iPhone 2.2 firmware details

Apple has given developers a taste of the new iPhone firmware, version 2.2 beta 2, and it includes a host of spiffy new features that are making the rounds online.

A tipster shared with us some screenshots of the new firmware, including what appears to be the ability to download podcasts directly to your iPhone (and presumably your iPod touch). This could tidily explain why Apple rejected the Podcaster app last month. The option to “get more episodes” doesn’t appear to work in this firmware build, however.

MacRumors’ Arnold Kim links to an iPhoneHellas.gr screenshot showing the iPhone software asking for a rating before you delete an application. Kim speculates Apple is looking to increase participation in the App Store rating process.

Om Malik’s Apple Blog is showing off screenshots from the iPhoneYap.com message boards, including new Maps functionality. Google Street View will apparently be available by rotating the device into landscape mode. Public transportation support and directions for walking also seem to be included.

In the same report, the Apple Blog’s David Appleyard also mentions location sharing via email and SDK support for manipulating line-in audio as part of the seed.

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Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI)

Advanced Host Controller InterfaceAHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) is present on newer Intel chipsets. AHCI mode is enabled in the BIOS where 3 settings are commonly available: IDE, AHCI, and RAID. The last two (AHCI and RAID) require a floppy disk with the driver that can be introduced into the operating system installation through F6. Otherwise, the hard disks won’t be detected.

AHCI mode has 3 main advantages:

  • Supports NCQ (Native Command Queuing) allowing SATA drives to accept more than one command at a time and dynamically reorder the commands for maximum efficiency.
  • Supports hot plugging of devices.
  • Supports staggered spin ups of multiple hard drives at boot time.

When it comes to performance, there really isn’t a big difference in using AHCI.

Note: If you installed Windows in IDE mode (which means that you didn’t use F6 and supply a driver disk), then simply changing the BIOS setting to AHCI mode and rebooting will cause Windows to fail and will require a repair install. Most people are advising to reinstall Windows if you want AHCI enabled. (More information on AHCI)

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