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Name one feature you want on the iPhone

Posted October 15, 2009 3:31 PM by Chris Howard
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That’s obviously a hard question, I can think of a few. But right now, the one missing feature that’s bugging me, and has since the very beginning, is the inability to customise SMS tones. I so often miss messages because the available tones just aren’t loud enough.

So, what about you? What’s the first feature you would add to the iPhone?

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Comments

  1. Make it possible for the clock alarm to play a song or playlist instead of only a ring tone -  like a clock radio. Should be incredibly easy for Apple to do.

    Posted by JB on October 15, 2009 4:14 PM

  2. I would like the ability to modify the picture naming convention. Instead of IMG_xxxx, change the IMG to something else.

    At one point pictures from my wife’s iPhone had the same file name and we couldn’t store them in the same folder with out renaming.

    Posted by Gregory on October 15, 2009 4:19 PM

  3. Make notifications and sounds more customizable in general: Calendar, SMS, email etc.

    Posted by Elegant on October 15, 2009 4:48 PM

  4. Tethering, thethering, thethering, thethering.

    Posted by Arnold Ziffle on October 15, 2009 4:52 PM

  5. any ringtone to be used for text messages

    Posted by Ric on October 15, 2009 5:00 PM

  6. Ability to tag apps with arbitrary keywords, plus saved keyword/content searches as buttons on the search page.

    Posted by Jay on October 15, 2009 5:05 PM

  7. Flash

    Posted by Jeff on October 15, 2009 5:22 PM

  8. New text alert, simply tell you new text or just the #1 over the Text Icon. Don’t list who it’s from…

    Posted by Troy on October 15, 2009 5:37 PM

  9. Better, Better, Better battery life—even a changable battery would be nice

    Posted by James Nguyen on October 15, 2009 5:55 PM

  10. Flash +1

    Posted by dRuEFFECT on October 15, 2009 6:05 PM

  11. I’d like all of apple’s included apps to have a live status icon. Like the calendar has the correct date, the weather should show current weather, and the clock to show the right time.

    Also, the unlock screen should show number of unread txts, emails, voicemails, upcoming calendar appointments, etc.

    Posted by Alex on October 15, 2009 6:31 PM

  12. Better multitasking.  I like to listen to Pandora and still check my email.

    Posted by Jason on October 15, 2009 7:15 PM

  13. Flash and HD FM Radio

    Posted by Mark on October 15, 2009 7:24 PM

  14. More interface customisation, sounds, backgrounds, icons.

    Posted by Rick on October 15, 2009 7:59 PM

  15. Abilty to add a contact from my address book in a calendar event so i don’t have to type it in all the time.

    Posted by Kevin on October 15, 2009 9:11 PM

  16. Make it so you can have custom tones for text messages.

    Posted by CT on October 15, 2009 11:19 PM

  17. multitasking. As a compromise, maybe limit it to 3-4 apps at a time.

    Better app organization than the current 11 disorderly screens methodology.

    Posted by djman10 on October 15, 2009 11:28 PM

  18. Backgrounding

    Posted by mscientist on October 15, 2009 11:31 PM

  19. At least a few simple tasks Like listen to music and check e-mail

    Posted by Multi-Task on October 16, 2009 6:39 AM

  20. At least, a simple multi-tasking that allowed you to go back one.  For instance, if one clicks on a URL link in an email then Safari is opened to handle the link and the email function is closed.  To get back to the email ap again to continue reading is way to complex.  One should just be able to “back up” to the email function again.

    Posted by Ken Burkhalter on October 16, 2009 7:42 AM

  21. multitasking, better and customizable outlook synchronisation(and mobile me), adding contacts to calender entries, put new contacts into specific already created contact groups, bluetooth photosharing with non iPhones, customizable sounds for sms, calender (mp3 support for all events in general would be nice), possibility to drop system functions to the homescreen(like switching wlan/bluetooth on and off) on a nonjailbraked device and the other stuff that is already mentioned.

