Firmware 2.0 Screenshots

I’m uncertain whether or not the iPod Touch supported screenshots with the first firmware iteration, but it does now.  Simply by pressing the ‘home’ and ‘lock’ buttons at the same time and releasing the screen flashes and bam, there’s a screenshot of whatever you were looking at saved in your photo library.  This makes it useful to save web clippings as a photo, detail the interface you’re using, or even show someone how or where to find something within an app.  Below are a few screenshots taken from my iPod Touch using the 2.0 firmware and several different free applications.

I’m very pleased with the applications I’m using on my iPod currently, including AIM, Facebook and Google Mobile, NetNewsWire, Light, Box Office, New York Times, Pandora Radio, Weatherbug, Remote, and Whrrl.

Home Screen:

Remote:

NetNewsWire:

Some have their small issues:

Google Mobile merely launches Safari for me when I search for things or want more, like docs, so it’s not very much else beyond the web-based app.  AIM works well, but I can’t view full away messages with it.

NetNewsWire and Light I’ve found no issues with, nor Weatherbug.  Pandora needs to keep playing when I open other apps, though-I’ve come to expect that functionality after using the regular iPod music function.

Whrrl is poor at locating me, and the actual full internet version restricts you to major cities for some unknown reason, and thinks my zip code is about 40 miles from my actual location.

Remote is probably one of my favourite apps, but I miss a couple elements that I think could really make it a killer application.  I’d really like to see Remote have the ability to wake up my Mac or to start up iTunes.  If I have to turn the computer on and then open iTunes, it ruins the glory of not having to get up to do that.  In the mornings I’d like to flip on the Touch and have it tell the computer to get some tunes kicking right away.  Alas, perhaps this will follow soon.
In terms of applications I’d like to see, I think now is the time for Salling Clicker to hop aboard the iPhone ship and start production.  I’d likely pay for an application that allows me to virtually control my computer from the palm of my hand, and all they have to do is port it from the Palm or Windows Mobile OS over to the gorgeous Apple mobile OS.  The touch screen alone is a feature that is very useful with Salling Clicker.  This could really simplify computer/human interaction, and would be a great way not only for Salling Clicker to get the word out-the App Store will get many views as it’s the major part of the firmware 2.0-but might also jumpstart mobile control of a desktop device, which would be amazing.  Like RemoteDesktop, but for your iPhone.

The firmware 2.0 has updated security and added the functionality of having third-party applications on your iPhone or iPod Touch, but it still lacks flash-not pizazz, but literally, Adobe Flash, which is very frustrating-streaming mobile video content, especially over WiFi seems like it wouldn’t be that hard, but my experience in the area is minimal, perhaps it will add to much to the existing code to be fruitful, but I think it’s one of the major developments iPhone and iPod Touch owners will be looking for in the days to come.

That and a better camera.