iOS 4 apps: the best of what's new and updated (live updates!)
By Nilay Patel 
posted June 21st 2010 2:18PM
posted June 21st 2010 2:18PM
- Dropbox: Everyone's favorite file-syncing tool can now sync and complete uploads in the background, and also adds in support for fast app switching.
- Evernote: the notes-in-the-cloud app adds support for fast app switching, and can continue to record audio notes in the background.
- Pandora: Yes, you can finally play Pandora in the background -- and the quick music controls on the left-most panel of the app switcher even control playback when it's in the background. Nifty.
- New York Times: Nothing major, but the Gray Lady supports fast app switching, so you can jump right back into an article without reloading.
- ESPN ScoreCenter: Supports fast app switching, although you'll still have to open it up for scores to refresh, since there's no background updating API.
- How to Cook Everything: Funny that a cookbook is one of the first iOS4 apps out there, but we're Mark Bittman fans, so this is pretty cool -- it supports fast app switching, so you don't have to reload a recipe every time you close the app. Oh, and it's got newer high-res art for the iPhone 4. Tasty.
- Fandango: Now has fast app switching, so you can juggle other tasks while buying your movie tickets.
- LinkedIn: Yep, LinkedIn's iPhone app adds fast app switching to the mix.
Update: We're listing off more as we find them after the break -- check it!
Update 2: "Tested for iOS4" doesn't guarantee new features, but if you want to know which apps can make that claim, here's a handy Google search. [Thanks, jihuiwen!]
- Tweetaholic: This Twitter app supports fast app switching, and can also refresh your timeline in the background.
- Ego: This stats app can tell you everything from how many Twitter followers you have to how many people have subscribed to your site's RSS feeds.
- National Rail: Britain's National Rail app now supports fast app switching. [Thanks, QwaF.]
- Ambiance: This "environment enhancer" has been totally rewritten for iOS 4, and can now play ambient audio, like thunderstorms, in the background. [Thanks, jdwusami]
- Windows Live Messenger for iPhone is now out -- that's new for iOS 4.
- TuneIn Radio is now ready to play background audio, and support fast app switching.
- Wordpress for iPhone is now iOS 4-ready as well.
- Facebook has been updated with the ability to watch videos, 720p picture uploads, and the ability to view and write on walls of events. Fast app switching doesn't appear to have made the cut, though.
- Rockz has iOS 4 support now, one of the first games we've seen to add it.
- Colloquy has been updated for iOS 4, which has the Engadget staff all a-flutter. It uses an interesting trick to keep your IRC session open in the background -- it sets a 10 minute task completion timer, and when it runs out it disconnects. Switching back to the app resets the timer, though, so if you're flipping back and forth it's virtually infinite.
- Tasker now utilizes local push notification for scheduled tasks and keeps track of your location in the background to alert you of nearby tasks. The graphics have all be upped for the retina display.
- Pianist now has high-res textures.
- Motionx GPS now has background tracking and fast app switching. [Thanks, Dennis H.]
- Black Book and Pink Book have been graced with high-res graphics and in-app SMS capabilities. Be also on the look out for free, iAd-supported versions soon.
- Toobz now supports fast app switching.
- Twitter: The official Twitter Inc. app now supports fast app switching and sending tweets when switched to the background.
i want iOS 4 on my iPad :'(
@Dustin
Has it been said when the iPad is getting updated?
@Dustin
I don't think there will be an os4 to the ipad before its refresh maybe in october i hope they will add a front facing camera and then i'd call that a netbook "killer"
@Dustin
And I want to know why the heck custom wallpapers aren't supported on the iPhone 3g!...???
@Dustin I agree but first I want a fix for all the WiFi issues I am having with my iPad and my schools network. It has been almost two months with no update.
@BigJayDogg3
Well maybe in october during the ipod event
@Dustin
Os4 multitasking sucks! It's basically an app switcher that fills up with everything you open.
Apps don't even resume where you left off. Does anyone else not agree?
