Apple has recently announced its next iteration of operating system, called as iPhone 4.0 operating system, which would have more than hundred new features. The company also said that it has introduced, much anticipated, multitasking along with Push Notifications and Drag-And-Drop App to increase the utility of the future devices. The new operating system is expected to release in the summer for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and for the iPad by year-end.
However, various analysts predict that with 100 new features and 1500 APIs, the new iPhone 4.0 operating system is an attempt by Apple to match with other mobile operating system already present in the market like Android 2.1 and Maemo 5.
The main features like multitasking, folders and unified inbox are already present in Android 2.1 and in Maemo 5. Similarly, like Android 2.1 based HTC EVO, Apple is planning to introduce a front face camera to support video conferencing in the upcoming iPhone 4G. Lenovo’s LePhone will also have similar capabilities along with many corporate offerings.
Here, the feature compares the new Apple’s operating system with Android 2.1 operating system which is already available in various smartphones.
Multitasking
In the new operating system, Apple has introduced multitasking through which users can shuffle between two or more apps without closing them. But, for those who have Android devices, this is not news, this is expected. Further, the iPhone is still available with SIM locked, hence developers said that the multitasking capability will be based upon Apple’s App Store classification.
Folders
Apple has introduced the ability for drag-and-drop in the new operating system. Further, user can store upto 2160 apps in the folders, and can also rename the folder easily. But, it is already available in android operating system.
Email client services
Apple has introduced unified inbox through which user can check messages from multiple e-mail accounts in a single window. At present, Android had not such app, but would be available through Android Market in near future.
Enterprise Features
For the present business world, Wireless delivery of applications, great data encryption, Exchange Server support are the basic necessities of any gadget or smartphone. However, both Android and Apple are not at the top of the Enterprise game. From last many years, RIM has been setting the standard, hence both companies have to work a lot in the section.
Other features
Apple iPhone 4G will be available only for GSM services, but Android can be used for both GSM and CDMA. For music applications, iPhone is the clear winner with its iTunes and more than 170,000 apps available to download; whereas, Android offers third party stores along with 30,000 apps to download, but most of them are free.
Apple has also released Game Center and integrated iAd to promote third party developers for more apps. However, Google’s Android platform is the open source software, which can be modified and used accordingly on various devices by different vendors