Software
Aside from new hardware, the next iPhone will be running iPhone OS 4.0, which was announced on April 8. iPad owners will have to wait until the fall for an update. iPhone 3GS and 3rd generation iPod Touch owners will be privy to everything 4.0 has to offer. Those with the iPhone 3G or 2nd gen iPod Touch will get a sprinkling of what 4.0 has to offer but not multitasking or wallpapers. First generation iPhone and iPod Touch owners are SOL.
A few notable new features in 4.0 include:
• playlist creation
• app gifting
• screen orientation lock
• tethering
• Bluetooth keyboard support
• 5x digital zoom
• Places in photos
• file and delete mail search results
• custom dictionary
• app killing
• media player controls in the dock
• contact linking
• file sharing via iTunes
• search in SMS/MMS.
And now the big stuff.
Multitasking
• Double click Home button to reveal a dock to show all apps that are running
• Apps cache for fast switching: You’ll pick up right where you left off if you switch out of and back into a particular app
• VoIP services like Skype run in the background allowing you to switch apps
• Background audio enabled for services like Pandora
• Task completion: For example, uploading to Flickr won’t stop if you switch apps
• Background notification: Turn by turn apps will use the actual GPS chip, location-based social networking apps like Loopt and FourSquare will use cell tower triangulation to conserve battery power
• Push notifications can now be localized so they don’t have to rely on Apple’s servers
Folders and Wallpaper
• Ability to create folders for games or utilities or whatever else you can think
• App limit is defunct
• Create a folder simply by dragging one program icon onto another one
• You can put folders directly into the dock
• You can change the home screen’s wallpaper
• Default Apple apps like clock, compass, calculator and voice memos are grouped into a Utilities folder
Enhanced Mail
• Unified inbox: multiple e-mail accounts in one inbox, even multiple Exchange accounts
• Threaded messaging
• Fast inbox switching
• Open attachments with various apps: For example “Open in…” whichever compatible programs you have installed
iBooks
• Wireless syncing and bookmarking
• Same book reader as on the iPad, just smaller
• Buy once, read anywhere
Enterprise
• Better data protection
• Mobile Device Management
• Wireless app distribution
• Multiple Exchange accounts
• Exchange Server 2010
• SSL VPN support
Game Center
• Social gaming network: invite friends, matchmaking, leaderboards, achievements
iAds
• iAds will be more interactive than Internet ads and just as emotional as ads on TV
• 60% revenue split to the developer, 40% to Apple
• iAds will be coded in HTML5
Some developers have noted that they’ve seen traces of integrated Facebook features, HD video capture (720p), and video iChat notifications in recent builds of OS 4.0.