Note: iPhone OS 4 has been renamed as iOS 4 at the WWDC 10 event.
Finally Apple has unveiled the features of upcoming iPhone OS 4.0; and multitasking, which is the most demanded feature, is also included in the list.
More than 100 new features have been announced for users and more than 1500 APIs for developers. One hundred features are those which will come in the actual OS 4.0 and developers can explore a lot of new areas by using those 1500 APIs
Important features announced at the event are:
- Multitasking
- Create playlists
- 5X digital zoom
- Tap to focus video
- Places in photos
- iPod out
- Search sms/mms messages
- Home screen wallpapers
- File and mail delete search results
- Web search suggestions
- Bluetooth keyboards
- Spell check
- Persistent Wi-Fi connection (a issue in current OS, even in iPad)
- Gift Apps
- Birthday calendars
- Background audio
- VoIP
- Background locations
- More privacy features
- Folder to organize apps and games
- Drag and Drop for folder
- More space for apps
- iBooks
- iAd mobile advertising
- Push notifications (now user can get local notifications too and there is no need of Apple servers)
- Task completion notification
- Fast app switching
- Unified inbox
- The ability to open attachments with correspondence apps
- Fast inbox switching
- Threaded messaging
- Delightful iBook reader
- More….
Release Date:
This new OS 4.o will be released this summer for iPhone and iPod touch users, most probably at WWDC event.
No Multitasking for iPod 2nd generation and iPhone 3G:
iPhone 3G and iPod 2nd generation users will be able to update to this latest firmware but they will not be able to use multitasking feature.