iPhone OS 4.0 Brings Multitasking, Ad Framework For Apps

Low Ranked Craig writes "Apple had an event today to show off the next major update to the iPhone OS. iPhone OS 4.0 should arrive this summer (presumably with a new iPhone) for iPhone and iPod Touch, and in the fall for the iPad. According to Apple the update has more than 1,500 new APIs and 100 new features including the sorely missed multitasking. Other highlights include unified inbox, improved security, support for multiple Exchange accounts, application folders, iBooks, and iAd, an advertising framework for developers to put ads in their applications. The official word from Steve on Flash and Java remains a simple 'No.'" Updated 20100408 22:09 GMT by timothy: Read on for more information, including some bad news if you want to program for the iPhone in C# or Flash CS5.

alphadogg points out some what he calls surprise capabilities targeted at enterprise users and IT departments, including e-mail encryption and "mobile device management."

And CWmike adds more infomation at MacWorld about iAd, which he considers the biggest news in today’s announcement, writing that one way to look at the new advertising hooks "is that Apple can now leverage the App Store/iTunes ‘ecosystem’ lock-in in effect, and deliver to advertisers a huge captive audience."

Finally, binarylarry writes with a look from Daring Fireball at the new user agreement that goes along with 4.0: "Looks like Adobe's release of CS5 with the Flash-to-native compiler has been nixed by Apple's new user agreement: '3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs.'"

Fantastic news

[amliebsch]

Every time I use an iPhone, I can't help thinking, "if only this had more *ads*." I mean, really, what good is a smart phone without pop-over advertisements?

Multitasking

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh dear, iphone fans won't like this at all. They hate multitasking. They've been very vocal about it. I doubt they'll like the new iphone at all. They'll probably tell everyone that it's crap now :(

Re:No ads please

[Kenja]

On the plus side, with multi-tasking you'll be able to get several ads at once! Just image the fun times you'll have searching through your running apps trying to find the one that has the "congratulations! you're a winner!" sound file on constant loop.

Re:So no flash or java, but we get ads!

[lolwhat]

But they will use HTML5 for the ads! Progress! /s

:'( poor open source babies

[Anonymous Coward]

Cry a little louder and harder, bitches! We can't hear you from way up here on awesome mountain! What's that? You're mad and are going to form an open committee to discuss ways to retort in a GPL-based, socially pluralistic manner? In three years time, you'll have a shoddily constructed riposte AND a donated-by-Cory handkerchief with which to wipe away your salty tears? Keep debating, pansies! I'll be figuring out a way to put some TRUCK NUTS on my iPad.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Why would I want to multitask?

[swanzilla]

Can someone tell me why I would want a multitasking phone yet this study [eurekalert.org] says it adversely affects brain learning?

I don't follow your line of reasoning, but find it fascinating.

LOL! Apple Hipster Douchebag Fanboys

[Anonymous Coward]

The Apple Hipster Douchebag Multitasking Roadmap

> Multitasking sucks and is unneeded. I don't want stupid multitasking I just want to focus on one app at a time.

> OMG!!! We are finally getting multitasking!!!

> Apple's half-assed multitasking is 'pretty slick' Apple 'invented' multitasking

Re:Multitasking

[JonJ]

People that like Apple are flexible, you have to be since you have to bend over all the time.

Re::'( poor open source babies

[crazyjimmy]

Cry a little louder and harder, bitches! We can't hear you from way up here on awesome mountain! What's that? You're mad and are going to form an open committee to discuss ways to retort in a GPL-based, socially pluralistic manner? In three years time, you'll have a shoddily constructed riposte AND a donated-by-Cory handkerchief with which to wipe away your salty tears? Keep debating, pansies! I'll be figuring out a way to put some TRUCK NUTS on my iPad.

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the Awesome of my Android.

Re:Why would I want to multitask?

[gmuslera]

[scratches head while reading your comment] I don't see any advantage on multitasking neither, we humans must be designed against doing more than a thing at once.

Re:Multitasking NOT coming to iPhone

[amicusNYCL]

"We weren't the first to this party," Jobs said of the new multitasking feature, "but we're going to be the best. Just like cut and paste."

Also, apparently Apple is the market leader in cutting and pasting.

Re:No ads please

[Flipao]

They came first for the iPhones but I didn't speak up for I was too hip for an iPhone And then they came for the iPads, And I didn’t speak up because they are completely different markets. And then . . . they came for Mac OS. . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.

Re:Whoa, whoa

[timmarhy]

it also makes them less useful. a brick is also very functional, but on it's own only good for throwing.

Re:Welcome to the N900 age

[frdmfghtr]

Oh wait, maybe it actually does do what they want, just not what _you_ want. Is it possible that the N900 is right for you and the iPhone right for others?

Of course not...what *I* want is what everybody wants, they just don't know it!

Re:No ads please

[The End Of Days]

But I deserve free apps with no ads! I'm not sure why I deserve it, or how I can force people to provide what I desire, but I'm gonna whine while I'm not getting my way.

Re:Can the old hardware handle this?

[adolf]

Oh, good. This means that iTunes will stop pestering me about upgrading my first-gen iPod Touch to the latest-and-greatest firmware.

Re:Multitasking

[amasiancrasian]

How I wish I had mod points for you! Steve Jobs also jokes that he's God [gizmodo.com]:

Q: Why have you veered away from widgets on the iPad? A: We just shipped it on Saturday. And then we rested on Sunday. Q: So widgets are possible? A: Everything is possible.

Although some aren't so sure he's joking...

Re:No ads please

[Fluffeh]

Hmmm, I wonder who left this </i> lying around here.

Re:No ads please

[AresTheImpaler]

god damn it man, why did you take away my </i>, totally uncool....

Re:No ads please

[BitHive]

People are laughing because you sound like the Glenn Beck of computing trends.

Re:No ads please

[kainewynd2]

I'm just saying, don't claim variety if they can't even deliver a good system that fits a whole sub-market.

Absolutely! I call foul on the lack of furry friendly [yiffstar.com] devices from Apple! Until they give me something that can work with my oversized unicorn gloves, I won't buy a thing from them!
/sarcasm...
No, really. /sarcasm. I just don't get... eh, ugh... never mind. This post wasn't worth the research I put into it.

Re:No ads please

[Stile 65]

Maybe you typed "Fnord" instead? :)

Re:Multitasking NOT coming to iPhone

[quacking duck]

"We weren't the first to this party," Jobs said of the new multitasking feature, "but we're going to be the best. Just like cut and paste."

Also, apparently Apple is the market leader in cutting and pasting.

In fact, they're so far ahead that even Microsoft has given up and decided to remove it from WinMobile 7!

Re:No ads please

[Raffaello]

It's not that you deserve to take whatever you want from your neighbor's house, but society deserves to, because the marginal cost of a copy of the key to your neighbor's house is basically zero. Charging money for sleeping in your neighbor's spare bedroom is a sign that there's an economic inefficiency somewhere and that society could be better off, theoretically somehow.

;^)