    Posted by derLu on October 16, 2009 8:54 AM

  22. Add a “last updated” field to the address book

    Posted by GM on October 16, 2009 9:28 AM

  23. I want it to synch my music and audiobooks from iTunes.  For some inexplicable reason I have problems where my iPhone freezes when synching.  I’ve tried every solution on the web I can find, sat down with the genius bar, exchanged it and nothing works.  It’s some crazy bug with iTunes and my computer.  So instead of new features I’d rather they just fixed all the dang bugs first!

    Posted by Bryan on October 16, 2009 12:11 PM

  24. Flash for Safari, right click to save images, and the ability to open email attachments in mail (those pesky eml files from forwarded messages)

    Posted by Greg on October 16, 2009 1:49 PM

  25. -Integrated mailbox - all accounts on one screen
    - Configurable Home page

    Posted by ThePhantom on October 16, 2009 3:02 PM

  26. Videophone/web cam.

    Posted by David on October 16, 2009 6:35 PM

  27. Like some others, the most important thing for me:
    Make notifications and sounds more customizable in general: Calendar, SMS, email etc… - with any ringtone
    (any dumbphone can do this, why not the iPhone??)

    Posted by rgk on October 17, 2009 6:49 AM

  28. multitasking, Backgrounding

    Posted by Chris on October 17, 2009 12:33 PM

  29. Customization of the interface - Themes, videos, custom icons, backgrounds, size of icons, the whole ball of wax.  Let me make the phone mine - it is personal, it is portable, it is mine .... but it looks like everyone else’s. 

    Give be shelves for icons, wood for background, star wars theme for icons, custom sounds for actions.  Most everyone changes their default computer settings - why not the iphone.

    Posted by Bill Farmer on October 17, 2009 2:40 PM

  30. Applications should be updateable independent of their data. It’s crazy that I have to re-download an application and all its data, such as TomTom at 157MB, just to get some small app update. That’s just unnecessary traffic clogging the internet (no pun intended) and chews thru MB allowances for those of us not on unlimited plans..

    Posted by Chris Howard on October 17, 2009 5:08 PM

  31. i agree with #‘s 9 and 12!!!

    Posted by TED LEBLOND on October 17, 2009 10:06 PM

  32. My daily (or weekly) calendar and task items immediately visible when the phone turns on.

    Posted by Kevin on October 18, 2009 10:02 AM

  33. Tehering, tethering, tethering, tethering

    Posted by R. Barkley on October 18, 2009 11:47 AM

  34. 3G powered SKYP cabability. Skyp currently confined to WIFI only.

    Posted by L.S. Barkley on October 18, 2009 11:50 AM

  35. For the SMS/MMS multi message delete function to mirror that of the email app.

    Posted by Josef Salyer on October 18, 2009 12:11 PM

  36. mp3 ringtone support!!!

    Posted by Jasper Serious on October 18, 2009 2:13 PM

  37. External keyboard.

    Posted by staticbird on October 18, 2009 7:31 PM

  38. I would love to see a mass delete for email.  This is one of the areas where iPhone falls short of the Blackberry.  Also, now that we have Bluetooth, I would like to see a link with an external keyboard like Freedom.

    Posted by Don Arnold on October 18, 2009 8:23 PM

  39. Ability to slide the keyboad on the TOP half of the screen!

    When I am holding the iPhone securely, my thumb is naturally on top half of the screen. So to type, I have to twist my thumb and still blocking part of the upper screen. Or I could risk dropping the iPhone and hold only the lower half, not a good idea.

    Posted by Oliver Chung on October 19, 2009 1:53 AM

  40. 1-counter for SMS chars
    2-personalyze springboard, add labels,groups,type for installed apps
    3-widgets visible in lock-mode, like clock,n# of messages, weather ...

    Posted by facuz on October 19, 2009 2:59 AM

  41. Better camera. I love the rest.

    iPhone Photography Blog - http://www.kokovoko.info

    Posted by Jordi on October 19, 2009 3:17 AM

  42. FLASH!

    Posted by Richard Gere on October 19, 2009 5:53 AM

  43. Change mikrophone and speaker position. When playing a game in landscape mode, my hand always covers the speaker and it gets very quiet…

    Posted by Robson on October 19, 2009 6:40 AM

  44. 5 Megapixel camera with flash

    Posted by Geo on October 19, 2009 8:45 AM

  45. 1. Video-Phone/Webcam
    2. Flash

    Posted by Coffein on October 19, 2009 9:02 AM

  46. EXTERNAL KEYBOARD !

    Bluettooth Keyboard or wired keyboard. I don’t care. I just want one. NOW !

