Launching Today: iOS 4.0

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 21 Jun 2010

UPDATE: iOS 4.0 is out. Here are the direct download links:
The iPhone 4.0 will officially be launched to the public on the 24th of June, so we have a few more days to wait. But the operating system that powers the device, iOS 4.0 (formerly iPhone OS 4.0) is being launched today, the 21st of June. The operating system is expected to be launched at roughly 8am-10am PDT. To use the iOS 4.0 you will need to get the latest iTunes version, iTunes 9.2.

Considering how many cool features the iOS 4.0 has, this is great news. Just to put things in perspective, this is what Apple said the iOS 4.0 will come with some 100 new features. Like the ones below:

Multitasking and app freezing
Double click the home button and a list of running apps is displayed. Select a running app to switch to it. Take Skype for example. In the past when you navigated away from Skype, the app would just quit. Now it can run in the background. You can switch to another app, then return.

Local notifications
Send notifications from one app on the iPhone to another app on the iPhone. Say you’re using an app, then switch to another. In the “another app” you will receive a notification that something is up in the first app. Take the Skype example above. When Skype is running in the background and you receive a call, you'll see a notification on the screen. A single tap is enough to take that call.

5x digital zoom
This one is self explanatory

App folders
Sort apps into folders. A folder is automatically created when you drag one app icon onto another. The folder is also named automatically – the name depends on the App Store category of that app.

Game center
A centralized gaming service that connects games to one another. This service will be rolled out by the end of the year. It is similar to the PSN or Xbox Live multiplayer network.

New Mail App
The new mail app features the following: unified inbox, fast inbox switching, multiple Exchange accounts, threaded messages.

iBooks
Ebook reader and ebook store – the same from the iPad.

Customizable backgrounds
Select the background your iPhone will use, just like jailbreakers have been able to do for quite some time.

Bluetooth keyboards
The iPhone OS 4.0 will support Bluetooth keyboards

New APIs
1500 new APIs


Latest News


Sony's 'Attack of the Blockbusters Sale' Slashes Prices in Half for a Ton of PS4 Games

17 Aug 2017

How Samsung's New T5 Compares to the Old T3 Portable SSD (Infographic)

17 Aug 2017

See all