Updating the firmware of your phone is always a good idea. In recent times, doing so has become much easier, with manufacturers using applications that run on your home PC, that allow you to easily update your device to the latest firmware, and in most cases you even retain your data, like settings, contacts, apps and so on.
To get the best out of your device, keeping it updated is essential, as it allows you to get the very best out of your phone over its lifetime. In the days of 24 month contracts, this becomes even more important.
Since its launch back in June 2007, Apple have released regular updates to their mobile phone operating system, which has offered increased functionality, and the latest announcement has brought together a few features that people have long been asking for, as announced this week at a press conference in the US.
Do more: Multi-tasking
One of the regular criticisms people have had of the iPhone is the lack of any serious multi tasking capability. Apple has long claimed that multi tasking isn’t really important to most people, and sales figures of the iPhone would seem to back this up. After all, Apple has sold over 50 million iPhones all without multitasking functionality, which is an amazing total.
One of the reasons Apple haven’t configured the iPhone for multitasking before now is due to the adverse effect having multiple tasks running at one time can have on a phone, which can make operation sluggish and bring battery life down. And they have a point, I’ve seen many people with BlackBerry devices for example, who had no idea that open applications were running in the background on their phone, slowing it down.
The way Apple are implementing multitasking is more like a clever way of app switching; by double tapping the home button, a task bar opens on the display, which you can flick through and select an app. The place you were at the last time you used that particular app will be saved, allowing you to continue as you were. You will also be able to utilise background audio services, voice over IP, background location, push notification and task completion. The inclusion of multitasking features that have been present on smartphones for a number of years now is a big step for the iPhone in moving from a feature phone to a real smartphone.
Getting organised: Folders
Another of the new features that will be included on iPhone OS 4.0 will be the ability to create folders, another long time feature found on other smartphone platforms. This will significantly increase the amount of apps that you will be able to store on your device, from a current limit of 180 to over 2,000!! With the amount of apps that are available in the Apple App Store, this is a real bonus.
Different folders can be created on the device where you will be able to store your apps, so instead of wiping through 10 screens trying to find the app you are looking for, you can just open a folder instead. The iPhone layout of multiple icons is starting to look a bit tired, so adding folders to the mix will help, but I can’t help thinking a whole new UI overhaul is on the cards in the near future.
Social multiplay: Game Center
Another of the new features OS 4.0 will bring to the iPhone is a Games Centre. The iPhone has a vast range of games available, and some of them are actually quite good! The number of titles available for the iPhone platform dwarfs those on the Sony PSP or Nintendo DSi, and Apple are appealing to developers that games on the iPhone platform is going to put them in touch with a vast number of users.
Anyone who has used service like Xbox Live or the Playstation Network are going to be familiar with the concept of the Games Centre; there will be buddy lists available, online leader boards for high scores and achievements that will allow you to unlock further features within the game. Matchmaking will allow you to find other players who are at a similar gaming level too, so you won’t always get hammered by more experienced game players.
Whether the service will be free or subscription based is yet to be confirmed, but it will be interesting to see how well the Games Centre works in comparison to the Windows Live Mobile service that will be launched on the new range of Windows Phone 7 devices that are scheduled for later this year.
Email organisation: Unified Inbox + Threads
And that is not all. Apple are also offering a new way of organising messages, with a unified inbox, ideal if you have more than one email account (because apparently people do…) The unified inbox will offer the option of threading conversations making it easier to follow the topic, and you can simply flick between inboxes too. Apple will also allow the option to connect to more than one Microsoft Exchange email account, and there are improvements to remote security which should enhance the appeal of the device to corporate users.
Inline with iPad: iBooks
During the press conference Apple were talking proudly about the recent release of the iPad, and how well the device has sold in recent days. One of the major points picked out about the iPad when *that* was announced was the option of being able to download and read books on the device. Due to the popularity of that service, via which thousands of iBooks have already been downloaded, Apple are bringing iBooks also to the iPhone platform, and will also include a free iBook with the service, which is that literary classic, Winnie the Pooh. Personally, I can’t wait!
Oh no! Adverts: iAds
The last major announcement by Apple regarding the new OS is something called iAd. Apple claim this will revolutionise the way ads are seen within applications, and at the same time earn them a nice 40% of any revenue earned via these ads. The whole concept of having an Ad service programmed directly into the operating system is an interesting concept, and it will be interesting to see how well developers are able to implement ads within the applications. Personally, obtrusive ads is one thing that will stop me using an app, so I can only hope that developers don’t instantly think that including ads is a sure way to increase revenue, for myself and many people I know it is a huge turn off. I’d rather pay a fee upfront for the application and keep the app ad free.
In Summary: iPhone OS 4.0
OS 4.0 is currently available to all application developers via the Apple developer website and Apple hope to roll out the update during the summer. However, unlike previous updates all the functionality will not be available to all iPhone users; owners of the original iPhone and iPhone 3G will lose out on multitasking, as the hardware is just not up to the job. However for all iPhone 3G S users and owners of the iPod Touch 3rd Generation should be able to enjoy all the enhancements.
It is good to see that Apple is continuing to work on their operating system, bringing new features to iPhone owners. Owners of S60 devices and Android handsets have long taken the moral high ground over the iPhone, whilst accepting the UI is friendly and simple to use the lack of any real smartphone capability has meant it is received in some quarters as little more than a toy.
These new updates bring the iPhone further into line with existing smartphone platforms, whilst retaining the iPhone usability. What will be interesting to see now are what hardware enhancements the new iPhone will offer when it is announced, probably in the summer to coincide with the new OS release. Perhaps a decent camera and full working Bluetooth would be a place to start. However it pans out, the smartphone wars are hotting up, and I’m certainly eager to see how it develops over the coming months.
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