Apple's iPhone OS 4.0 is now live and available for download, giving users the chance to test out its much-vaunted multitasking capabilities for themselves.


The latest iteration of the iPhone operating system brings with it more than 100 new features, and in excess of 1,500 individual changes to the API. The download is free of charge, and compatible with the iPad and all but the first-generation models of the iPhone and iPod Touch.

However, you'll need at least an iPhone 3GS or the latest iPod Touch to take advantage of what is seen as the killer feature of the new OS – multitasking.

While applications native to the iPhone such as its music player have always been able to multitask, OS 4.0 opens up the possibility for third-party apps to do the same for the first time. As demonstrated by Apple boss Steve Jobs when showing off OS 4.0 for the first time back in April, double-tapping the Home button opens a newly introduced multitasking menu displaying all applications currently running.

This list can be scrolled through with a sideways finger swipe, and switching to a particular application is simply a matter of tapping its icon.

Multitasking is ultimately limited to seven basic app services – audio, VoIP, GPS, push notifications, local notifications, task completion and fast app switching – which need to be shared between any apps being used in order to protect system resources.

Aside from multitasking, other highlights introduced by OS 4.0 include a unified email inbox, folder creation and management, digital zoom, home screen wallpaper, iBooks and the ability to create playlists.

A single inbox with support for multiple Exchange accounts and the ability to create homescreen folders to avoid endless scrolling through icons are features iPhone owners have been crying out for – and users of other devices have had – for some time. Folder creation is versatile and flexible, but to a limit: while you can add as many folders as you like, each can only hold a maximum of 12 apps.

The iPhone OS 4.0 download requires users to first update iTunes to the newly released version 9.2. The latest versions of both pieces of software will already be pre-loaded on the iPhone 4.(By Martin James)

iPhone OS 4.0 can be downloaded from

http://www.apple.com/sg/iphone/softwareupdate.html

However iphone is only multi tasking, still need to wait for multi programming, which will be very useful

Multi-tasking means doing more than one task at a time; such as printing, burning c.d's, etc. all at the same time.

Multi-programming means running more than one program at one time; such as Microsoft word, AOL, Windows Media Player, all at one time.

Multi-processing means that your computer can process more than one thing at a time.