Before the iPad buzz had a chance to fizzle, Apple announced yesterday it will give a sneak peek of its iPhone 4.0 operating system this Thursday. In true Apple fashion, the invitation provided no details about functionality, only “Get a sneak peek into the future of iPhone OS.” So what should we expect? The top three anticipated features are:
Multitasking
If you asked Apple tech geeks the number one functionality they’d like on the new iPhone 4.0 OS, they’d likely say multitasking. The iPhone 3.0 OS only allows a few core apps, i.e. iPod and mail, to run in the background while another app is active. Overall multitasking would enable users to play Doodle Jump while dictating into the Dictation app. Tech geeks abound hope for a multitasking feature, specifically based on Apple’s Expose — a Mac OS X tool that enables users to view multiple applications at one time. [Wired]
Verizon iPhone
Apple has an exclusive partnership with AT&T, much to the chagrin of Verizon subscribers. After the WSJ reported Apple was developing a Verizon-compatible version of the iPhone, the rumor mill churned last week at the thought of Apple turning to “the nation’s largest 3G network.” Is it possible? Yes. But is it likely? No. Rumors of Apple moving to Verizon have been swirling since the release of the iPhone, so what’s drastically different this time? [Information Week]
GPS Navigation
Sorry $69.99 Tom Tom app, if Apple is to compete with Google’s free, turn-by-turn voice-guided GPS navigation, it needs to be standard on the iPhone. Apple recently acquired Placebase, a mapping company, and hired an engineer to overhaul the iPhone’s Maps app. The writing is on the wall with this feature, although it might not happen in this generation, we anticipate turn-by-turn navigation will be standard soon. [PC World]
Having scanned dozens of blogs regarding the iPhone 4.0 OS, most anticipate Steve Jobs to announce multitasking and potentially GPS. As it is the iPhone OS that powers Apple’s iPod, iPhone and now iPad, we expect the features announced on Thursday to trickle down to the tech innovator’s other devices.
Image via Apple
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