D. JonesLove Them Apples! iPhone OS 4 Sneak Preview Review!
April 9th 2010 08:00
Apple gave iPhone users and developers a sneak preview of the next major version of the iPhone operating system on Thursday, April 8. "We weren't the first to this party, but we're going to be the best," Apple CEO Steve Jobs declared Thursday, as bloggers, software developers and others in the audience greeted the news of such "multitasking" with applause. (Heard around the world, I'm sure!) Multitasking capabilities, changes to the mail application, and a built-in advertising system highlight the features that make up iPhone OS 4.0. "It really changes the way you use the iPhone," Jobs said. "You're bouncing around the apps with tremendous fluidity." Jobs said the company waited so long because it wanted to offer multitasking in a way that didn't drain the iPhone's battery or reduce the phone's performance (IF that's true, that was VERY smart!)
In demonstrating the feature, Jobs double-tapped on the iPhone's main button while playing a game to reveal a row of icons for other programs that were quietly running in the background and accessible with a finger tap (Sounds way cool!) Developers could get their hands on a preview of the 4.0 update on Thursday. Users will have to wait until at least the summer (RATS!) When the iPhone 4.0 update ships, iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod touch users will be able to take advantage of all the features, while second-generation iPod touch and iPhone 3G models will only support some of the update’s enhancements (Translation: Buy a NEW phone! Caveman!) iPhone 4.0 won’t be available for the newly released iPad until the fall (Double RATS!)
When the iPhone 4.0 update does arrive, it will introduce 1,500 new application programming interfaces (APIs) for developers and more than 100 new user features, including playlist creation, 5x digital zoom in the camera app, tap-to-focus for video, auto photo-geotagging, and support for Bluetooth keyboards. But during Thursday’s preview, Apple focused on seven new aspect that it called “tentpole” features: multitasking, folders, mail improvements, iBooks for the iPhone, enhancements for business users, a social gaming network, and iAd. As for iAds, that’s Apple’s new advertising platform designed specifically for the iPhone OS. iAd allows developers to include ads directly into their apps; the ads, written using the HTML5 standard, are designed to provide a rich promotional environment, complete with what are essentially mini apps-inside-the-app (Who needs this, exactly?)
The explanation given for this app was this: "A lot of the apps on the device are free, or 99 cents, or $1.99. And we like that. Users like that. But these developers have to find a way to make some money. And we'd like to help them. What some developers are starting to do is put advertising in their apps, and we think most of this mobile advertising really sucks. And we thought we could make some contributions. This is what this is all about. Helping our developers make some money in advertising so they can keep their free apps free." Apple says it'll split ad revenue with advertisers 60-40, with Apple keeping the 40-percent cut. (Isn't that nice? There are willing to SHARE the wealth!)
While the iPhone OS took center stage during Thursday’s live event, Apple also briefly addressed the iPad, noting that it’s sold 450,000 devices since the tablet went on sale less than a week ago (Wow! Almost half a mil!) Jobs said, "Best buy is sold out, we're making them as fast as we can, our ramp is going well, but we're going to have to try harder." (to make enough of them) The iPad is also driving growth in the App Store, users downloaded 1 million iPad apps in the first 24 hours (Wow, it's a wonder the system didn't crash!) Jobs said, "We were just thrilled with this." (I just BET! Do I hear the O'Jay's song, "For the love of money," playing in the background?)
And as of Thursday, consumers have downloaded over 3.5 million with the total number of downloads from the store passing the 4 billion mark. Additionally, over 600K iBooks downloaded through Thursday. Despite all the upgrades, what we didn't get was, no flash support (just "no," Jobs reportedly said). No status-bar notifications for new email or SMS messages (which already exist on WebOS and Android phones). And no mention at all of an iPhone for Verizon (Sorry, Ivan!) Generally speaking, the consumer got most of the items on their "wishlist!" But BUYING all of this technology just might lead to the following cartoon:
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