iPhone OS 4.0: Hopes and Predictions

Bizarrely timed and impressively unleaked,iPhone OS 4.0 is coming—at least as an announcement—this Thursday. So what's it going to change, really? Here's what we think. And because it's about eight times as fun, what wehope.

Predictions

These are the changes that seem most likely, or that've been rumored previously. Since we don't know anything for sure at this point, these are conservative.

• Multitasking: This could be anything from strictly managed multitasking for simple apps, to faux multitasking—process freezing that lets apps seem as though they've never been closed. This could almost be files under "hopes," though, since the iPad doesn't allow 3rd party multitasking as of now, and it's not inconceivable that Apple could stick to their guns on this one. Thing is, if they don't have this, what do they have?

• New UI elements: Don't expect an entirely new interface paradigm, since with the iPad, Apple's made it clear that they're happy with the basic iPhone OS concept. But except some new UI elements, probably inline with the iPad's.

• iPad adaption: The iPad and iPhone don't interact directly right now, and in some ways (direct USB connection, for example) they never will. But the awkward way in which apps are shared between the two platforms now will probably have to be fleshed out a little.

• File syncing: The iPad does it, sort of, and there's no reason the iPhone shouldn't.

Hopes

• Better notifications: Everyone, from Google to Palm to Microsoft (in Windows Phone 7) has a better notifications system than the iPhone. There's just too much going on your average iPhone now to rely on pop-up notifications, especially if they only effectively display one message, aren't stored anywhere and interfere with what you're doing.

• An active homescreen: Something besides an app grid would be nice. Even a slightly more informative lockscreen would work.

• iTunes streaming: Remote media streaming on the iPhone is great, but it's functionality you have to introduce with paid apps. A lot of people already have the media piled into iTunes, so native streaming—preferably over 3g—would be great.

• iPad tethering: It'd undermine AT&T, and Apple's upcoming 3G model, but seriously, so many iPad owners already pay AT&T for "unlimited" data each month. Of we're not going to get full-on tethering, iPad tethering would be a step.

• Social Network integration/ the cloud: Facebook, Google contacts—these are services tens of millions of people actually use, and which our online identities are tied up in. Mobile Me is a marginal service that you have to pay for. This one's a no brainer, but far from a sure thing.