iPhone 4.0 revealed

[travelin cat]

Steve Jobs had a developers conference today in San Francisco to reveal the new features of the 4.0 iPhone OS.

Some of the new features include:

Multitasking: It's here, finally. It's handled with a simple task switcher: double click your home button, and you get a list of running apps. Select, switch, done. Multitasking is limited to seven features, including audio and VoIP backgrounding.

Custom Backgrounds: Now you can choose a persistent background for your iPhone—not just for the homescreen.

New developer APIs: 5x digital zoom, sync IMAP notes, tap to focus video, places in Photos, home screen wallpaper (like iPad), iPod Out (wha?), Web search suggesetions, Bluetooth keyboards (!), file and delete mail search results, cell data only setting, larger fonts for mail, SMS and alerts, Choose image size in mail messages, wake on wireless, and a few more.

Gizmodo will be updating their site with details. [gizmodo.com]

[limbo]

Woot!

Been a bugbear of just about every iPhone user I know this.

About timeo.

[travelin cat]

Folders for your Apps! Now you can have all of your related apps in one place. Just click on the folder icon to reveal the apps.

Also, Bluetooth keyboard support!

A new mail app with unified mailboxes, pick up all of your email accounts in one place.

[StoutFiles]

Wish it was coming out now, summer is still a ways off.

[albo]

Looking forward to what "folder" means... sounds rather vague. I suspect it's not strictly analogous to the hierarchical file access for which I was hoping.

[weeks]

This week our Travelin Cat advised you to wait to get your iPad. His wisdom is proven already...

The iPad won't get the 4.0 upgrade until Fall of this year, a few months after the iPhone does. So, you'll be able to multitask on your dinky little iPhone before you'll be even be able to listen to Pandora and check your email at the same time on your giant iPad.

[travelin cat]

Albo,

Lets say you have 10 gaming apps, they take up 10 icons on your screen. If you create a folder, and call it "Games", you can then add all of your games in to this folder. Doing this created an icon called "Games" and all of the game icons will not be on the desktop. If you click on this icon, all of your games will be revealed in a nice compact format.

[maximillianos]

Great, I like the line about my 2G (Edge) iPhone:

The iPhone 2G will be left on a hillside somewhere to die of exposure, or something.

Guess they are telling me to get a new phone...

[kapow]

What do you mean by "iPod out"?
Any sign of support for Flash?

[physics]

Wow, did they invent the mouse also? Seriously, too little too late. I loved my iPhone when I got it but recently switched to the Droid because of the Verizon network and have loved it. The only reasons I miss my iPhone are because I also have a MacBook Pro and liked the way address book and calendar synced - and because I love the iTunes functionality of the iPhone. So... easy solution to these problems - I now just use my iPhone for playing music and audiobooks and a couple of the apps. Basically my iPhone is an iPad Mini :p

[maximillianos]

My theory on the whole "Flash" issue is that Apple does not want to allow Flash for control reasons. Flash apps are essentially fully functional applications that can do streaming (of video, tv, you name it) all without the approval of the Apple App store team.

Smart phones have supported Flash for years. This isn't a technical issue. It is a control issue.

I kind of think they are also pulling the wool over our eyes with this 4.0 upgrade not being that helpful to older phones. Common, no multitasking on 3G phones? You can't go back one version for that? I get the feeling they are looking to sell some more phones.

[travelin cat]

kapow, not sure about iPod out, but there will never be flash on an iPhone. Apple is behind HTML5 in fact many of the aps he demoed were using HTML5.

There has been a lot of debate behind the reasoning for Apple not allowing Flash, the main one (I believe) is that it is a resource hog and thus kills battery life.

As evidence of this, open up Activity Monitor on your Mac and make sure "CPU" is selected on the bottom. Now go to youtube or any other site with flash and play a video. You'll notice that CPU usage goes up significantly. This drains batteries, and as we all know, you can not swap batteries on an iPhone.

Apple's recent reasoning was that Flash causes too many crashes, I have no proof of this.

[edited by: travelin_cat at 10:25 pm (utc) on Apr 8, 2010]

[sid786]

When asked to Steve about the Flash and Java support. His answer was a simple 'NO'.

[ByronM]

The only reason iphone/ipad won't have flash is because it would mean the ability to run apps without the itunes ecosystem. its not because of cpu or anything like that.. most modern phones are running 1ghz+ with gpu capabilities and an optimized flash for that hardware is easy to do.

[thegreatpretender]

Wow! no more jailbreaking to have to those features!

[Harry]

It's not real multitasking and it's a cumbersome process to move from an app to an app. All this thing does is freeze the process and continue where it left off when you're back within the app. Real multitasking means the process continues in the background. For example, a Web page continues to download even if you switched app.

The only mobile OS that does multitasking well and easily is Palm's webOS. Nothing beats the card interface and knowing exactly what's running in the background at any time.

