iPhone OS 4.0 Preview Event Scheduled for This Thursday

[ouimetnick]

I hope this update doesn't slow the iPad down like the major updates do to the iPhone. I'm guessing because the 1st gen iPhone became slightly slower with 2.x, and un bearable with 3.x, and the iPhone 3G becoming slower on 3.x than 2.x, it will do the same to the 3GS, making it slower on 4.X than 3.1.3. The question is will 4.0 also be on the iPad, and will it slow the new computer down? I'm hoping for multitasking, better notifications (pull down menu from the top bar to respond to texts, or facebook and not quitting Pandora)

 

[rhett7660]

Dang that was freaking quick!!! Wonder if the release date will still be this summer??

 

[sgtCaspian]

Someone may have posted this already, but I'm really hoping for a "one more thing" announcement about the updated MBP/MBA.

But maybe that's just wishful thinking.

 

[WPB2]

H

With all due respect, Windows XP works just fine with 256Mb and that's a major desktop OS. It's only recently that memory has gotten cheap enough to allow multi-gig machines.

If Apple optimises the OS properly and is sensible about how the multi-tasking works I see no reason why at least the iPhone 3GS and third gen iPod Touch couldn't multi-task, at least for a controlled number of apps.

In what world do you live, where you can say "windows XP works just fine with 256MB of RAM"? I can tell you that XP does not perform well with even 512MB ram in it. XP uses 512MB of ram just to keep Lotus Notes open on my machine at work. I installed an extra 2GB just to run a couple programs at the same time (excel, lotus notes, word, and Adobe acrobat.)

 

[Unprocessed1]

If youre kidding okay. If not, iPad shares same OS.....

That doesn't mean they'll be running the same exact version... They're not currently.

 

[TheSpaz]

Yeah my iPhone 3G didn't miss a beat until OS 3.0 came out.

My iPhone 3G still doesn't miss a beat on 2.2.1 ;-)

 

[firewood]

Multiple User accounts for your iPhone?

Yes. I'd love to have a guest account on my iPhone so that I could hand it to a friend or office mate to make a phone call or demo some cool new app, but not let them peek at or mess around with my chat logs, budget app, facebook client, settings, etc.

 

[Data]

Better Bluetooth support so that BT device you buy actually have all buttons working like they would on another BT device.

Multitasking even if it would only be for Navigation software i would be happy, i can not have my Nav quite on me while driving just because i get a phone call, thats just silly.

And if they could make it just as fast as on the iPad that would be great of cours, that thing looks so fast, OS wise.

 

[dissdnt]

Notification API for developers to choose from would be nice.

One specifically for IM, so you get a sliding popup at the bottom and even the ability to hit reply and type a quick msg back that pushes back thru the system to the IM client.

Especially for the iPad. I love it but I feel so disconnected from the world if im not online and can quickly reply while doing stuff.

 

[diamond.g]

What I really want from OS 4.0 more than anything?

UNIFIED NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

For the love of all that, I'm sick and tired of getting a SMS "Pop up" during a call, then after finishing the call, hitting "end call" endlessly realizing that YOU NEED TO CLEAR THE D*MN SMS POPUP FIRST.

Terrible. TERRIBLE. UI design. It's the one thing I absolutely hate about my iPhone.

+infinity
The only modal notification should be phone calls. cmaier actually had a god idea of the call being answerable without actually closing what you are currently doing. Which would be totally sweet.

 

[iDisk]

The DISNEY WORLD of the technology industry....... APPLE INC.

Feels great to be apart of the 1 infinite Loop

 

[notromeel]

UNIFIED NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

For the love of all that, I'm sick and tired of getting a SMS "Pop up" during a call, then after finishing the call, hitting "end call" endlessly realizing that YOU NEED TO CLEAR THE D*MN SMS POPUP FIRST.

w00master

yes yes yes yessssss. geewiz thats very annoying.

 

[Ries]

With all due respect, Windows XP works just fine with 256Mb and that's a major desktop OS. It's only recently that memory has gotten cheap enough to allow multi-gig machines.

If Apple optimises the OS properly and is sensible about how the multi-tasking works I see no reason why at least the iPhone 3GS and third gen iPod Touch couldn't multi-task, at least for a controlled number of apps.

Try disable virtual memory and see how winxp works with 256MB ram.

 

[ravenvii]

In what world do you live, where you can say "windows XP works just fine with 256MB of RAM"? I can tell you that XP does not perform well with even 512MB ram in it. XP uses 512MB of ram just to keep Lotus Notes open on my machine at work. I installed an extra 2GB just to run a couple programs at the same time (excel, lotus notes, word, and Adobe acrobat.)

In reality. What world do you live on?

Back in 2003, I built a hotrod gaming rig that could take on any game on the market at the time. How much memory did I put in it? That's right, 512 MB.

Windows XP runs fine on 256 MB of RAM. Not great, but fine.

Try disable virtual memory and see how winxp works with 256MB ram.

True, but who says Apple won't use virtual memory in iPhone OS?

 

[Jodles]

Scrolling text in the iPod app, please.

+1! x 1000

I hate it when song titles don't fit. It's a no-brainer IMO.

 

[Nero3000]

Isn't the point of the lock screen to keep people out of your business? Having too much info pushed to your locked device could be dangerous.
But I guess a check box could give you the option.
"Allow this event to be pushed to the lock screen."
"Allow this app to push notices to the lock screen."

I was thinking more just

- Next calender event
- Number of missed calls
- Number of new voicemails
- Number of new texts
- Number of unread emails

Possibly weather information.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I'm betting on.......