@Heirborn391 With the wallpaper Apple added some extra eye candy like shadows that would tax the cpu/gpu on the 3G iPhone so Apple did not include it. (That is what Apple is saying I think the 3G could handle the wallpaper)
@BigJayDogg3 Something tells me Apple is going to use that as incentive to upgrade when they release an improved iPad eventually.
@Failbait The apps need to support the multitasking API before they can multitask. The next few days should include lots of updates for apps
@Dustin
"In The Fall" is when the iPad is supposed to get it. >_> the iPad is the one that truly needs multitasking.
@Dustin
They said os4 would be on the iPad in the fall
@Dustin
I dont know exactly why... but i want an iphone again. but never with at&t
@Failbait
Aah. Hated one in new disguise.
@Failbait apparently not considering the digital boo's you're getting in ranking.
@Failbait I have been using OS 4 since WWDC and it runs great. I think Apple's way of multitasking is briliant. I does mean that the developers need to add the API calls but once they do the programs work great and have no adverse affect on performance. I just updated Pandora and it runs exactly like the native iPod app. rather Awesome actually.
BTW, it doesn't really matter how many programs end up in your bottom drawer because they aren't running flow blown (or at all in some cases). I notice no difference even if there are dozens down there so I don't worry about it.
@Dustin
Ego: This stats app can tell you everything from how many Twitter followers you have to how many people have subscribed to your site's RSS feeds.
That says NOTHING about what's been updated for iOS 4... just sayin'.
@BigJayDogg3
The iOS 4 release for the iPad is supposed to be in the fall. I wonder if Apple is just holding it off merely to spread out the interest or is the iPad's OS that different. I figured the iPhone's OS would be more complex than the iPad's since the iPhone can do so much more.
@Dustin I want it on my first gen touch...
iOS4 for iPad in "Fall".
@BigJayDogg3
Steve Jobs said in he iOS4 Keynote it will be for the iPad in the fall!
@LargeFormat Apple's way of multitasking is crap. It looks like something MS would've thrown together just to match other interfaces. There are many more elegant and spiffy ways that other OS' are doing this and Apple's is the worst of them all.
@Dustin
Some more updates and it will become almost as good as the old versions of Android.
@Dustin WTF, wallpapers are not supported in my iPod Touch 2g. This is messed up. Now I have to jailbreak it again pfftt. It's freaking frustrating.
TuneIn Raido should be added to that list
@Plexus Well I hope you enjoy ur millions of different android devices...although the android OS is the same (which gets annoying as it is on every new phone)...remember that with every phone manufacturer the experience is different and can be crappy.
@Dustin Beggars can't be choosers I guess
@Dustin Or they could make Verizon iPhone or at the very least iPad. This could solve the issue. Not being on AT&T would help out a ALOT.
I dont know what companies like verizon and AT&T seem to to be thinking when they talk about data caps on future 4g networks or just plain 3g! FAIL!! I found it hilariously funny when Apple unveiled their mysterious FaceTime. really, really you are going to show off your cool new feature and coincidently had wireless issues (even though it was wifi). Sofa- King-Funny.
Give me a break. Apple can be and is a real innovator when it wants to be. But chained to a old ass cell company that just doesn't get it, is inexcusable. I left AT&T because of the horrible quality and customer service issues i had.
We went to Verizon and got the droid. Don't get me wrong I really liked my phone when I had one, at least when it made phone calls and didn't drop, and the data was working, not missing emails and text and visual voice mail, etc.
But the network got in the way. The droid works for my needs very well. The 3g coverage is very good.
I used to drive between tow big cities in Missouri and not have 3g with the iPhone for 85 percent of the trip.
So with the droid, I get 3g the whole way. there is a huge difference in 3g networks.
@Dustin
Can't you jailbreak your ipad and use ProSwitcher?
My younger brother's been using Windows Live Messenger for about a week now. I am not quite getting how it is part of today's release?
@Heirborn391 hum not enough RAM … which is pretty much the reason why a lot of other features are not supported. It is not really that they won't work but the experience won't be up to Apple's standards whatever that might mean … it is pretty silly IMHO
@Failbait
Seeing as how your comment has been down-ranked into oblivion...no, they don't.
