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With the iPhone 4 launch only a few days away, Apple has released iOS 4.0 (aka iPhone OS 4.0) to the masses. Now that we have the latest iOS on our fancy Apple devices, we decided to highlight some of the great new features and give you a some tips on how to fully utilize the OS.
To help you get ready for iOS 4.0, we have an article to help you prepare.
Update iTunes
iOS 4.0 only works with the latest version of iTunes. If you haven't updated iTunes to 9.2, do so now. You can fire up Software Update to get the latest version.
Backup Your iPhone
Before you upgrade your iPhone it's always a good idea to back up all of your data. While the chances of a error occurring and forcing you to go full restore are slim, it's always a good idea to backup your stuff.
Plug your iPhone and in iTunes, right click on your iPhone in the left panel. Select backup your iPhone from the drop down menu.
Wiggle Room
Don't completely fill your iPhone, leave at least 500MB of room for apps to load and save documents. If you fill it to the rim with media, chances are, you're going to have a very slow running iPhone/iPod touch.
Check for Updates
Apple's iOS 4 implementation of multitasking involves developers updating their apps to take advantage of the feature. If an app isn't updated, it won't take full advantage of multitasking and will have to relaunch each time it's selected. So you should update your apps as soon as they are available.
Multitasking
The main feature of the iOS is the ability to multitask. that mans you can more than one application running. Want to listen to Pandora while checking your email? iOS 4.0 can do that. To see the applications running and to quickly switch between apps double tap on your iPhone's Home Button.
Just tap on your app of choice and the app will load. Magical!
iPod Controls
Prior to iOS 4.0 when you would double tap the home button you were presented with the iPod controls. now that multitasking has taken over the home button double tap feature, here is how to reach the iPod controls.
Double tap the home button, when the multitasking drawer pops up, slide to the left and wham, there are your iPod controls.
Bonus: You can control apps like Pandora from the iPod controls in the drawer.
If you're iPhone is locked, the double tap still brings up the iPod controls.
Quit an Application
Multitasking is great, but sometimes you want to quit a program. In order to quit an app you need to enter the multitasking drawer. Double tap the home button to bring up the drawer. Tap and hold on an app. The apps should begin jiggling with a red circle with a minus sign in the the top left hand corner. Tap on that red circle and it'll close that app.
Orientation Lock
Tired of your iPhone switching to landscape in your favorite apps? You can now lock the orientation of your iPhone so it stays in portrait mode. Double tap on the Home Button to bring up the multitask drawer, swipe to the left menu and to the left of the iPod controls, you'll see the orientation lock. Tap to lock in portrait mode.
You can see the orientation lock status in the menu bar.
Pick a Search Engine
Tired of Google? You can switch to Yahoo! or Bing for all your search needs. Navigate to Settings > Safari > Search Engine. Pick your search engine of choice and have a nice day.
Search The Web and Wikipedia from the Spotlight Screen
Instead of launching safari to search the Internet or Wikipedia, you can do it from mobile spotlight. Navigate to the search screen on your iPhone. Type in what you're looking for, and you'll be given the option to choose The Web or Wikipedia.
Mobile Safari will launch and navigate to Wikipedia or your search engine of choice.
Push messages
If you receive more than one push message, they'll stack up in front of each other. close one, and an earlier one will will appear.
pina84
August 12, 2010 at 8:45pm
It's out - I just got it loaded on my phone - hopefully the bugs will be cured.
The_Quintessent...
July 11, 2010 at 3:24pm
iOs 4 now supports portrait top orientation. Previously, only iPad supported it.
