Apple iPhone OS 4.0 To Be Unveiled Later this Week

Apple just announced that it will take the wraps off iPhone OS 4.0 at a press event on April 8.

The email invitation reveals that there will be a "sneak peek of the next generation of iPhone OS software" with a number "4" prominently displayed, so there's little doubt that the successor to the current iPhone OS 3.2 is in the offing.

The iPhone OS is at the heart of Apple's smartphones, handhelds and its new tablet computer. System software upgrades for the current iPhone, iPod touch and iPad are generally expected. In addition, the iPhone HD, which unconfirmed reports will launch in May, will debut with this new version.

Multitasking at Last?
So far, Apple has kept very quiet about the features that will be included in the next version of its mobile operating system, but some details about it have leaked out already.

The most buzzed-about feature that will supposedly be part of iPhone OS 4.0 is multitasking. Currently, third-party apps can't run in the background and have to close when the user switches away from them - though it's likely that this limitation's days could be numbered.

The next version of Apple's OS will allegedly allow multiple apps of all kinds to run concurrently. Users will just double-click the Home button to bring up a screen showing icons for currently running applications. Tapping on one of them will bring that app to the fore.

Other Rumored Features
The iPhone HD will supposedly include a higher resolution screen than Apple's current smartphones or handhelds: 960 x 640 pixels, much more than the 320 x 480 pixels now in operation. If true, the operating system will have to be modified to support it.

There have also been unconfirmed reports that support for front-facing camera and video conferencing will be added to the iPhone OS, and some of Apple's devices, too.

Source: Engadget