The iPhone 2.0 software is out and by the news of servers failing under the load, it seems many iPhones are already running 2.0 just 24 after release.

So, what's there and what isn't there?

iPhone 2.0 Software Update

According to Steve Jobs, Apple has addressed every major corporate issue including price (even if the contracts for phone service more than make up for the subsidy of the device). To Mr Jobs credit, Apple did address the push email and calendars which actually make these features worthwhile for the first time. Google Maps has been updated and the Mail program has been enhanced plus there is finally a separate Address Book application for managing contacts.

The big news is obviously, the App Store.

Apple App Store

This important marketplace is likely going to add quite a bit to the bottom line for Apple, and really does introduce some of the most secure and reliable ways to install software on a phone that has ever been attempted.

But the App Store is not what this article is about.

I've noticed five things I had expected to have in this release are not there quite yet.

1. Full-screen web applications. We were supposed to be able to bookmark a web page and add it as an icon to the springboard (home screen) of the iPhone where instead of launching Safari, the iPhone would render that site full screen without the additional web browser controls which gives it more space and a more "application style feel"

2. Remote File Viewer. This feature idea was certainly not promised, but I felt like the iDisk, back-to-my-mac, and Cover Flow could merge into a remote file viewer where you can view, search and sort files that are on your home computer or iDisk and view them directly from iPhone via the network rather than viewing local storage.

3. Speech/Voice Reader. Mac OSX has a great voice system and a new voice called Alex that care read clearly and accurately. Why is this technology not already on the iPhone? Turn by turn navigation, reading your email to you, talking alerts and many other features could be enabled using this technology. It may be the software requires too much CPU power, but Apple makes 3D games run fast on iPhone, so I'd guess that's not an impenetrable barrier.

4. Voice Recognition. Again, many simple phones have the ability to associate words with contacts so you can dial the phone without your fingers, but how might this work on iPhone? Again, Mac OSX has the capacity to interact with any application via voice commands but the iPhone has yet to show any capacity in this regard. I wonder what keeps them?

5. Widgets. Apple has not made any mention if they would allow specialized widgets to be synchronized with your iPhone although it seems they have paved exactly such a path. With the App Store in place, it might just be a matter of time before you can select which stock widget you use, or load handy widgets from developers other than Apple. I can't think of any technical reason this would not be a simple process, so it seems Apple is either waiting, or simply doesn't like the idea for reasons I can't see.

So, there it is! Five things the iPhone 2.0 software does not have but should.

I have to say, the iPhone platform is amazing to develop for, I've already written a few apps and at least one is headed for the App Store later this month.

Perhaps the coolest App I've seen is both free and simple. It's called remote and it connects to your iTunes or AppleTV and acts as a remote control that really works well. If you use iTunes for your home stereo, as I do - then this one App will make the iPhone 2.0 update worthwhile!