Cody777
July 09, 2010 at 2:27am
at first I was pissed that apple was kicking out the original iPhone because I bought a used iPhone 2g to replace my iPod touch in anticipation for ios 4. I thought " WTF no support for ios4 at all". It pissed me off big time. But then i just upgraded to the 8gig 3GS and now im less angry, still mad about my new data plan thow. Also miss the free tethering from my old iPhone being jailbroken
escar
June 28, 2010 at 1:58pm
I have the iPhone 3G. Last week when the update became available, I updated my phone. First the backup took about 3 hours. Then the OS started to install and I got an error. I clicked a button and the installation continued. Then the screen with the USB cable and iTunes popped up and within 3 seconds went away. I was prompted to restore everything back to the phone. The iPhone rebooted and when I saw the home screen all of my apps were out of place. I started to open applications and all of my data was gone. I tried my backup and nothing. Very frustrating. Trying to figure out what was being backed up during those 3hrs.
azukaonyenso
June 26, 2010 at 1:42am
i want to know how to upgrade and So how do I send text pix http://www.loangist.com
parlingtom
June 24, 2010 at 10:55am
What a mobile this is man. truly it's grape my intention. This really smart in mobile world. 34 iOS 4.0 Features and Tips For the iPhone and iPod touch it's gonna be a great one to have on hand. The features of the phone looking so cool and smart.invest in halton.
kylerwalker
June 23, 2010 at 10:49am
the controling the ipod when locked and picking a search engine and the popup ipod controls and more room
preciousher
June 23, 2010 at 10:30am
My iphone is 3GS. When i plug in my USB from iphone to computer. Itunes appears something infront of me. Its an update ISO 4 and i click ok. After that when i restore back , it took damn long as i expected. My iphone only shows "Apple symbol" and "Loading bar". Its like stuck or something. and my itunes shows "Restoring Iphone Software". Its like not moving. can anyone help me. Now i cant even contact anyone unless if i update the software. oh my.
honorcpt
June 24, 2010 at 11:50am
Are you connecting with a MAC or PC? IOS4 has a conflict with Windows XP and you will need to connect to a MAC to restore your phone like they do at the Apple stores.
edew
June 22, 2010 at 6:47pm
After installing iOS4, my cellular carrier here in Brazil (TIM) sent an update that incredible made the signal to increase! I finally can use my iPhone inside my home, the only place it didn`t work before. It`s a weak signal, but it`s working. Any idea of why this happened?
Ourquieta
June 21, 2010 at 7:31pm
ok. So how do I send text pix? I can't find the mms link r button. Do i need to change the settings?
paquafit
June 21, 2010 at 5:36pm
this is all well and good for iPhone users, but I'm not finding much about the update to iTouch -- do I need to buy a new Touch? I thought I did good with 3G
bondr006
June 22, 2010 at 9:05am
I updated my iPt 3g and got everything but the phone and camera specific features. It's what I've been waiting for. I can take advantage of all the below and more....What the hell is there to complain about????
* Multi-Tasking
* Folders
* Homescreen Wallpapers support
* Enchanced Email
* Threaded email messages are now possible and email attachments can now be opened
* SSL VPN support
* Social gaming features
* iBooks
* iAd: Don’t fear this advertising model from Apple. This is how you can get free games and applications from the iTunes Market. iAd is how freeware developers will get to earn money for their hard work and effort without you paying them a single cent. Steve Jobs promised iAd advertisements to be non-intrusive.
* Bluetooth keyboard support
* Gifting feature
arithehun1
August 09, 2010 at 12:55pm
2g iPod Touches don't get Bluetooth keyboards, home-screen wallpaper, or multitasking. 1g Touches have to stick with 3.1.3
ggarthe
July 08, 2010 at 8:35pm
iPod touch...not iTouch. There is no such thing as an iTouch. I hate it when people call it that.