@BigJayDogg3 Fall
@Dustin
Me too. We haven't even seen iOS 4 running on an iPad. There's no picture of it on Apple's site, and they never demoed it.
That makes me think 4.0 is going to be a bigger update for the iPad, with more new stuff. Here's hoping, eh?
@LargeFormat why the hell does an app need to be rewritten to multitask, what a FAIL on apple's part. Multitasking is supposed to be handled at the OS level, apps shouldn't need to be written to specifically multitask, no other OS phone or desktop requires this.
even DOS apps that were written for an OS that couldn't multitask and themselves couldn't multitask, can do so when run under windows.
@Heirborn391 That would be WAYYYY to much customization for an apple product thats not brand new haha j/k that sucks
@jdwusami
I am multitasking and using wallpaper on my 3G.
Its kinda slow, but better than nothing. Im keeping it this way....
Oh and Steve, the 3G and the 2G are basically the same. So no support for the 2G is FREAKING RIDICULOUS.
@Heirborn391
My guess is they didn't think the processor in the 3G could do all the fancy alpha blending and shadow transparencies required to overlay all the fonts/icons/folders/etc onto the background without taking a noticeable performance dive in some situations. Arguably they could have done a simple color block background or just let the user figure out they have to remove some icons to get smooth home screen switching but that's not really Apple's style is it?
@Heirborn391 Just use RedSn0w and allow multitasking and wallpapers, and you don't have to have cydia. I did this on my "nonsupported" ipod touch 2nd gen and multitasking and wallpapers work great. You will need your current firmware, and it can be found in:
C:\Users\*****Your Account Name*****\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPod Software Updates
In the program follow the instructions and make sure to uncheck the "Install Cydia" (if you want) and check "Enable Multitasking and Wallpaper". And presto! You have iPhone 3G with wallpapers and multitasking. If you want to undo it, and go back to the basic iOS4, plug into itunes and hit restore.
@Dustin
No way in hell I'm not buying iPhone 4. i gotta have that damn thing - for the movie editing alone.
@Heirborn391
Ask those who tested wallpapers on the iPhone 3G, they all said it ruined the performance (because of the shadows and effects that iOS 4 does with wallpapers).
There is one .plist file that turns multitasking on or off and Apple set it off on the 3G and 2G. I'd say a switch letting the users decide what experience is acceptable would be better. I'd rather put up with a little slowdown (which there shouldn't be anyway) than put up with reloading every app from scratch.
@Failbait I totally agree. iOS is for SUCKERS! :) I am happily enjoying TRUE multitasking on my Pre...I refuse to support Mr. Jobs and his quest for control over every internet enabled device. I find it humerous that iTools are all excited about Pandora in the background...I have been doing this for 8 months!
@Plexus too true! Apple has almost caught up to state of the art!
@aolbites Actually, Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 (or whatever they end up calling it), is taking a HUGE step backwards and will not support multitasking! They are taking design cues from Apple (WRONG company to copy right now, IMHO)...if you want multitasking, get a Droid or Palm Pre...This is just another sorry excuse for an Apple update that really doesnt do what its supposed to. (at least not without Steve's blessing anyway)
@Heirborn391
What? R U serious???
Just downloading iOS4 now for me 3G... the thing I was looking forward to was having my OWN wallpaper, are you telling me I can't??
If you're right then that's seriously lame (x1000000000000000)
@jdwusami
The issue with the WiFi is the way its positioned in the iPad itself. That...may never be fixed w/o an actual hardware refresh. One could only hope they are fixing it in the assembly line though....if indeed hardware related...
@BigJayDogg3
Fall. And yes. Ages ago.
Google is your friend.
@HTCAndroidTre You, and many hundreds of thousands of others. Apple seriously can't dump AT&T fast enough.
@Heirborn391 - Apple's way of casting out older models. 2G isn't supported, 3G is claimed not to have enough RAM so half of the stuff is not on it, 3GS is available but you can only upgrade to 8GB 3GS not 16 or 32 GBs. Another Apple method to cast out older models and entice you to get the i4.