
Apple made mention that some developers, when updating to iPhone 3.0 Beta 5, might experience problems connecting to AT&T’s data network. Apple asked any devs so affected to contact them, and one dev who had the problem called in and let us know what Apple told him:
Apple just called me back, had me turn the phone off then back on. Then turn the wifi off and try it and it seems to be back to working. Thaaaank you apple.
Thanks indeed! If you’re experiencing similar problems, you might want to try the above. If that doesn’t work for you, however, get on the phone with Apple asap.
(Thanks Josh for the tip!)

More new finds in iPhone 3.0 Beta 5: it seems like those Restriction Settings — allowing parental control over apps based on ratings — we heard rumored in the wake of Reznor-gate have been surfaced in the latest beta.
Options include:
- Don’t Allow Apps
- 4+
- 9+
- 12+
- 17+
- Allow All Apps
It’s still unknown, however, whether Apple will take it upon themselves to determine ratings, leave it up to developers, or use a hybrid model where devs pick a rating and Apple approves or returns it for re-rating.
Regardless, we hope — when it’s finally released to the public this summer — it puts an end to the sillier rejections we’ve seen.

Looks like iPhone 3.0 Beta 5 doth giveth a little as well. That tiny email icon present in the top navigation bar of podcasts was decorative only until Beta 4, when it began to allow you to email the iTunes Store link for a friend for any podcast you’d downloaded over-the-air (at least for some it did). Now, with Beta 5, that tiny email icon is powered up and working for podcasts synced over via iTunes as well.
Earth shattering? No. But if you’re enjoying a great episode of Phone different, GDGT, TWiT, YLNT, or whatever else floats your audio boat, and you want to give a friend easy access to equal entertainment, it’s certainly a great convenience.
[Thanks anon for the tip!]
Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 by Rene Ritchie
File Under:News; Tags: 3.0, 8.2, carrier file, iphone 3.0, iphone OS 3.0, itunes 8.2, lock down, mms, tethering

Along with iPhone 3.0 Beta 5, which appears to hide away MMS functionality for AT&T, Apple also seeded the second pre-release version of iTunes 8.2, which looks like it blocks editing of the iPhone carrier file. In previous beta releases, developers were able to use the carrier file to enable tethering, something built into iPhone 3.0 by Apple but entirely dependent on as-yet-not-given carrier approval.
Did AT&T ask for the new lockdown? Perhaps the MMS stripping as well? Nothing but speculation so far…
(Thanks Andrew for the tip!)


UPDATE 3: Pretty much confirmed now. No more MMS for AT&T. Also, iTunes 8.2 Pre-Release 2 blocks editing of the carrier file. No more tethering.
UPDATE 2: Received this: “eems as if they stopped people from being able to tether and get mms by altering the carrier settings… people who changed theirs at the start can no longer access it..” Let us know what you’re experiencing with MMS on Beta 5.
UPDATE 1: This may only happen for those doing clean installs (not restoring from a previous backup) so if MMS is vital to your iPhone 3.0 dev work, that may be the route you want to go for now.
We’re getting some early reports that iPhone 3.0 Beta 5 now hides MMS functionality from AT&T users (see Beta 4 and 5 comparison pics, above). Previously, buttons and settings for MMS were present, though not enabled by default, though hacks allowed MMS to be turned on for AT&). Now, however, all visible signs appear to be gone, and it’s too early to tell if hacks may still re-surface and re-enable them.
Anyone else seeing this?
Note: iPhone 3.0, MMS was never surfaced on some carriers like Rogers (Canada).

Apple has just released iPhone 3.0 Beta 5 to developers, a scant week-and-a-day after Beta 4. Previously Beta 2 and Beta 3 had been arriving every second Tuesday like clockwork, so was is this a sign of acceleration pre-WWDC, important fixes that needed pushing out faster, or just an early surprise for developers anxious to keep up to date?
Update: amrusch2 in our forums points out this “early” release could be in anticipation of the OS X 10.5.7 Leopard update rumored to be on track for this Friday. Compatibility update perhaps?
Get it via http://developer.apple.com/iphone/
(Via shutter in our forums)

Not sure if this is new to Beta 4, or if it appeared earlier in iPhone 3.0, but it’s the first we’ve seen of it so we’re passing it along. What is it exactly? Simply go to Contacts, pick a name, and then swipe to call up the red “Delete” button that we all know and love from Email and other, previous apps going all the way back to iPhone 1.x.
Nice way to speed up removing unwanted or outdated information. Thanks Apple!
(And thanks Adam for the tip!)

Did iPhone 3.0 Beta 4 refresh the dictionary behind predictive text? Based on a few emails we’ve gotten it looks like Apple might just have altered — hopefully expanded and improved — the engine that tries to make multi-touch typing just automagically work.
Let us know if you’ve seen anything different in beta 4.
[Thanks Adam!]

TiPb predicted an iPhone HD way back in October of last year. We’ve also covered the idea that iPhone 3.0, perhaps only in conjunction with new hardware, will finally give us some much-wanted video-shooting, editing, and sharing goodness. Business Week, however, amid worrying about Hulu and iTunes, snuck in this little nugget about both of the above:
A person familiar with Apple’s plans says it’s simple to record and edit stunningly sharp video with the device—and then wirelessly send it to friends with a few clicks or watch it on the phone’s improved screen.
Okay, so maybe they’re just fixing the color temperature again. Maybe they’re going OLED. Or maybe we really will see an 800×480 iPhone HD announced at WWDC? Can June seem any further away?!

We’ve mentioned previously how iPhone 3.0 Beta 4 enabled an App Store tab in Preferences for managing and switching between iTunes Accounts. Looks like this feature is also available directly from the App Store application itself.
Scroll down to the bottom of a main page (i.e. before you’ve selected a specific app to look at) and you’ll find a button containing your account user ID.
Tap on the button and you’ll be given options to View Account, Sign Out, or Cancel.
Much more convenient than having to exit, launch Settings, navigate, switch accounts, go back…
Thanks Apple! More screenshots after the break…
(And thanks Roberto for the tip!)
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