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IOS 4
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| iOS 4 | |
|---|---|
| Version of the iOS operating system | |
![]() iOS 4.1 home screen on an iPhone 3GS | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
| Source model | Closed, with open source components |
| Initial release | June 21, 2010 |
| Latest release |
4.2.1 (November 22, 2010) [±]
4.2.10 (July 25, 2011) [±]
|
| Update method | iTunes through a computer |
| Package manager | App Store |
| Supported platforms | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
| License | Proprietary EULA except for open-source components |
| Preceded by | iPhone OS 3 |
| Succeeded by | iOS 5 |
| Official website | Apple – iPhone – New features in the iOS 4 Update at the Wayback Machine (archived June 30, 2010) |
| Support status | |
| Obsolete, unsupported.[citation needed] Drops support for the iPhone (1st generation) and the iPod Touch (1st generation). | |
iOS 4 is the fourth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iPhone OS 3. It was announced at the Apple Special Event on April 8, 2010, and released on June 21, 2010. iOS 4 was the first version branded as "iOS" rather than "iPhone OS",[1] due to the release of the iPad. It was succeeded by iOS 5 on October 12, 2011.[2]
iOS 4 introduced many features that have since become commonplace, such as folders on the home screen, significantly increasing the number of apps that can be displayed. Support for home screen wallpapers on the iPhone was also added, although limited to newer devices due to animation performance requirements. The operating system also added a multitasking feature, letting apps dealing with Internet calling, location and audio playback function in the background, whereas a similar but more restricted "Fast App Switching" technology enabled any app to be left inactive in the background while users switch to other apps. iOS 4 also added a system-wide spell checking feature, enabled iBooks on iPhone, unified the Mail inbox to combine content from different email providers, and introduced both Game Center for social gaming and FaceTime for video calling.
The iOS 4 update introduced performance and battery problems on iPhone 3G devices, with Apple investigating the matter and promising then-upcoming updates. However, the company became the subject of a lawsuit from an unsatisfied customer over the issues. Around the same time, the release of iPhone 4 and its subsequent antenna problems made Apple focus on unsuccessfully attempting to patch the issues with software updates.
iOS 4 is the final version of iOS that features the iPod app for music and videos on iPhones and iPads. Starting with iOS 5, iPhones and iPads do not have the iPod app; they have, instead, separate Music and Videos apps, matching what the iPod Touch has. It is also the last version of iOS that supports the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod Touch, up to version 4.2.1 (4.3 dropped support for both devices), due to hardware limitations and performance issues.
Apps
[edit]History
[edit]iOS 4 was introduced at the Apple Special Event on April 8, 2010. At the WWDC keynote address on June 7, 2010, it was named iOS 4 and not iPhone OS 4 in order to be more inclusive to the iPod Touch and iPad.[3]
iOS 4 was officially released on June 21, 2010.[3]
System features
[edit]Folders
[edit]iOS 4 added folders for apps, which raises the maximum number of home screen apps from 180 to 2,160. These folders would automatically be named based on the containing apps' respective App Store category.[4]
Multitasking
[edit]iOS 4 introduced multitasking, replacing the home button shortcuts feature which had a similar albeit more limited function. It allows users to switch between apps instantly by clicking the home button two times. It was implemented in such a way that did not cause excessive battery drain. Multitasking was limited to apps dealing with Internet calling, location, and audio playback, while a similar "Fast App Switching" technology meant users could leave an app and enter another, with the original app remaining in the background until the user returns.[5][6] This feature was notably absent from iPhone 3G and the second-generation iPod Touch due to performance issues.
iOS 4 introduced a spell checking feature that underlined misspelled words in red. Tapping on the word would provide a pop-up with a recommended replacement.[7]
Camera
[edit]The Camera app now supports 5x digital zoom.[8]
Apps
[edit]The Mail app featured a unified inbox on iOS 4, allowing users to see messages from all of their email accounts displayed together in a single inbox.[9] It also gained support for MobileMe e-mail aliases and multiple Exchange accounts for business users.[5]
iOS 4.1 added a new app called Game Center, an online multiplayer social gaming network, which allows users to invite friends to play games and to compare their scores on a leaderboard.[10][11] It was not available on the iPhone 3G.[11]
FaceTime
[edit]iOS 4 introduced FaceTime, a videotelephony app that uses the device's camera to allow the user to make video calls with other FaceTime users.[12] This feature was absent from the iPhone 3G, second-generation iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, and third-generation iPod Touch due to the lack of required features, such as a front-facing camera.
