apple is serious about the iPhone being "the best iPod ever," it needs to give users more freedom to control the sound.

3. E-Mail In-Box Integration: Apple really needs to take a cue from Palm and BlackBerry here. Switching between e-mail accounts on the iPhone is just not enjoyable at all. Apple should offer the ability to have one giant in-box where all your e-mails land, while still retaining the separate in-boxes for those who wish to read through them separately. I'd also like to see the 200-message limit lifted so I can access more of my e-mails -- 500 seems a better number to me. Palm nails e-mail and messaging integration with its new webOS.

4. Threaded MMS: This one is probably more complicated, but it still is super-annoying that the iPhone cannot send/receive real MMS messages. Not only do I want to see MMS added (please!!!), but Apple should take yet another cue from Palm's webOS and thread MMS messages with SMS messages. In other words, I'd like to be able to see SMS and MMS messages from the same contact in one conversation.

Agree? Disagree? What's on your laundry list?

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