I know... this isn't an Apple blog, and we have been covering quite a bit of Apple new lately, but I promise, this will be the last Apple announcement for a while. Simply put, Apple announced the iPhone firmware 3.0 today, and it is going to be great. Tons of new features and many (late) additions that will refresh both the iPhone 2G and 3G hardware in many user's minds.

Due out this summer, the iPhone 3.0 firmware has a long list (over 100) of new features. Here are the highlights:

• You can copy and paste both text and photos
  


• Spotlight will add search capabilities to your device. You will be able to search all of the apps and information from the homescreen.
  


• Background notification service and API support
  


• Mail, iPod, and Calendar specific search will make all of your information easier to find.


• Landscape keyboard layout in all native apps.
  


• Bluetooth A2DP headphone support.
  


• Shake to shuffle iPod (like the iPod Nano).
  


• Note syncing, improved Maps (with turn-by-turn support), and improved stocks application.
  


• Multi-media messaging service.
  

The 3.0 firmware is available to developers today, but only in the beta form. It should be due out for all other users by summer. My money is on late June, since that is when both the iPhone 3G and 2G became available. Speaking of the iPhone 2G, the firmware should work great on it with the exception of MMS and Bluetooth support. Personally, I think that the new firmware will shore up many of my concerns with the current firmware. There are a few items still on my wish list that have not been mentioned yet, but I will withhold judgement until I see the final version this summer.

Via Apple