Break out those trumpets and let’s hear that drum roll people, Apple’s OS 4.0 is here, well not exactly here, here, but it’s been officially announced, no scratch that… it’s been previewed. They’ve also released a beta version of the software to iPhone Developer Program members. It includes an updated Software Development Kit (SDK) with over 1,500 new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and over 100 new features that will be available to iPhone and iPod Touch users this summer. Here’s some more information on what’s on the OS 4.0 menu:
Multitasking –
It’s going to be grand as users will be able to have apps running even when the handset is in Sleep Mode. They even spoke about multitasking with third party apps while managing to preserve battery life and still allowing the foreground app to perform at its peak. Intriguing no! The UI looks really simple and why shouldn’t it be right? All you have to do is double tap the home button and Presto, the apps running in the back ground will be displayed at the bottom. Just click on the one you wish to use.
Here’s the catch though, OS 4.0 delivers a total of just seven new multitasking services that include:
* Background audio – Allows your app to play audio continuously. So customers can listen to your app while they surf the web, play games, and more.
* Voice over IP – Users can receive VoIP calls and have conversations while using another app and even receive calls when their phones are in asleep.
* Background location – Navigation apps can now continue to guide users who are listening to their iPods, or using other apps.
* Push notifications – Receive alerts from your remote servers even when your app isn’t running.
* Local notifications – Your app can now alert users of scheduled events and alarms in the background, no servers required.
* Task finishing – If your app is in mid-task and you nee to do something else, the app can now remain running to finish the task. Great for uploading and downloading data and getting other stuff done simultaneously.
* Fast app switching – Will allow users to leave your app and come right back to where you were when you left – no more reloading.
Folder creation –
You know how pages and pages of apps can be quite a pain and you’ll have to keep scrolling through all of them just to find the one you need? Well third party apps form the Jailbroken sector, allowing for the creation of folders so you could easily categorize your stuff. Now Apple’s got its Folder option so you can have much neater page views and possibly, instead of multiple pages, you’ll have just one, with a bunch of folders.
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It’s pretty simple to create folders, simply drag one app icon onto another, and a new folder is automatically created. The folder is automatically given a name based on the App Store category of that app, such as “Games”. These can be renamed if required.Users can also create and manage iPhone folders on their Mac or PC using iTunes 9.2. This has been a long time coming.
Access to iBooks –
For iPhone users jealous of the iPad’s new iBook book store and corresponding eBook reader, let go of your green feelings as OS 4.0 brings the iBook store to your hand held mobile device now. You can access and download your favorite titles right on the device. Of course, reading won’t be as convenient as on the iPad’s much larger screen, but I’m sure we’ll get by.
Game Center –
This is Apple’s new social gaming network that will soon be available for iPhone and iPod touch. It’s not fully ready just yet so you’ll have to be a little patient. If you’re an Apple iPhone user, that’ll come naturally now. At the event though, Apple did have a developer preview of Game Center, which contains a set of APIs that allows developers to create apps with the ability to invite friends to play a game, start a multiplayer game through matchmaking and even track achievements and compare high scores on a leader board. It’s an interesting concept and I’m quite looking forward to its official launch. That should make theiPhone’s gaming capabilities even more endearing.