With the recently opened apps thing, it could include apps that were shut down and some process will run in the background without the user being able to terminate them easily and quickly like they can on a Palm webOS phone.

[StoutFiles]

It's not real multitasking and it's a cumbersome process to move from an app to an app. All this thing does is freeze the process and continue where it left off when you're back within the app. Real multitasking means the process continues in the background. For example, a Web page continues to download even if you switched app.

They proved that Pandora runs in the background while you use other apps, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

[Harry]

@traveling Cat - Flash is not a memory hog. Apple just wants to promote its own video format over Adobe's FLV used in Flash. Apple and other companies like Google are all trying to get their own codec as the default one to be used in the video format to be adopted for HTML5. It's all about money and not performance.

Flash is not a memory hog - no more than any other type of process or app. Apple is playing dirty on the Mac platform by stopping Flash from using the video card of their computers and then it claims that Flash does not work properly on a Mac and says it's Adobe's fault.

Microsoft allows Adobe access to the video card, even if it's trying to push Silverlight. Flash on a PC runs faster because it can use the video card. Tests have been done with Flash using a video card on a Mac and it's as fast as on a PC.

The real reason Flash is being kicked in between the legs by Apple and Steve Jobs is about money. Someone needs to start studying anti-trust issues with Apple and fast.

[Harry]

@StoutFiles it's not real multitaking and that demo is not a proof. They allow a few specific types of feed to continue in the background but that's it. Try to run your Skype messenging and chat app and receive new messages while you're using Google map and you'll see what multitasking really means. You won't get anything. This is something that has been already verified and discussed to death (already) by serious tech and mobile sites. Do some research and you'll see it.

Apple's solution is not real multitasking. Android actually uses something similar, but it's not multitasking either. Real multitasking means ANY app will continue to update and work while the lead one in the screen operates.

Here's a quote from one of those site that actually understands this stuff.

"What Apple is doing instead of 'true' multitasking is offering seven different OS-level services that apps can take advantage of in lieu of actually running in the background: audio, VOIP, location, push notifications, local notifications, task finishing, and fast app switching. To switch to a recently opened app, you double-tap the home button and a dock of your recent apps pops up."

Precentral

"the apps don't need to do them individually, so it's not a "true" multitasking system"

From Engeadget

[JS_Harris]

It's so nice not to be reliant on an app collection to feel good, I think I'll stay iphone free a little while longer.

[bouncybunny]

Why on earth is there all this hang wringing about multi-tasking? What does anyone want to do on an iPhone that involves multi-tasking?

Apart from listening to music from internet radio, which I would like, I am struggling to see any benefit in this. The downside is, of course, that some people will leave seven apps open at once and suffer memory issues.

[Syzygy]

The following 2 messages were cut out to new thread by engine. New thread at: macintosh_webmaster/4112933.htm [webmasterworld.com]
3:02 pm on Apr 9, 2010 <small>(utc +1)</small>

[edited by: engine at 2:05 pm (utc) on Apr 9, 2010]

[blend27]

Why on earth

Cause they are tryin' to reincarnate the Advanced user in inner you or me or the plumber that is out of Soldering wire. And they think it is simply iCool.

What’s left? The dishwasher liquid bubbles displaying 20% off on t-paper brand that advises you to use bouth sides.

[Harry]

@bouncybunny if you don't know what multitasking means for ease of use on your mobile, then you must not be a power user.

With my Palm webOS device, I can start typing an email reply, search for an address from Google Map to insert in the email I'm writing, search previous emails messages while not losing the new email response I'm writing to copy and paste more info I need, while answering a sms messages that just popped, now, I get a phone call from a friend at the same time, and I can answer that phone call without losing anything I was doing before. In fact, with my Palm Pre, I can put my phone on speaker phone and continue writing my email while talking on the phone, and responding to the sms message ALL at the same time.

Now, I doubt that iPhone OS 4.0 will allow that much multitasking. No other platform makes it easy to work on your phone anywhere at anytime as easily as you would on your computer. Oh, and did I mentioned that the Palm Pre can open more than 50 apps, including 3D games all at once - no other mobile os can do that, none - [youtube.com...]

[Harry]

And when webOS arrives to AT&T in May or June, multitasking will go to another level thanks to the GSM network. While talking on the phone with a buddy and answering my girlfriend's sms, I'll be able to upload a video on YouTube which I just captured and edited with my Palm device, update my Facebook status while continuing my Google Map search, then going through my image app to change my default desktop pic ALL at once.

[hutcheson]

>I suspect it's not strictly analogous to the hierarchical file access for which I was hoping.

You're probably right. However, you are probably deep in a small minority on this issue. (I'll happily join you there...but most phone users don't feel the need for taxonomic hierarchies like us old programmers (or librarians or zoologists.)

[bouncybunny]

. @bouncybunny if you don't know what multitasking means for ease of use on your mobile, then you must not be a power user.

