iPhone 2.2 firmware is available now via iTunes, just click “Check for Update” to update your iPhone. The update is free for all iPhone owners. iPod Touch owners gets this free too provided you have version 2.0 or higher firmware, else $9.95 will be levied.

Here’s a couple of sweet features which you might find interesting:

Google Street View

Navigation on Google’s street view is extremely smooth, overall it’s a great experience, if only we can see street views in all countries and areas. Here’s some screenshots taken from my iPhone of New York’s 5th avenue and SOHO.

New York 5th Avenue (Apple store blocked by UPS truck!)

SOHO

You’re now able to share location via email

Direct Podcast downloads from iPhone’s iTunes Store

Podcast downloads is just like buying tunes from the iTunes Store except that it’s free. Once a Podcast finishes its download, you’ll have to close iTunes store and navigate to your iPod app to view it. I only wish the interface triggers a prompt to ask me if I want to play my downloaded Podcast immediately just like the Apple TV does whenever my movie is ready to watch. But still, I can’t ask for more for now.

The new Podcast screen

All the “FREE” download buttons are delicious

New Safari screen

The new Safari screen brings the Google Search box onto the main address bar. Even though the address bar becomes shorter in width, adding Google Search box to the address bar will certainly save you time in the long run, especially if you search alot on your iPhone.

Other than the user inteface improvement, the stability and performance have also been improved. This will take daily surfing to be able to tell.   

New Safari User Interface

Home Screen Shortcut

Pressing the Home screen on any screen will return you to your home screen. I don’t have to swipe all the way from the 8th page to the first page now, thanks to this new feature. Maybe I am asking for more, but being able to add more than 8 pages will be welcomed.

Other improvements

Other improvements include decrease in drop calls and call failures. Amongst the above mentioned features, here’s the complete list of updates taken from the release notes on Apple’s software update information website.

• Enhancements to Maps
• Google Street View*
• Public transit and walking directions
• Display address of dropped pins
• Share location via email
• Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls
• Enhancements to Mail
• Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
• Improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages
• Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

*Update

Updating an app directly on the iPhone brings you directly to the original position of the app being updated. 

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