Safari
[edit]The Safari mobile web browser on iOS 4 added Bing as a search option in addition to Google and Yahoo!.[13] Beginning with iOS 4.2.1, specific words or phrases on a page could be searched.[14]
Features added on the iPhone inherited from the iPad
[edit]On the iPhone, the ability to choose wallpapers and see them on the home screen was also added, and the iPad had its ones replaced to be consistent, though the feature was notably absent from iPhone 3G and the second-generation iPod Touch due to poor performance of icon animations.[15]
The iPhone's dock was updated to be skeuomorphic, as with the Dock on the iPad and Mac OS X, and no longer has a grey line underneath it; the icons were redesigned to match.
iOS 4 introduced iPhone and iPod Touch support in iBooks, which was already included on the iPad. Though not a default app, it was available through the App Store.[16]
Problems
[edit]Performance and battery issues
[edit]iPhone 3G users reported performance and battery issues after upgrading to iOS 4. Apple started an investigation of the matter in July 2010.[17] In November, Apple was sued for the issues, with an unsatisfied customer alleging "violating the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, unfair business practices, and false and deceptive advertising", with further allegations that Apple knew its software would cause problems on older models. Apple never responded to the allegations, but wrote in a reply to another unsatisfied customer in August 2010 that updates were "coming soon".[18][19]
Alarm clock
[edit]In all versions of iOS 4, the alarm clock in the clock app had a problem in DST when it would go off an hour too early or too late.[20]
Antenna problems
[edit]Upon its release, some iPhone 4 users reported having technical problems with the phone's antennas.[21] Apple attempted to fix the issue in software with iOS 4.0.1,[22] but failed to do so.[23]
Supported devices
[edit]iOS 4 drops support for the first-generation iPhone and first-generation iPod Touch. The first-generation iPod Touch did not receive support due to hardware limitations. This marks the first time Apple has dropped support for an iPhone while retaining support for another model featuring the same or a less powerful system on a chip. The iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch (3rd generation) has partial support, and the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch (2nd generation) have limited support.[a]
Version history
[edit]| Version | Build | Codename | Release date | Notes | Update type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 8A293 | Apex | June 21, 2010[3] | Initial release for iPhone 4 GSM
|
Initial Release |
| 4.0.1 | 8A306 | July 15, 2010 | Only for iPhone
|
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.0.2 | 8A400 | August 11, 2010 |
Due to all these patches, JailbreakMe 2.0 stops working. |
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.1 | 8B117 8B118[b] |
Baker | September 8, 2010 | Initial release on iPod Touch (4th generation)
|
Feature Update |
| 4.2 | 8C134 | Unknown | November 1, 2010[28] |
Added support for Chinese URL over Safari.
Fixes Voice over IP (VoIP) issues. Find My iPhone location feature is free (iPhone 4, iPod Touch (4th generation), and iPad) running on iOS 4.2.1.
New bookmarks design (iPhone and iPod Touch only).
FaceTime shortcut from Messages app (iPhone 4 only).
