TechMunch

So on Thursday, April 8, Apple formally announced the 4th iteration of the iPhone OS. iPhone OS 4.0 is the much needed update to the 3 year old mobile operating system that finally brings it up to par with all of the other smartphones in the market that have surpassed the iPhone in terms of features, but perhaps not usability.

In this release, which will be available to the public in ‘summer’, there are many new API tools for developers to use as well as over 100 new user features, which all are based around 7 ‘tentpoles’, as Steve Jobs called them during his presentation.

The user features include the use of folders to keep apps organized, new Enterprise features, “Game Center” (think Apple’s own XBox Live), interactive advertising, and the biggest change: multitasking.

Multitasking on the iPhone will be unlike the way any other company has done it before. Apple has completely scratched off the idea of a ‘task manager’, like that used on Windows computers or Android mobile devices. There is going to be no ‘task manager’ and apps won’t be fully running. Double tap the Home button and a dock of currently running apps will show up.

Developers will use 7 available multitasking services as APIs in their apps. These APIs will allow apps to have background audio, VOIP, background location, push notifications, local notifications, task completion, and fast app switching.

No more sluggish performance and confusing task managers. Multitasking for the rest of us.