    My Palm Treo of five years ago had a beautiful foldable iGo detachable Bluetooth Keyboard.  I can get one for a Blackberry.  Why not for an iPHone?

    Posted by fred on October 19, 2009 9:59 AM

  47. flash.

    Posted by HoldenSF on October 19, 2009 11:48 AM

  48. Why are the only task management apps independent of Outlook?  Like thousands of others, I manage my life with Outlook—- including close tracking of my tasks.  Why can’t I sync those with my iPhone?  There are dozens of apps out there to manage tasks, but they do me no good when I already have everything else on Outlook.

    Posted by Jim on October 19, 2009 4:50 PM

  49. I would like to have a camera on the front for use with Skype or other such social networking programs.  Nothing fancy, or high resolution, just functional.

    Posted by Greg on October 19, 2009 5:09 PM

  50. SMS delivery report

    Posted by nportela on October 20, 2009 4:12 AM

  51. Unified/Universal Inbox

    Posted by Damian Vines on October 20, 2009 9:52 AM

  52. App Organizer
    The number of apps that I can access should not be limited by anything other than memory, and I would like to classify them for easy access.

    Posted by robert on October 20, 2009 12:47 PM

  53. Verizon Network

    Posted by beaky on October 20, 2009 12:48 PM

  54. show local temperature and weather condition on lock screen

    Posted by Dean on October 20, 2009 2:47 PM

  55. Four-directional arrows on the virtual keyboard to make it easy to move around and edit long emails.

    Posted by Sev on October 21, 2009 7:26 AM

  56. All audio apps should be able to play in the background like the iPod app does. And all reading apps—browsers, ebook readers—should have variable tilt auto-scroll.

    Posted by Mark on October 21, 2009 3:53 PM

  57. The ability to add pictures to the home screen without jailbreaking and using winterboard.

    Posted by Caesar on October 21, 2009 7:10 PM

  58. Make the backlight stay on in when plugged into the car power or when bluetooth is active but locks when not connected. I have to turn off the auto lock so the screen doesn’t turn off while using the GPS. I keep forgetting to lock it after normal portable use and I phone random people while it is in my pocket.Other phones do this so why not this one?

    Posted by Bob on October 21, 2009 7:21 PM

  59. Beef up the IPhone’s crippled bluetooth so we can type e-mails. etc using a real standard (bluetooth) keyboard…

    Posted by DG on October 21, 2009 10:01 PM

  60. More options for recurrence on calendar events, e.g. 2nd Thursday of each month. 4th Tuesday of every other month.

    Posted by Jonathan RF Cooke on October 22, 2009 8:52 AM

  61. I want functionality similar to Stacks, Categories or the new Orbit/Expose available as an Apple approved app or built into the iPhone OS.  I do not want to jailbreak my iPhone.  However, if I can not organize my apps in a fashion that works for me I will remain a disgruntled and frustrated customer.  Being able to move them through iTunes is great, but I need to be able to put them in folders or use thumbnails of some sort.  8 screens of apps is frustrating…

    Posted by Kim on October 22, 2009 1:37 PM

  62. Universal inbox +1
    Today screen
    More customization of look/feel like Winterboard

    Posted by David on October 22, 2009 9:53 PM

  63. I would want the mounted drive feature from iPods AND bring back the firewire connectivity. We’re not dealing with lightweight drives here. Everyone I know who could get the 3GS went for the 32gb model. Most people aren’t just pushing music to the iPhone they’re throwing videos, podcasts (audio & video), games and other misc. data.  Bring back the firewire and give me the mounted drive feature (without the need of hacks).