Ringer and alerts on/off switch (Settings > Sounds) for volume buttons (iPhone only).
|
Feature Update |
| 4.2.1[c] | 8C148 8C148a[d] |
Jasper | November 22, 2010[31] | Last version of iOS to run on iPhone 3G and iPod Touch (2nd generation) due to hardware and performance issues.
|
Bug Fixes |
| All devices except for iPhone 4 (CDMA), iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch (2nd generation) | |||||
| 4.3 | 8F190 8F191[e] |
Durango | March 4, 2011 | Initial release on iPad 2
|
Initial Release, Feature Update |
| 4.3.1 | 8G4 | March 25, 2011 | Bug Fixes | ||
| 4.3.2 | 8H7 8H8[f] |
April 14, 2011 |
|
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.3.3 | 8J2 | May 4, 2011 |
|
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.3.4 | 8K2 | July 15, 2011 |
It also patches the latest version of JailbreakMe (JailbreakMe 3.0). |
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.3.5 | 8L1 | July 25, 2011 |
|
Bug Fixes | |
| iPhone 4 (CDMA) only | |||||
| 4.2.5 | 8E128 | Unknown | January 11, 2011 | Preview release on iPhone 4 (CDMA). Only available to the press, never shipped on release devices
|
Preview Release |
| 4.2.6 | 8E200 | Phoenix | January 31, 2011 | Initial release on iPhone 4 (CDMA), as 4.2.5 was preloaded at the factory, 4.2.6 was the first public version.
|
Initial Release |
| 4.2.7 | 8E303 | April 14, 2011 |
|
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.2.8 | 8E401 | May 4, 2011 |
|
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.2.9 | 8E501 | July 15, 2011 |
It also patches the latest version of JailbreakMe (JailbreakMe 3.0). |
Bug Fixes | |
| 4.2.10 | 8E600 | July 25, 2011 |
|
Bug Fixes | |
- ^ Multitasking, home screen wallpapers and Bluetooth keyboard support are not available on both the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch (2nd generation), while Game Center, Apple's gaming network, was available on the iPod Touch (2nd generation) but not on the iPhone 3G. FaceTime is not supported on iPhone 3G and 3GS, and the iPod Touch 2nd and 3rd generations.
- ^ iPod Touch (4th generation) only
- ^ No public release of iOS 4.2 is available, due to an issue that impacted Wi-Fi functionality on the iPad.[30]
- ^ iPhone 3GS only
- ^ iPad 2 only
- ^ iPad 2 (CDMA) only
References
[edit]- ^ "iPhone OS 4 renamed iOS 4, launching June 21 with 1500 new features". Engadget. June 7, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ Hardawar, Devindra (October 12, 2011). "iOS 5 available now, makes the iPhone 4 feel completely new". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c Patel, Nilay (June 7, 2010). "iPhone OS 4 renamed iOS 4, launching June 21 with 1500 new features". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Frakes, Dan (June 21, 2010). "Hands on with iOS 4 folders". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ a b "iOS 4: What you need to know". Macworld. International Data Group. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Newman, Jared (June 22, 2010). "Multitasking With iOS 4 is Horrible: Apple Blew It". PC World. International Data Group. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ritchie, Rene (July 13, 2010). "iOS 4 features: Spell-check and text replace". iMore. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ionescu, Daniel (June 21, 2010). "Apple iOS 4: 10 Best Features". PC World. International Data Group. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ritchie, Rene (June 14, 2010). "iOS 4 review". iMore. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Holt, Chris (September 1, 2010). "iOS 4.1's Game Center to hit iPhone next week". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Grant, Christopher (September 8, 2010). "Download iOS 4.1 now, get Game Center (on your compatible iProduct)". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Dormehl, Luke (June 21, 2017). "Today in Apple history: iOS 4 brings multitasking and FaceTime". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Sterling, Greg (June 7, 2010). "Bing Goes The iPhone". Search Engine Land. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ritchie, Rene (September 16, 2010). "iOS 4.2 features: Find text on Safari web page". iMore. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Slivka, Eric (June 22, 2010). "Steve Jobs on Lack of Custom Wallpapers in iOS 4 for iPhone 3G". MacRumors. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Brownlee, John (June 21, 2010). "iOS 4, iBooks for iPhone Now Available For Download". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ogg, Erica (July 28, 2010). "Apple to investigate iOS 4 problems on iPhone 3G". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ogg, Erica (August 20, 2010). "Slow iPhone 3G? iOS update could be on the way". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ogg, Erica (November 4, 2010). "Apple sued for iOS 4 problems on iPhone 3G, 3GS". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Beaumont, Claudine (November 1, 2010). "Apple iPhone 4 alarm clock bug makes scores late for work". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022.