1. Limited Multi-Tasking

2. iBooks for the iPhone

3. Updated UI look to match iPad

1. on new hardware ONLY; I'm 100% positive on this.
2. indeed. There is nothing wrong with iPhone as the screen is sufficient.
3. Not really necessary or properly feasible. The apps rotating hiding side menu bars, sure I'm all for it. But the UI ... not sure what you mean. I thought iPad was fashioned after iPhone.

I think there'll be something VERY interesting for us in store; something familiar, yet more of something spectacular. Until the core PIM apps are updated to be in sync with one another I'm sticking with my Berry.

 

[ipoddin]

Seems like these devices were designed to run one app at at time due to memory constraints 256MB and Apple's decision to not put more ram in these.

Seems only logical that multitasking will only slow the performance.

Unless they limit it to a certain number of apps at a time.

 

[vvebsta]

I really see no evidence to assume that this announcement will have anything to do with the ipad. In fact I'd rather it be an iphone only presentation. If they are smart iPhone and iPad will split into custom tailored OS for the 2 different platforms.

Maybe I'm just bitter because the last presentation I was expecting to hear some kind of iPhone update and there was nothing. So I guess I see it only fitting to focus on the phone in this event.

Maybe they are announcing it this week because the AT&T contract will expire that day and they are ready to get the ball rolling on multiple carriers.

I really hope the 4.0 is a completely redone OS. App folders, cleaner home screen, mulitasking, contact integration... basically give the fanboys all the tools to tweak and customize to their hearts content

P.S> Candybar for mac should work with apple to make an iphone app! that would be sweet!

 

[koach]

In what world do you live, where you can say "windows XP works just fine with 256MB of RAM"? I can tell you that XP does not perform well with even 512MB ram in it. XP uses 512MB of ram just to keep Lotus Notes open on my machine at work. I installed an extra 2GB just to run a couple programs at the same time (excel, lotus notes, word, and Adobe acrobat.)

There's your problem. Lotus Notes is by the far the worst written, most bloated, useless piece of software ever written. I've been both a user and an admin and I don't wish either of those upon my worst enemy.

I'm not saying that XP will work fine with 256MB, because it doesn't, but using Lotus Notes as your test case is a bad idea.

XP is barely usable at 512MB, usable at 1GB, and best at 2GB.

 

[JoshJosh117]

- Let the iPhone share its internet connection with the iPad

AT&T doesn't allow tethering yet so this is only possible with other phone companies.

 

[Friscohoya]

The HP Slate really is starting to look intereasting. And I am a die hard apple guy, but the front facing video camera is hard to get past. Video chat is the future.

 

[Craiger77]

Apple needs to supply their own maps app. Something that can cache maps locally and on demand. The app should be flexible enough that specialize maps can be added without much effort. For example naval navigation apps, hiking apps and whatever floats your boat. It isn't that Google maps is bad it is just that one you have to be connected all the time and that they are focused to much on road travel. It seems like I most need maps when there are no phone services around. Like Google the hope is that Apple can offer up this info for a very low cost.

Dude, you need to spend a bit more time at the App Store. Navionics has an incredible marine charting app that includes all the charts in the area you buy it for at a fraction of the cost that is charged for computer versions. MotionX is a $3 GPS app that will catch maps and is much better than my Garmin GPS that cost more than what I paid for the iPhone. These are just a couple of examples.

 

[William Gates]

Gotta love all the newbie speculation.

 

[ipedro]

Multitasking: Background Widgets + Push Notifications

In 4.0 I predict:

- Multitasking will be accomplished with Dashboard Widgets rather than full apps.

The 256MB of RAM on iPhone and iPad cannot handle multiple full fledged apps and Apple will have to find an elegant solution to this. Instead of cherry picking which 3rd party apps will be allowed to run in the background, Apple will introduce the ability for developers to package background micro-apps inside their full apps. These will be Dashboard like widgets that will have a limited ceiling of RAM that they're ever allowed to use. For instance, if an App is allowed to take unlimited advantage of the available RAM, Widgets will only be approved if they only use 10MB or less at any time.

Regular apps will be able to call on their Dashboard counterparts to continue a process. For example, if Pandora is running and you want to continue it in the background, when you hit the home button (which closes the main app), Pandora opens a 10MB widget that continues to play the music. If you exit a game mid play, the app will open a widget that uses its 10MB to store information that will allow the game to resume where you left off.

Accessing the widget screen will be accomplished with an intuitive action such as pulling down the screen with 2 fingers to reveal a dashboard desktop that will darken the main screen and overlay the current running widgets (shown as icons on iPhone, as mini-apps on iPad).

This will fit in with the current Push Notifications strategy which is to replace the benefits of multitasking with alternatives that don't hog system memory. Full apps run functions that are useless when not in view. Push Notifications solves that by allowing the app to notify you even when closed. Dashboard Widgets will do the same for such functions as background audio, game pausing, quick use of a calculator, etc.
Dashboard widgets will join Push Notifications to accomplish the benefits of Multi Tasking.

Next to Push notifications in iPhone Settings will be a Dashboard or Widgets menu that you can turn on or off for apps with this function built in. i.e. If you don't want Pandora to keep music playing, you can turn off its widget in settings for a permanent solution or simply stop playing music before exiting Pandora and it won't call up its widget.

- Photo app on par with iPad

The iPhone's Photo app will only be limited by screen real estate, not functions. New to iPhone will be faces, places, events, and peek into stacks.

- Unified Inbox
All your email inboxes will be viewed in one unified Inbox.

System Notifications
The current on screen pop up isn't very effective. A menu bar with a notifications number will notify you instead.