Apple Details iPhone OS 4.0 FeaturesApple Details iPhone OS 4.0 Features

Apple gave the world a sneak peak at iPhone OS 4.0 today, and it is rich with new features. Of the 100 or so new features coming to the platform, Apple detailed how seven of them are going to impact the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The most important are multitasking, the unified inbox, and for enterprises, new device management tools.There weren't too many surprises from Apple today, and there surely were some disappointments. Apple introduced seven "tent pole" features for iPhone OS 4.0. These are large new features that encompass a number of smaller changes underneath. Let's look at each one individually.

Multitasking - The biggest request from iPhone users is the ability to multitask, and Apple delivered. Part of the new operating system includes a quick way to switch between applications without losing your spot in any of the open apps.

Apple explains, "These services include background audio, so apps like Pandora can play music in the background, and VoIP, so VoIP apps can receive a VoIP call even when the iPhone is asleep or the user is running other apps. iPhone OS 4 provides multitasking to third party apps while preserving battery life and foreground app performance, which has until now proved elusive on mobile devices."

Based on what Apple demonstrated today, I'd call it more like an advanced task manager or app switcher, but the end result is pretty much the same. Users will be able to stream Pandora while doing other tasks.

Better Background Support - Apple said that it has overhauled a number of systems that allow for background processes. For example, apps that make use of GPS can run in the background even if users change to a different application, all without losing their "spot." Example, you're using an iPhone for turn-by-turn directions and need to check an email while still on the road. Now you'll be able to without killing the nav app.

Apple also said that notifications are getting a significant update too, letting developers make better use of push notifications, as well as providing on-device notifications for task completion.

Perhaps the best thing about background support will be a much-improved Skype experience. As Skype on the iPhone works today, you can log in, make calls and have IM chats -- when the application is running. As soon as you clos it and return to the home page, you're logged out and Skype no longer works. Now it will. Skype can be left open and running in the background so users can make and receive Skype calls at any time.

Folders - Another interesting facet of the new OS will be the ability to organize apps into folders. Apple explains, "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," which the user can easily rename."

This will be great for people who download hundreds of apps to their phones. Personally, I won't really need it, as I have just a few screen's worth of apps installed on my phone, but I certainly understand the appeal. As a point of comparison, Windows Mobile, S60, BlackBerry OS, and Android all support folders today.

Email Improvements - For me, this is the most important new set of features for the iPhone. First, it will gain a unified inbox. That's key. It will also support threaded email conversations. Iv'e come to rely on that in Google's Gmail, which I consider to be one of its best features. It will also support multiple Exchange accounts, and faster switching beween email accounts. These are all much-needed features that are long overdue.

Enterprise Support - Apple is courting business users even more heavily by adding a number of critical enterprise features. The multiple Exchange support is a big one, but there were other surprises, such as SSL VPN support. That will let business users tunnel into back-end enterprise systems securely to access corporate data. That's great news. It also gives IT admins the ability to applications out over the wireless network to deployed iPhones, and perform updates. Very nice.

Apple says, "The new Mobile Device Management service can be integrated with third party servers to wirelessly configure, query and even wipe or lock managed iPhones, and iPhone OS 4 enables enterprises to securely host and wirelessly distribute their own in-house developed apps to employees. The new Data Protection feature uses a user's passcode as an encryption key to protect mail messages and attachments stored on the iPhone. iPhone OS 4 now provides the option to set a longer, more complex passcode, making iPhone and its data even more secure."

Game Center - Here's the proof that Apple is taking gaming seriously. As part of iPhone OS 4.0, the iPhone will support a more social gaming experience. Apple says, "Game Center 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 track achievements and compare high scores on a leader board. Apps created with GameKit APIs will work with Game Center, Apple's new social gaming network available to iPhone and iPod touch users later this year."

Wow. Social gaming on the iPhone? Did Apple just kick XBox 360 in the shin? Of course, it remains to be seen what developers will do with these tools, but it's obvious that Apple has high hopes.

iAd - Last but not least, Apple debuted its new mobile advertising platform. According to Apple, it doesn't really like the way ads work on the iPhone. It's true, they kind of suck. When you're playing a game, there's nothing worse than accidentally clicking on an in-game add that closes the game, opens the browser, and sticks you on a web-based ad.

Now, ads will be displayed in the application itself without taking users out of the app. Apple will host ans serve the ads, giving developers a 60% cut of the proceeds. Apple said that ads can be interactive, including in-app buying, and even display video.

Personally, I really don't want to have to interact with ads on my phone, but I understand that that's how the ecosystem works, especially if people want to use apps for free. We'll have to see just how well Apple pulls this one off.

While all that Apple demonstrated is exciting stuff, the company didn't speak about lock-screen changes at all. One of the biggest things users want changed about iPhone OS is improved lock-screen support. The iPhone needs to do a better job at informing users about unread SMS and email messages, missed calls, voicemails, etc., on the lock screen. Right now, there's no indication that that type of change is headed for iPhone OS 4.0.

According to Apple, iPhone OS 4.0 will be available to the iPhone this summer, and the iPad this fall.