- ^ Chen, Brian X. (July 2, 2010). "Tests confirm iPhone 4's antenna flaws (Updated)". Wired. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Dilger, Daniel Eran (June 25, 2010). "Death Grip hysteria may end Monday with iOS 4.01". AppleInsider. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Ionescu, Daniel (July 17, 2010). "Apple's iPhone 4 Antennagate Timeline". PC World. International Data Group. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Chartier, David (July 15, 2010). "Apple releases iOS 4.0.1 with new iPhone signal formula". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Sande, Steven (August 11, 2010). "iOS 4.0.2 for iPhone/iPod Touch, iOS 3.2.2 updates available now". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Slivka, Eric (September 8, 2010). "Apple Releases iOS 4.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch". MacRumors. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Kumparak, Greg. "iOS 4.1 brings a whole new look to Apple's Game Center". MobileCrunch. TechCrunch. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ "iOS 4.2 GM Download Available Now". OS X Daily. November 1, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "iOS 4.2 packs new, improved YouTube, FaceTime features and more". AppleInsider. September 16, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ Moren, Dan (November 12, 2010). "iOS 4.2 arrival near? All signs point to yes". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Caldwell, Serenity (November 18, 2010). "Apple releases iOS 4.2.1 GM to developers". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Rawson, Chris (March 4, 2011). "iOS 4.3 brings a handful of new features and new headaches". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ "iOS: A visual history". The Verge. Vox Media. September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Cheng, Jacqui (March 25, 2011). "iOS 4.3.1 fixes iPod Touch graphics glitch, TV flickering issue". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ Slivka, Eric (March 25, 2011). "Apple Releases iOS 4.3.1". MacRumors. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Friedman, Lex (April 14, 2011). "Apple releases iOS 4.3.2, fixes FaceTime, 3G issues". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Moren, Dan (May 4, 2011). "Apple releases iOS 4.3.3 to patch location bugs". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ a b White, Charlie (July 15, 2011). "Apple iOS 4.3.4 Update Available, Prevents Hacking & Jailbreaking". Mashable. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Friedman, Lex (July 25, 2011). "Apple releases iOS 4.3.5 to fix certificate validation". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ "Apple's new CDMA iPhone has built-in Wi-Fi hotspot with iOS 4.2.5". AppleInsider. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
External links
[edit]- iOS 4 at the Wayback Machine (archived June 30, 2010)
IOS 4
View on GrokipediaDevelopment and announcement
Development process
Development of iOS 4 commenced in late 2009, immediately following the release of iPhone OS 3.1 in September 2009, with a primary focus on porting select iPad features to the iPhone platform and implementing native multitasking support.[4] This timeline aligned with early prototyping efforts for the accompanying iPhone 4 hardware, where initial iOS 4 builds were integrated to test core system behaviors.[5] The engineering objectives centered on enhancing third-party app functionality through limited background processing, all while preserving device battery efficiency and smooth operation on resource-constrained models like the iPhone 3G.[1] These priorities addressed longstanding user demands for productivity tools without sacrificing the responsive user experience that defined prior iPhone OS versions. Multitasking, in particular, required innovative API restrictions to mitigate performance impacts. Cross-team collaboration was essential, uniting iPhone and iPad software engineers under Scott Forstall's leadership to consolidate and adapt the underlying OS framework for shared compatibility.[6] This unification effort streamlined code sharing, reducing redundancy and enabling faster iteration on device-agnostic components. Throughout the process, internal beta distributions were conducted to evaluate system stability across compatible hardware, with rigorous emphasis on memory allocation and garbage collection optimizations to prevent crashes or slowdowns during background operations.[7]Public announcement
