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| iPhone OS 3 | |
|---|---|
| Name | iPhone OS 3 |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
| Initial release | June 17, 2009 |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
| Supported platforms | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (initially iPhone, iPod Touch) |
| Preceded by | iPhone OS 2 |
| Succeeded by | iOS 4 |
iPhone OS 3
iPhone OS 3 was the third major release of Apple's mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in 2009 and unveiled alongside announcements related to the App Store, the release introduced several user-facing improvements and developer APIs that expanded capabilities for applications from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Adobe Systems, Facebook, and Twitter. The update positioned Apple against competitors like Google Android and hardware makers including HTC Corporation, Samsung Electronics, and Nokia during a period of rapid smartphone evolution.
The operating system built on the XNU kernel architecture used by Mac OS X Snow Leopard and leveraged technologies from Quartz and Core Animation to deliver system-level features that enhanced multimedia, networking, and input methods. Apple demonstrated integration with services and partners including AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Sprint Corporation for carrier features, and showcased improved support relevant to platforms like YouTube (service), iTunes Store, MobileMe, and enterprise solutions from IBM. The release cycle and marketing were managed by executives such as Steve Jobs, Phil Schiller, and engineering leads who had previously worked on projects tied to NeXTSTEP and the Macintosh line.
New features included a system-wide search feature akin to desktop search tools from Google Search and desktop functionality introduced in Mac OS X Leopard, messaging improvements reminiscent of services from BlackBerry Limited, and multimedia changes comparable to offerings from Sony Corporation and Samsung Electronics. The update added landscape keyboard support, MMS messaging compatible with carrier implementations like AT&T Mobility, and a unified copy-and-paste model inspired by text-editing paradigms used in software from Microsoft Corporation and Adobe Systems. Other enhancements touched on camera functions similar to devices from Nokia and Samsung, improved audio playback reflecting codec support used by companies such as Dolby Laboratories, and changes to the App Store policies influencing developers including Electronic Arts, Gameloft, and Rovio Entertainment.
The SDK introduced APIs for in-app purchases, allowing monetization models paralleling digital commerce platforms like Amazon (company) and subscription services modeled after offerings from Netflix (service). The addition of APIs for push notifications, location services tied to GPS modules used by vendors like Broadcom, and multimedia frameworks leveraged technologies from OpenGL ES used by Epic Games and Unity (game engine). Developer tools were distributed via Xcode updates and the Apple Developer portal, with guidance influenced by industry standards from organizations such as the Internet Engineering Task Force and multimedia standards bodies. Major software companies including Electronic Arts, Google, Adobe Systems, and indie developers adopted the SDK to create apps with new capabilities enabled by frameworks originally developed for Mac OS X.
Compatibility extended to several generations of iPhone and iPod Touch hardware produced by partners like Foxconn and suppliers such as Samsung Electronics and Toshiba Corporation for flash storage. System requirements reflected constraints of ARM-based processors similar to designs from ARM Holdings and memory limitations comparable to contemporary smartphones from HTC Corporation and LG Electronics. Carriers including AT&T, Verizon Communications, and international operators imposed firmware and activation processes influenced by regulatory agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission in the United States and telecommunication authorities in regions like the European Union.
The release timeline began with a developer preview at WWDC and proceeded to public release in June 2009, followed by incremental updates addressing bugs and compatibility issues encountered by large publishers such as Google and Microsoft. Legal and compliance matters occasionally intersected with carriers and regional laws, as seen in prior disputes involving device unlocking and firmware restrictions involving parties such as EMI Group and other media companies. Apple distributed updates through iTunes (software) and over-the-air mechanisms that later evolved in subsequent releases.
Reception from technology press and industry analysts at outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired (magazine) noted improvements but also critiqued limitations relative to competing platforms such as Android (operating system) and devices from Nokia and Motorola. Privacy and security researchers from institutions like Stanford University and companies including Kaspersky Lab and Symantec Corporation analyzed changes to messaging, networking, and application sandboxing. Developers raised concerns in forums and at conferences such as Google I/O and Mobile World Congress about API restrictions and App Store review policies enforced by Apple executives including Phil Schiller and teams within Apple Inc..
The release influenced subsequent versions of Apple's mobile platform, informing architectural decisions seen in releases by 2010 and later that brought multitasking, enhanced security, and enterprise features aligning with offerings from Microsoft Exchange and corporate deployments managed by VMware. It shaped developer expectations around monetization, in-app purchase models, and platform governance, impacting companies from Rovio Entertainment to Electronic Arts and enterprise adopters such as Deloitte and Accenture. The evolution that followed led to rebranding and platform consolidation by Apple, setting the stage for competition with ecosystems driven by Google Play and hardware innovations from Samsung Electronics and HTC Corporation.
Category:Apple software