SBChristine81
June 21, 2010 at 4:26pm
Thank you so much for the "cliff's notes" version....soooooooooooooooo helpful!!!!!!!!!
kychaiy@gmail.com
June 21, 2010 at 2:45pm
i just updated my Iphone 3GS and for some reason game center is missing. Is anyone else having this problem? My friend had the beta release candidate on a 3GS and it had it.
fnh
June 21, 2010 at 1:56pm
Just to clarifiy, does the 3G have the option to change the background, and is iBooks avaible for the 3G?
edew
June 22, 2010 at 6:41pm
For iPhone 3G it`s only possible to change the background on the lock screen, not on the Home Screen. As for the iBook, you can download it from Apple Store. I found it a bit slow, but it`s worth trying it out.
r_hazzard89
June 21, 2010 at 11:49am
I'm a long time apple fanatic, and I love anything apple. But today I am pissed off at apple!! after waiting all morning for the iPhone 4.0 to be available I was very disappointed that my iPhone 3G was given the cold shoulder on many of the features!! WTF apple! I am curious to how many of the 100 new features are available with the 3G. It might sound silly but I was really looking forward to being able to change the home screen background...........to my great disappointment i can't. There is know way something so simple could be explained with a lack of hardware. Come on....really? And where is the iBooks app on my 3G? another feature lost. I was upset enough about multitasking but at least I was warned by apple. I would of really appreciated a chart on the apple site clearly showing me what features where going to be working on 3G and what ones would NOT be working.........as if we all have money exploding out of our pockets to be buying apples latest and greatest every few months! Is this all so I will go buy a iPhone 4? also, I don't think 3GS owners should be so ignorant to think that they are not next in the apple screw-over! You just wait till next year another iPhone will be out with another software update and the 3GS will be kicked to the side just like the 3G was this time around!
steverkruse
July 07, 2010 at 3:41pm
Apple was totally upfront about what would work and not work on older iphone/itouch. Were you not listening? If Apple had to continually support the older hardware they could NEVER move forward as a company. They could never give us these awesome apps or products for that matter. Yes is sucks to know you're beloved iPhone/Macbook Pro/ etc is no longer leading edge. But that's the price of technology.
arithehun1
August 09, 2010 at 12:45pm
Just download redsn0w, and navigate to the ISPW that you downloaded when updating (do a search), and select enable multitasking and home screen wallpaper, and you don't have to get Cydia. It doesn't run ideally on older models, but it's better than not, or using Pro Switcher and Winterboard. Calm down.
r_hazzard89
June 22, 2010 at 9:55am
Sorry team. Really I just needed a place to vent my frustration with the lack of new features on 3G's. Everyone made good points. I understand that my phone is a couple of years old (making it a dinosaur in the tech world) but I've actually only had an iPhone since december. I got a 3G instead of a 3GS because I'm a poor college student and money is always a question mark in my life...I'm sure they're many out there who can relate. I guess i should be glad that I got a bunch of free features that I didn't have before. Thanks for putting me in my place! Anyway I'm sure in the future I'll find a way to have the iPhone 4 and hopefully and iPad as well!
jackzig
June 21, 2010 at 6:35pm
You people kill me. A two year old phone is like a 5 year old computer. Apple is in business selling phones and iPods/iPads not giving away free upgrades. If you want all the new features, buy a new phone, if you can't afford it, want until you can. Do you really expect Apple to grandfather your 2 year old phone forever? Did I say the upgrade was free. Yes I did. Are you still "very angry"? If so buy some other manufacturers phone.
aliasrae7@gmail.com
June 21, 2010 at 5:55pm
The only features you don't get are multi-tasking and changing your home screen backgrounds. You have to download the iBooks app.
DS9SISKO
June 21, 2010 at 5:36pm
As noted before, the news about which devices would be supported has been out ever eince Steve Jobs iOS 4 keynote. It's not Apple's fault you haven't kept up with such widespread and readily available information, including at Apple.com.
soapko
June 21, 2010 at 1:05pm
Apple detailed the features that would not be available for the 3G when they announced iPhone OS 4.0. I have a 3G, so I was disappointed too. But here's the deal: the OS upgrade is FREE. Can we really expect that a 2 year old phone will continue to be fully supported with FREE upgrades? Sooner or later, progress comes at a cost.
Loup407
June 21, 2010 at 10:47am
This will be a big help in sorting out how to get the most out of iOS4.