iOS 4 was publicly announced on April 8, 2010, at Apple's special media event held at its Cupertino headquarters, positioned as the successor to iPhone OS 3.[1] The event, attended by journalists and developers, featured a keynote by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who unveiled over 100 new user features and more than 1,500 new APIs for the upcoming operating system update.[1] Initially presented under the name iPhone OS 4, it was later rebranded as iOS 4 during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, 2010, to emphasize its expanded support across Apple's ecosystem, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.[8] During the presentation, Jobs emphasized two flagship additions: true multitasking for third-party applications, enabling background execution for tasks like audio playback and VoIP calls while optimizing battery life, and folders for organizing home screen icons by dragging one app onto another, potentially accommodating over 2,000 apps.[1] He demonstrated these features live, highlighting how they addressed longstanding user requests for improved productivity and interface efficiency on mobile devices.[9] The keynote also provided previews of several user interface refinements, including a unified inbox that aggregates email from multiple accounts with threaded conversations and direct attachment support, customizable wallpapers for the home and lock screens selectable from built-in options or personal photos, and Bluetooth keyboard compatibility for enhanced input on supported devices.[1][9] These teasers underscored Apple's focus on making the platform more versatile and iPad-aligned, with a beta version made available to developers immediately following the event for testing ahead of the summer release.[1]Release and versions
Initial release
iOS 4.0 was initially released to the public on June 21, 2010, as a free software update distributed via iTunes for compatible devices including the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, third-generation iPod Touch, and second-generation iPod Touch.[8] The update required iTunes 9.2 or later and had a download size of approximately 300 MB, depending on the device model.[10] Adoption of the update was rapid in the weeks following launch, with analytics showing that more than 50% of active iPhone users had installed iOS 4 by late July 2010.[11] Support for the iPad was not included in the initial iOS 4.0 release, as the device had launched earlier in April 2010 with iPhone OS 3.2; iPad users gained access to iOS 4 features starting with the iOS 4.2 update in November 2010.[12]Major updates
iOS 4.1, released on September 8, 2010, addressed significant battery drain issues reported in the initial iOS 4.0 rollout, alongside performance improvements for older devices like the iPhone 3G.[13] It introduced Game Center, Apple's social gaming network that allowed users to compete with friends, track achievements, and discover leaderboards across compatible apps. Additionally, the update enabled direct Wi-Fi uploading of high-definition (HD) videos recorded on the iPhone 4 to services like YouTube and MobileMe, enhancing content sharing without quality loss.[14] iOS 4.2, released on November 22, 2010, extended core iOS 4 features to the iPad for the first time, with the iPad version appearing as 4.2.1 in the user interface due to minor build differences.[15] It introduced AirPlay for wireless streaming of audio, video, and photos to Apple TV, and AirPrint for direct printing to compatible printers without needing additional software.[12] The update also refined multitasking on the iPad, providing faster app switching and background app refresh tailored to the device's larger screen and hardware. iOS 4.3, released on March 9, 2011, brought further refinements including Personal Hotspot, allowing iPhone 4 users to share their cellular data connection via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB with up to five devices.[16] It added a Safari Reading List for saving web pages for offline viewing and improved overall system animations for smoother transitions and reduced latency. This version marked the end of major feature updates for the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod Touch, as subsequent releases dropped support for those devices, though earlier versions like iOS 4.2.1 continued to receive security patches where applicable.[17] Security updates for iOS 4 devices continued beyond the major releases for supported hardware, with the final update for older devices like the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod Touch being iOS 4.2.1, released on November 22, 2010.[12]Features
User interface enhancements
iOS 4 introduced several enhancements to the user interface, improving personalization, navigation, and input methods across compatible devices. These changes focused on making the operating system more intuitive and visually appealing, allowing users greater control over their device's appearance and interaction flow. Key updates included options for customizing the visual backdrop of screens and refining how users access and manage content within built-in applications. One prominent addition was the ability to set customizable wallpapers for both the lock screen and home screen. Users could select from pre-installed images provided by Apple or import personal photos synced from their computer via iTunes. To apply a wallpaper, users navigated to Settings > Wallpaper, chose an image or album, adjusted its position and scale, and assigned it to one or both screens. This feature enhanced the device's aesthetic personalization across all compatible devices.