For those of us lucky enough to have an Apple iPhone connecting us to the rest of the known world, here's a very special update, straight from Apple H.Q. itself - the arrival of a software update that gives the iPhone more features and functionality.

So, what does it do? Plenty! First off is that it updates the iPhone application Maps by giving it a new interface that's simpler, cleaner, and easier to get around in. It also gives it the new feature of being able to triangulate your exact position using nearby Wi-Fi base stations or cellular towers. Handy! There's also the new hybrid map function view, which combines map view and satellite view to give you a look at major street names while checking out the satellite imagery.

What else is there? Web Clips, that's what. Think of them as hotkeys that you can make on the iPhone's home screen. One press and they'll take you straight to your favorite websites, even to the spot where you last viewed it from. With this comes added home screen customization, which enables users to reposition any of the icons they want.

Another boon granted by the forces that be in Apple is the ability to send the same SMS text message to multiple recipients. Neat for those of us who want to keep everyone in our phone book updated.

Last but definitely not the least is the new iTunes Movie Rentals feature. iPhone owners can now transfer their rented movies (downloaded directly into their computers!) into their portable gadgets of next-gen communication and watch them on the go. Convenient.

Do note that iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only. Other than that, you can easily upgrade your iPhone's software to 1.1.3 by simply syncing with iTunes. Enjoy!