Apple iPhone OS 4.0 Media Event Recap

Less than a week after the launch of the iPad, apple decided to hold a press conference to demo the next version of the iPhone operating system. iPhone OS 4.0 is a critical update for apple as android and web os are gaining ground in the smartphone market by continuing to offer new features and frequent updates.

iPhone OS 4.0 Video Recap:

Media Event Recap*:
iPad
-450,000 iPads sold to date (300,000 at launch)
-1 million pad app downloads day 1 (3.5M through today)
-600,000 ibook downloads
-3,500 iPad apps in app store today

App store
-4 billion app downloads
-185,000 apps

iPhone
-JD power award three years running (2008-2010)
-64% mobile browser usage belongs to iPhone
-50 million iPhones sold (85M including iPod Touch)

iPhone OS 4.0
-Over 1500 new API’s
-quick look, photo library access, in app sms, full access to camera
-accelerate for “hardware accelerated math functions”
-Over 100 New Features (All)
-spell checker, 5x digital zoom, change homescreen wallpaper

Big 7 Updates:
• Multitasking

-drains battery very quickly & terrible performance
-new way to multitask 3rd party apps and avoid battery drain
-double click home button to reveal a window overlay of open applications
-great implementation of multitasking
-7 multitasking services (API’s) for multitasking:

1. Background Audio (Pandora)
2. Voice over IP (Skype)
3. Background location (baseband always connected to cell towers)
4. Push notifications
5. local notifications
6. task completion (upload to flickr)
7. fast app switching (apps save state and stop running, then resume)

• Folders

-Drag apps onto each other to make a folder
-automatically named after category of apps, can be renamed

• Enhanced Email

-unified inbox
-multiple exchange accounts
-organize by threads
-fast inbox switching
-open attachments in apps from app store

• iBooks for iPhone

-iPad/iPhone integration (wirelessly sync books, current page, and bookmarks)
-buy once, read anywhere

• Enterprise Improvements

-improved Data Protection
- wireless app distribution
-mobile device management
-SSL VPN support

• Game Center

-social gaming network
-achievements, leader-boards, match making

• iAd Mobile Advertising

-emotional and interactive ads (almost like ad itself is app)
-keep user in application
-Apple sells and hosts ads, 60/40 revenue split (devs/apple)
-Very quick to implement in app
-ads can use API’s (show theaters near you)

• iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3rd generation get all features
• iPhone 3G and other iPod touch models get limited features with OS 4.0, no multitasking
• iPad gets update this fall

*These are the exact notes I took during the media conference. Please forgive any abbreviations and the informal nature of this recap.