14 DAY TRIAL // Softpedia can confirm that Apple’s phobos servers are now showing the availability of iOS 4, the latest version of Apple’s iPhone operating system powering not only the company’s smartphones, but also the iPod touch music players. iPad customers are on track to receive their own version this fall. A download link for the new software is available at the bottom of this article. iTunes is yet to show availability of the update by connecting a supported device to a computer.
After building quite a bit of hype around its next generation iPhone software, including a Worldwide Developers Conference almost fully focused on the new additions for iPhone fans, Apple has finally released the public version and made it available as a free download from its servers. The seven key features Apple is making available with iOS 4 are Multitasking; App Folders; Enhanced Mail app; iBooks for iPhone and iPod touch; Enhanced enterprise features; Game Center; and iAd.
Multitasking is the most prominent feature in iOS 4. According to Apple, multitasking services allow applications to perform tasks in the background while preserving battery life and performance. These services are:
· Background audio - Allows your app to play audio continuously. So customers can listen to your app while they surf the web, play games, and more. · Voice over IP - Your VoIP apps can now be even better. Users can now receive VoIP calls and have conversations while using another app. Your users can even receive calls when their phones are locked in their pocket. · Background location - Navigation apps can now continue to guide users who are listening to their iPods, or using other apps. iOS 4 also provides a new and battery efficient way to monitor location when users move between cell towers. This is a great way for your social networking apps to keep track of users and their friends' locations. · Push notifications - Receive alerts from your remote servers even when your app isn't running. · Local notifications - Your app can now alert users of scheduled events and alarms in the background, no servers required. · Task finishing - If your app is in mid-task when your customer leaves it, the app can now keep running to finish the task. · Fast app switching - All developers should take advantage of this. This will allow users to leave your app and come right back to where they were when they left - no more having to reload the app.