    Posted by RB on October 22, 2009 10:20 PM

  64. 1. Multitasking such as tom tom and email
    2. Linux connectivity I don’t want to use windows
    3. Customizing the interface like I want not as Steve Jobs says it “should be”
    4. Better camera 5-10 MP with flash

    Posted by Rachel on October 23, 2009 4:35 AM

  65. Flash and Apple Bluetooth Keyboard connectivity

    Posted by PeterSW on October 23, 2009 4:37 AM

  66. The main aspects that are missing from the iPhone/iPod Touch is the fact that you cannot back up save data from your games. This will hurt Apple in the long run and with more bigger games getting released this will only enforce this statement.

    They also need to address the issue of not being able to install one application, without updating everyone you have on the device first before installing via iTunes.

    Posted by Jason MacEachern on October 23, 2009 9:48 AM

  67. iphone users please take this survey for iphone/ipod touch study

    http://usc.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_56V4ScqwN9KTHzS&SVID=Prod

    Posted by mmmm on October 23, 2009 2:32 PM

  68. In-App Quick reply

    Posted by random on October 23, 2009 2:47 PM

  69. Application coverflow (non jailbreak)

    Posted by trick65 on October 23, 2009 5:19 PM

  70. Ability to customize and choose between notification profiles.

    Posted by Gil on October 24, 2009 7:33 AM

  71. Adding song to on-the-go or other playlist with one button push while its playing.
    Gee whatever happened to best iPod ever.
    external microphone Jack
    use of any bluetooth accessory

    Posted by Stewart Hart on October 24, 2009 9:42 PM

  72. d pad, one or two analog, start, select, 4 buttons, r and l.

    Posted by ben on October 26, 2009 4:10 AM

  73. EXTERNAL BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD !!!

    Posted by Fred on October 26, 2009 11:17 AM

  74. Haptic feedback either directly from screen component or via 4 actuators behind screen… and a front face camera either embedded in screen component or behind screen to retain real estate of device…

    Posted by Rob on October 26, 2009 10:16 PM

  75. A better wallpaper database would be great. I know it’s a simple request. I found a new blog that has great free original wallpaers for the iphone.
    www.useaswallpaper.com

    Posted by Roddney on October 27, 2009 3:41 PM

  76. I would like to be able to respond to MobilMe alias emails using the alias address rather than the main mobileme email address. Currently there is no way to do this on the iphone but you can on a computer. This makes the use of mobile me aliases almost useless.

    Posted by Bob on October 28, 2009 8:40 AM

  77. More iphone wallpaper options.

    I have to get mine from www.useaswallpaper.com
    (free original iphone wallpaper blog)

    Posted by Rodddney on October 28, 2009 10:04 AM

  78. 4.3 HD screen in the same form factor. The current screen is too small and low res. The iPhone hardware is so behind. Check out the HTC HD2. Also the interface needs a refresh. It is almost 3 years old. The iPhone OS should be called 1.3 not 3.0.

    Posted by Hled on October 28, 2009 3:39 PM

  79. Multitasking

    Posted by Larry De Paepe on October 28, 2009 5:16 PM

  80. There are a lot but 1. Ability to customize mgs. 2. Ability to organize apps into different catagories. 3. Ability to continue working while listening to radio. 4. Flash. 5. TV.
    Thanks,
    Scott S.

    Posted by Scott on October 29, 2009 10:19 AM

  81. Flash and one touch bluetooth switching.

    Posted by Mark on October 29, 2009 3:26 PM

  82. 1. Speech to text built in
    2. Google Voice

    Posted by Baxter on October 30, 2009 12:42 PM

  83. live TV

    Posted by bubbagump on November 1, 2009 7:45 AM

  84. Auto delivery receipt in SMS, without manually adding operator’s prompt

    Posted by George on November 2, 2009 5:16 AM

  85. Built in Document editing, tethering, ability to display the calendar as lock screen background, accept BB appointments

    Posted by Matt on November 3, 2009 8:43 AM

  86. The ability to mark mulitple messages as read. Hello!!???

    Posted by Matt on November 3, 2009 4:42 PM

  87. I would love to delete RECENT phone calls I do no longer want stored on my Iphone.

    Posted by Bill Morgan on November 4, 2009 11:10 AM

  88. I’d love for the browser to focus on web-kit only sites. I’ve been using http://m.seego.com/home for awhile now to find sites and web apps that are for iphone only.

    Posted by Chesire on November 4, 2009 11:40 AM

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