Perhaps. Although, I can do most/all of those things at the same time on the iPhone without multitasking. Just flip in and out between apps. Not that I can ever be bothered to. (As I type this, I've got a half finished email ready to complete, iTunes is playing and I can take a call on speakerphone any time I like).

The point, however, is that 99% of users will not even think to do any of those things. The only people screaming out for multi tasking are techie journalists who seem to feel
that it simply ought to be there. The same people who won't buy iPods because they won't play some obscure music file format.

All of which is fine. That why Linux driven devices with complex interfaces exist. Fully featured, but horrible to use for most non techies.

I don't think Apple are playing the same game. They target devices at a 'populist' demographic and seem to know what their customers want. Ease of use, good design and style.

[Harry]

@bouncybunny you don't get it. First, you can't do all of that on an iPhone. You just can't (4.0 will help a bit though).

And what I describe is not geeky behavior while using a phone. It's what normal people do on a computer. You have your email client opened, Word, a browser with a couple of tabs and maybe Excel and you're on Skype at the same time. That's how everyone work. You don't have to be a techie. Most people use more than one program at the same time and move data from one to the other.

On an iPhone this is an extremely painful process - I know had one too. You could not copy and paste stuff from a Webpage seamlessly. You have to hit the home button which effectively shuts the app, open the second app, copy the stuff, go back to the app, find the draft email message if it was even saved, and then go on. If you're speaking to someone on Skype, you can't send them a link in the chat window because you'd have to pull out of Skype, effectively ending the voip call, find the link, fire up Skype, paste the link and then call your friend again. That limitation has happened time and time again on my old iPhone and it's not productive. That's why Jobs feels obliged to add multitasking support (although in a very limited way) in 4.0.

People who say multitasking is overrated, just don't understand how people use their devices and are probably the types who thinks Apple gets everything right and they know better. Well, they don't.

With my Palm Pre, I can do all of the stuff above without batting an eye. I don't have to shut down apps to use other ones. And webOS does it better than any other mobile OS right now, including Maemo.

The webOS interface has been celebrated and acknowledged as the best of any mobile device ever. It's the type of interface Apple should have made. It uses gestures within the screen but also has a gesture area outside the screen which enables a universal back button like gesture, a forward gesture, a quick swipe app and a lot more. In fact the interface is very Mac-like with the status drag bar that feels the same as on a Mac. And on top of that, it includes all the typical double taps, multi-touch, accelerometer and zoom features of an iPhone.

The OS does multi-threading well. But don't take my word for it. The entire tech review industry agrees it's the best mobile os currently on the market and that doing something better than that is difficult.

webOS is quite capable of being used by the general public. I'm not sure Verizon would have targeted moms and women in their campaign if it was too geeky and obscure for moms to use it. It's simpler than a Blackberry!

[StoutFiles]

The webOS interface has been celebrated and acknowledged as the best of any mobile device ever. It's the type of interface Apple should have made. It uses gestures within the screen but also has a gesture area outside the screen which enables a universal back button like gesture, a forward gesture, a quick swipe app and a lot more. In fact the interface is very Mac-like with the status drag bar that feels the same as on a Mac. And on top of that, it includes all the typical double taps, multi-touch, accelerometer and zoom features of an iPhone.

By who? Palm might have the best phone ever, but if they can't market it as such it's going to die. Just look at their 1st quarter earnings report.

If this phone is so great why don't they get out there and tell people? Why don't they compare their phone in a commercial to the other top phones?

[bouncybunny]

@bouncybunny you don't get it. First, you can't do all of that on an iPhone.

Well, I just did it, so it must be possible. I may have to close each app at a time, but when I go back to it, my half typed email is still there, my web page form is where I left it and so on. It does everything it needs to. It may not be as fast as switching between open apps, but so be it (and OS 4 will fix this, so job done). The only advantage to me of multi-tasking would be the ability to play music from internet radio stations and so on in the background.

Look, either way, I'm not really after a features debate. It's great that you like the Palm Pre and that it does what you want. I'm sure the Pre is a decent phone. But it clearly doesn't offer what an iPhone does to enough people.

Most of the things that you talk about are done by a tiny minority of the smartphone target market. And I'm sorry, but if you even know what multi-tasking means, then you (and me) are techies. ;) What we think is easy to use, is not for 95% of the population (you know, those people who have never even used the right button of a PC mouse).

We are a tiny minority who even know what this stuff means, let alone use it. I use it on a Mac when I leave a 3D package rendering in the background, whilst I use Photoshop and wait for some large software update files to download. Multi-tasking is great for that. But on a phone? Who gives a stuff? Practically no-one. Apple know this. They are hardly slouches when it comes to introducing new technology into the market. They will have done the research and usability studies and targeted the product appropriately.

Look, whatever you think about Apple, people generally love their products. Simplicity, ease of use and elegance. People love their iPhones. They buy expensive covers for them and screen protectors. They clean them and buy little knitted socks for them. No-one does with with a Nokia or a Palm Pre. It's a different market.