[18] The Mail application received a unified inbox, which aggregated messages from multiple email accounts into a single view for streamlined access. Tapping "All Inboxes" on the Mailboxes screen displayed incoming emails from accounts like MobileMe, Microsoft Exchange, or other popular providers in one consolidated list, reducing the need to switch between accounts manually. This update improved overall email management efficiency.[1][18] Support for external Bluetooth keyboards was added to facilitate faster text input, particularly for productivity tasks. Compatible devices, including the Apple Wireless Keyboard, could be paired through Settings > General > Bluetooth, enabling wireless typing across apps like Mail and Notes. This enhancement was especially useful for users composing longer messages or documents on the go.[7][18] iOS 4 also incorporated an emoji keyboard for adding expressive icons to messages and other text fields. Accessible via international keyboard settings under General > Keyboard > International Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > Emoji, it provided a dedicated layout for symbols, particularly prominent on Japanese iPhone models but available globally. Users could switch to it during typing for enhanced communication in apps like Messages.[18] Additionally, folders for app organization were introduced, enabling users to drag one icon onto another to create customizable groups, which briefly ties into broader navigation improvements without altering core UI aesthetics.[18]Multitasking and background processes
iOS 4 marked the first introduction of multitasking capabilities to the iPhone operating system, allowing users to switch between applications without fully closing them and enabling select background processes to continue running. This feature addressed long-standing user demands for improved productivity on mobile devices, while prioritizing battery life and performance through a suspend-and-resume model rather than true concurrent execution for most apps. Users access the multitasking interface by double-clicking the Home button, which reveals a horizontal tray displaying icons and snapshots of recently used applications at the bottom of the screen. Swiping left or right navigates through the tray, and tapping an icon brings the corresponding app to the foreground, resuming it from its previous state. The system supports maintaining multiple apps in this suspended state, though the practical limit depends on available RAM; the system automatically purges older ones to free memory when necessary.[19][20] Beyond simple switching, iOS 4 permitted specific types of background execution for third-party apps, including audio playback (such as music or streaming), Voice over IP (VoIP) services for calls, location updates for navigation or tracking, and local notifications to alert users without foreground activity. Developers enabled these by declaring the appropriate modes in the app's Info.plist file, such as "audio" for background sound or "voip" for telephony. Additionally, apps could request finite background time (up to about 10 minutes) to complete tasks like downloading content after transitioning to the background. These capabilities were designed to support essential functions without excessive resource use.[21][22] A core mechanism enabling efficient switching was fast app switching, where backgrounded apps entered a suspended state: the system captured a snapshot of the app's interface for visual representation in the switcher and preserved its memory state on disk without ongoing CPU execution. Upon reactivation, the app resumed nearly instantaneously from this saved state, avoiding the need for a full reload and minimizing launch times to under a second in most cases. This approach ensured a responsive user experience while conserving power, as suspended apps consumed no battery.[23][24] Full multitasking was available only on devices with sufficient hardware, specifically the iPhone 3GS and later models, iPod touch 3rd generation and later, and the original iPad; the iPhone 3G and iPod touch 2nd generation supported iOS 4 but lacked true multitasking, limiting them to basic background audio playback while terminating other apps upon switching. Developers could detect support via theUIApplication class's isMultitaskingSupported property to adapt behavior accordingly.[25][3]
To optimize battery life, iOS 4 automatically suspended inactive background apps after a short period, halting all execution except for approved modes like audio or location; apps were encouraged to release unnecessary resources during suspension to avoid system-forced termination under low memory conditions. This design balanced functionality with the constraints of mobile hardware, preventing the rapid battery drain seen in full desktop-style multitasking.[21]

