Apple has unveiled the iPhone OS 3.1 update in the much-hyped It’s Only Rock and Rollevent in San Francisco on 9 September. Apple iPhone OS 3.1 update is now available as a free download for iPhone and iPod Touch ^[1] users.

Apple has incorporated GENIUSfunctionality to its App Store, which will recommend what apps, should the users could go for, on the basis apps that has been already installed on their device. This feature was first introduced in iTunes 8.

This could be useful for those who find it difficult to browse through a massive 75,000 apps to get the most useful applications. Apple has also managed to roll out Peer to Peer gaming, stero bluetooth and Spotlight Search.

In addition, the company announced that the iPhone users will now be able to download ringtones directly from its Apps store. Along the same line, Apple will make around 30,000 ringtones available at the time of launch, with each ringtone priced at $1.29.

New Features In Apple iPhone OS 3.1

• Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos
• iTunes U content organization
• Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store
• Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store
• Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
• Option to “Save as new clip” when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS
• Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on
• Remotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMe
• Use Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets
• Paste phone numbers into the keypad
• Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS
• Antiphishing Warnings for fraudulent websites in Safari
• Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling
• Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly
• Genius Recommendations for Apps
• Genius Mixes
• Download Ringtones Wirelessly
• Organize Apps in iTunes
• Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos
• Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll

The iPod Touch ^[1] owners who haven’t updated their devices with iPhone 3.0 update can now buy it for $4.45 (Rs. 214 approx.), slashed down from the earlier $9.95 (Rs. 480 approx.). And after that, the iPhone OS 3.1.1 update can be downloaded for free.

You can download & then install the new OS 3.1 by clicking on Check For Updatebutton right from the iTunes software. Make sure you have the latest iTunes 9 installed in order to upgrade the OS to 3.1.