5 features that iPhone OS 4.0 should have

Yesterday, Apple sent out an invitation to several media houses in the US, inviting them to an event on Thursday to "get a sneak peek into the future of the iPhone OS". The shadow of a large '4' looming across the ad supports the expected notion that iPhone OS 4.0 is upon us. So while we wait for Thursday to come around, we thought it only pertinent to come up with a list of features that we expect iPhone OS 4.0 to have, and some that we hope it does. 

 

1. Multi-tasking: This one is almost a certainty and we would be very surprised if Apple doesn't include it. The inability of the iPhone to handle more than one task at a time has been one of its biggest shortcomings so far. But while people can live with that on a phone, the same cannot be said of the new iPad tablet, which also runs on the same operating system. Computing without multi-tasking is a complete no-no, and with the new A4 processor, we don't see Apple having any issues with rolling out this feature. Given that a lot of rumours have pointed to this feature, complete with an Expose-like interface, we think it's a certainty. Chances: 95%

 

2. Multi-tab Mobile Safari: The fact that Safari cannot handle tabs right now is something a lot of early iPad users have whined about. With the only hindrance to this being the same as the hindrance to multi-tasking— i.e. resource heavy and battery leech— we would hope that Apple fixes this issue and allows for a pleasurable browsing experience on the iPad. If not, our only hope is they let Opera bring their Mobile version to the iPhone OS, which will probably not happen. Chances: 60%

 

3.Unified Contact Manager: This is an awesome feature that most Android phones now come with. The integration of social networking services, emails, calendars and phone services (calling and SMS) into one gateway for a contact is a delight to use. It makes sense for the iPhone to keep up with this and it really wouldn't tax the programmers much to do this either. The only question is whether they would want to, since Apple can be quite adamant about not adopting features someone else came up with! Chances: 80%

 

4. Unified Inbox: This isn't a feature we would have laid importance to before the iPad, but with the Internet experience on the tablet, it's something we think Apple will give importance to. After all, if the iPad is going to be your gateway to the 'personal Internet' (email, social networking, etc.), then a unified inbox is definitely on the cards. Chances: 80%

5.New Interface: Call this one more wishful thinking than anything else. It has been three years since Jobs first showed us the iPhone’s beautiful interface and it's about time it gets a facelift. The homescreen, especially, needs to be more customizable and we have a strong feeling Apple is going to revamp that at the very least. Also on the anvil could be perhaps a few new ways to interact with apps, some new gestures, and customizable backgrounds. Chances: 50%

 

Come Thursday, we will finally find out which of these features will be addressed. Remember to check Technoholik for all the dope on the iPhone 4.0 OS!