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Apple iPhone/iPod 3.0 OS is finally here, and it’s brought some exciting new features. It’s about time too. Call me a Apple fan, but I’m actually quite excited about this new release. Although, saying that, these features should have been introduced with the launch of  the first iPhone, and Apple claiming that the iPhone is 5 years ahead of everyone else is a slight exaggeration in my books. Apple do a wonderful job of making these features sound new, fresh and exciting, totally covering the fact its a bit late in the day.

Google Maps & more: For the first time, developers will be able to create software with maps embedded into it with relative ease. This API will provide the tools, but developers will have to supply their own maps; they won’t be able to use the proprietary ones that are part of Google Maps.

In addition, Apple will start allowing developers to access the iPhone‘s location information to create navigation software with turn-by-turn directions. Bring on TomTom, or Garmin.

Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: This will allow two iPhone‘s or iPod touches to connect to each other over Bluetooth to play head-to-head games. Thanks to this upcoming feature, two devices that are near each other and are both running the same game will automatically seek each other out. While gaming is the most obvious use for this, Apple promised there would be others.

In-App-Purchase: This will allow companies to sell items from within applications. On-device e-book stores is one example, but developers will also be able to sell additional levels for their games. Naturally, this will still be tied to the iTunes App Store, and Apple will get 30% of the revenue.

Cut, Copy & Paste (Finally): Confirming the earlier rumors, iPhone 3.0 will – finally – allow iPhone users to cut & paste and copy & paste. Naturally, the process for selecting text will take advantage of this device’s multi-touch screen. This feature will be available in Apple‘s own software and third-party apps.
And it extends to more than just text. Users will be able to copy images and paste them into an email. You can also Cut, Copy & Paste between different apps, so from Safari to Mail for instance.

MMS, A2DP & more: iPhone 3.0 will also mark the arrival of other features long available in the iPhone‘s competitors, including MMS messaging, Stereo Bluetooth, device search, and voice memos. This should mean you can use already created hands free kits, or bluetooth music devices.
In addition, landscape support is being added to more of the bundled applications.
Apple is also going to release a new SDK (software developer kit) for handling streaming audio and video, including HDTV streaming.

A few other features that speak for themselves:

Forwarding of SMS
Search functionality in all applications like mail and even on an Exchange Server
Spotlight home screen with search
Notes Sync
Whole new set of API’s
New api for streaming video and audio
Use your iPhone to remotely control accessories
CalDAV Support
Updated Stocks app (Streaming news headlines, highs, lows, and PEs. Also a landscape mode)
Shake to Shuffle (iPod Nano feature)
Wifi Auto login
LDAP
iTunes account creation
YouTube ratings
Anti-Phishing
Call Log
Parental Controls
Media Scrubber
OTA Profiles
VPD on Demand
Languages
YouTube Subscriptions
YouTube Accounts
Encrypted Profiles
Tethering
Send/Receive files between devices

You can watch the Apple presentations of the new iPhone 3.o release here.

Thanks to Brighthand.com for some of the information.

I recently tried to setup another email account on my iPhone 3G. It was all going smoothly and it was all setup until i tried to send mail. I could receive mail with no problem, just not send it. I checked my incoming and outgoing servers, all are setup perfectly, so I spent the next hour trying different options. SSL on, SSL off, port 25, port 587 and so on. All to no avail.

So I called my o2 Account Manager, the joys of being a V.I.P. (apparently), and explained the issue and that all i needed was the o2 SMTP server as it was blocking my hosting’s server. This was like talking to a brick wall, as the agent on the phone had no clue what a SMTP server was. So I pulled up my sleeves and went digging on the o2 website. I found some helpful details all by myself.

To connect to the o2 SMTP server, all you need to do is use these server details:

smtp.o2.co.uk
username@o2.co.uk
password
SSL off
Server Port 25

The username and password is what you use to log onto the o2 website, to check your bill, and all other details.

Only issue with this is you cannot use the o2 SMTP settings through Wifi! So it kind of defeats the purpose. If you’re on a Wifi network, in order to send email you will have to switch off your Wifi send and then re-enable it. Long winded, so I will try finding a new solution.

*Edit* Thanks to Chris and Stash for their helpful comments. I have done some testing over multiple servers and found that using SMTP on port 465 works the best over wifi, 3G, Edge, and GPRS! I have been able to send mail through wifi then walk out my flat and still able to email out over the o2 network. All groovy, no more having to switch wifi on or off, and having to change different ports or anything anymore!