Is it that time already? The latest Apple update, iPhone OS 4.0 was previewed Thursday leaving us non-developer types eager to know more. According to CNET, who covered Steve Jobs’ unveiling of the firmware live Thursday morning in Cupertino, Calif., there are major advancements in usability, along with a challenge to Google’s standing dominance in the online advertising scene.
The debate continues about whether multitasking is truly more productive, or is really counter-productive. However, when it comes to tech devices … more, please! One of the biggest let downs of the current iPhone is the inability to run apps in the background. Come summer, you will no longer have to stop playing Words with Friends in order to listen to Pandora.
Voice over IP integration will become more functional, as well. Skype, which is used by millions of people across the world, will soon be able to run in the background, just like the other apps will. Users will be able to launch their Skype app and leave it running while doing other things. The calls will come in just like a regular call to your phone.
Location discovery will also run in the background for GPS guided services and location-based social media. There will be the ability to turn off location-based functionality for apps in the settings menu.
Apple is integrating more streamlining efforts, as well, with threading organization for your inbox and folders on your homepage.
What would any other advancements be for Apple without taking a shot at their rival, Google? OS 4.0 introduces iAd, which threatens to do to the mobile online advertising world what Google did for traditional desktop media. Now, clicking on an add from an app will keep you inside the app, whereas currently it launches elsewhere. Ads can be really annoying for users, but Jobs’ goal is to help app developers make money off of their products. He claims the ads will be a mix of interaction and emotion, combining online and television advertising techniques.
Apparently there are more that a hundred new features arriving, but unfortunately, the release will not be available for earlier hardware versions, the iPhone 3G and iTouch second generation. But, for those with older devices, the latest and greatest third generations of the iPhone 3GS and iTouch will be available this summer.
While this much multitasking could possibly lead to more distraction from our days, it can also really help those of us who just simply want to get more done in less time. Now what to do with those extra moments in your day? How about spreading some love with Tonic’s DoGood app!
Photo by Seokzzang Yun via Flickr.