What do you need to know about iPhone OS 4.0? Here you go:
Multitasking
- Pulls up a dock on the bottom of the screen when you double-click the home key. The dock displays all of your programs that are “running.”
- Programs aren’t really “running” in the background. Instead, Apple gives apps access to 7 actions to essentially multitask. These are: Background audio, VOIP, Background Location, Push notifications, Local notifications, Task completion and Fast app switching.
- Apps frozen still essentially, so when you boot them back up, it’ll return to normal state – great for games, I’d imagine.
- Background audio now allowed. Pandora runs in the background and can use iPod’s lock screen controls.
- VOIP good to go. You can leave on Skype and it acts just like a regular phone call, but with a red bar on the top when you navigate away from Skype.
- Task completion – finish uploading a photo to Flickr (per their example) but navigate away from the app
- Push notifications from apps – That Flickr reminder could in theory pop up if there’s a problem uploading a file.
Folders
- You can put apps in folders now to organize them. That way you can organize these folders with multiple items inside of them, giving you more room for more apps.
- Folders can be installed on the dock as well.
- The image of a folder contains smaller images of the apps inside.
- 2160 Total Apps available per phone
Wallpaper
- Background for all app screens, just like the iPad.
- Can be different for Lock screen and app screen
- Unified Inbox (thank god!)
- Multiple Exchange accounts allowed
- Follow threads by tapping on “>>” icon
- Fast inbox switching for going to a dedicated inbox if need be
- Open attachments with third party apps from the app store
iBooks
- Support for iPhone
- Wirelessly syncs books and bookmarks from iPad
Enterprise
- Mail encryption
- Wireless app distribution for local companies (You host the app on your server, distribute to clients)
- Exchange Server 2010
- SSL VPN Support
Game Center
- Social gaming network
- Invite friends, do matchmaking, leaderboards. Think XBox Live for the iPhone
iAd
- Mobile advertising for the iPhone OS
- A way to fund free apps, that is “better” than current models
- Jobs says that people spend 30 minutes in apps each day
- Apps are interactive and keep the user inside the app they’re currently in
- Apple hosts ads on their servers, does a 60/40 split (Developers get 60%)
- All coded in HTML5
- Tap the banner, and ad pulls up. Then click the “X” icon at the top left corner of the ad, and you’re back in the app
- Games, maps and videos can be in the ad, making it completely interactive
- In-ad purchasing as well
The Miscellaneous Stuff
- Bluetooth keyboards for iPhone
- Tap to focus for video
- Calendar access to developers
- In-app SMS (brilliant)
- Half-curl page transition – like in iBooks
Availability:
- iPhone 3GS and 3rd Gen iPod Touch get everything this summer
- iPhone 3G and 2nd Gen iPod Touch get some but not all features this summer (And they’re not including multitasking)
- iPad Fall 2010
