iPhone OS4.0 new firmware features

The new iPhone OS4.0 firmware was officially introduced by Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, and brought some new features with it today. The new features are said to be available through a firmware download this summer for iPhone 3, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 2nd, and 3rd generations. Of the 100+ new features that are going to be available, here are the most talked about:

• Multitasking: You will now be able to run background processes. For example, you will be able play Pandora while reading, surfing the internet, checking stock quotes, etc.
• Folder feature for apps: You won’t have to scroll through endless screens to find your apps now that you can organize apps into folders. Put games in one folder, social media apps in another, etc.
• Enhanced e-mail functions: If you have multiple email accounts, you can now see all of your email in one inbox dubbed the “unified inbox.” You can now have more than Microsoft Exchange account which is a huge benefit to the corporate users of the iPhone or those who use Google to sync their contacts, calendars, etc.
• Bookstore app availability: The same Bookstore app that comes with the new iPad will now be available to the iPhone.

By far, the most anticipated feature was the new multitasking ability and that’s where a lot of the issues and controversy lies. Multitasking doesn’t work with the non 3GS models probably due to the phone lacking the processing power to handle the tasks. And with the new multitasking ability, we have to read the waters lightly because it’s not 100% true multitasking.

Other iPhone issues:

• No official carriers other than AT&T
• No tethering
• No video chat
• No document folders

A lot of the features aren’t anything ground breaking but they’re new the iPhone but they are likely create a buzz. Remember when the iPhone got copy and paste? There was so much excitement about a feature that had been around in other devices for ages. To top it off, during today’s announcement, Jobs said, “We weren’t the first one to this, but I think we’ll be the best.” He hit the nail on the head with that quote. And even though they aren’t the first to introduce these new features, he is probably right in the later part of his statement of being the best.