What's new in iPhone OS 3.1

You can’t have failed to hear that Apple had a little get-together last night – unless, of course, you don’t use Twitter, don’t watch the news or have spent the past 14 hours or so with a tin foil hat on your head.

New iPods – and the second coming of Jesus first public appearance of Steve Jobs in months aside, the event also saw the official launch of iPhone OS 3.1. So what’s new, and is it worth an upgrade?

The main featured additions seem to involve Apple’s clever ‘Genius’ recommendation system. Already a feature in later versions of iTunes, Genius on iPhone OS 3.1 will recommend you apps based on your appstore purchase/download history and, in conjunction with iTunes 9, turn your music library into mixes.

Also on the list for 3.1 is ringtones – and lots of them – over 30,000 in fact. Priced at $1.29 a pop, you can browse, preview and download them on a new ‘Ringtones’ section of iTunes 9.

Meanwhile there’s a whole heap of bug fixes and little changes over OS 3.0. Apple claim 3.1 brings improved syncing for iTunes and iPhoto content, better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when you’ve got Bluetooth switched on, anti-phishing warnings in Safari, improved Exchange calendar syncing, Bluetooth headset voice control for the 3Gs, and a few other bits and bobs along the way.

OS 3.1 is available now, and more details are on the Apple site here.