Tue 22nd of June, filed under Mobile Marketing
Just prior to the release of the new iPhone 4, Apple has rolled out the latest version of its iPhone operating system: iOS 4. The long awaited update, first announced in early April, is now available on iPhone 3G, 3GS and both second and third generation iPod touches.
Free to download, the new operating system boasts a number of modifications which aim to improve usability on the iPhone. iPhone users will not be the only one to benefit from the system; there is also a variety of new opportunities for app developers with over estimated 1,500 changes to the API.
One of the most important changes made in iOS 4 is the ability for greater organisation. Users can now tidy up their Home Screen by storing apps in folders which they have created (as demonstrated in the screenshot on the right). The new feature also makes it easier to organise the home screen, saving users time when finding apps.
Perhaps the most highly anticipated of the upgrade however, is the ability to multitask. The new multitasking feature allows users to switch easily between apps without having to close and reopen them. Apple hopes that the multitasking function will improve the battery life of the iPhone by simplifying tasks such as listening to music while browsing, for example.
Other new features include tapping to focus video, a 5x digital zoom and Bluetooth keyboard connectivity which allows users to connect a keyboard to the iPhone. A spellchecker function has also been improved in the new system; spelling mistakes are now underlined and alternatives offered.
iOS 4 problems
While iOS 4 solves many of the problems identified in previous iPhone operating systems, it has been reported that the upgrade is not without its faults. Many new subscribers have been flooding Apple support forums with complaints of slow backup and downloading times; the 580MB update reportedly taking up to an hour to download. Other customers have also complained that the new system has rendered photos blurry when synced with iPhoto.
iOS 4’s biggest problem, however, is likely to be availability. While supported on 3G and 3GS iPhones, the new system will not be available to any Apple customers with older models. Since a number of the improvements made in iOS 4 have been described as fixing serious security and privacy issues, customers with older devices will be vulnerable to these, now publicly-known, flaws.
Similarly, the new multitasking function will only be available on the iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod touch; users with earlier models will be excluded from what has been seen as the most important improvement. The feature is also app-specific; it is up to developers to make sure the apps they create are compatible and many apps are not yet ready for the change.
Meanwhile, iPhone 4 fans look set to be disappointed by huge stock shortages come the release date of the new model this week. On top of dealing with the usual high demand for its new products, Apple has also discovered a serious flaw with the phone’s high resolution display. The issue is expected to be resolved by August but until then analysts have estimated that the production rate for the iPhone 4 is likely to drop to two million per month instead of the expected four million, leaving many hopeful customers empty handed.
Posted by Carli Harris
