Apple drops 'phone' from its mobile OS for new name: iOS 4

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Because the iPhone OS runs on devices other than phones -- including the iPod touch and iPad -- Apple announced on Monday that it has renamed its mobile operating system to iOS 4, coming for free June 21 for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and iPod touch.



iOS 4



Calling iOS 4 "the most advanced mobile operating system in the world," Apple co-founder Steve Jobs announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote that Apple was renaming the software. He also reintroduced some of the features unveiled earlier this year, including multitasking.



In a change from the past, it will be a free update for eligible iPod touch users (iOS 4 is not available for the first-generation device) when the operating system arrives on June 21 -- three days before the launch of iPhone 4.



After asking attendees to turn off their laptops and portable Wi-Fi hotspots in order to get a working connection, Jobs demonstrated the ability of the iOS to run Pandora in the background to stream Internet radio.



Jobs also showed off the unified inbox in the phone's Mail application, as well as threaded messages.



The chief executive also put applications into automatically created folders, as had been revealed in the initial unveiling of the new operating system. Folders can be renamed, and they can also be placed in the dock.



iOS 4 also adds support for Microsoft Bing for search, although Google will remain the default option. Jobs touted that Bing uses HTML5 for its mobile search results.



This month, Apple expects to sell its 100 millionth iOS-based device. Jobs said that shows that there is a large market for developers to make a profit.



The golden master candidate of iOS 4 is available for developers beginning immediately.



iAds



Also a part of iOS 4 is iAds, Apple's mobile advertising network. Developers are paid through iTunes Connect, just like with applications, and can add the ads in an afternoon, Jobs said.



"iAd offers advertisers the emotion of TV with the interactivity of the web, and offers users a new way to explore ads without being hijacked out of their favorite apps," Jobs said. "iAds will reach millions of iPhone and iPod touch users?a highly desirable demographic for advertisers?and provide developers a new way to earn money so they can continue developing free and low cost applications."



Apple has been selling 8 weeks of ads and has major clients including Nissan, Citibank, Sears, AT&T, GE, Best Buy, Target, Disney and more. The demonstration also included a Nissan advertisement for an electric car.



"iAd will allow Citi to reach millions of people on their iPhone and iPod touch," said Lisa Caputo, executive vice president and CMO, Citigroup. "iAd gives us a remarkable level of creativity for creating ads to connect with our current and future customers in a more interactive style than ever before."



The iAd network will be turned on July 1, and advertisers have already committed $60 million for the second half of 2010, which give make Apple 48 percent of the mobile advertising market. It will require users to upgrade to iOS 4.



"iAd is going to revolutionize mobile advertising," said Rob Master, North American media director, Unilever. "With iAd, we?ve been able to create some of our most powerful and compelling ads ever. iAd is the perfect mobile format to reach and engage with our customers."
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 65
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    It's about time.
  • Reply 2 of 65
    chris_cachris_ca Posts: 2,543member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Because the iPhone OS runs on devices other than phones -- including the iPod touch and iPad



    Shouldn't this be "Because the iPhone OS runs on devices other than phones -- only the iPod touch and iPad" rather than "including", which makes it seem as if there are more non-phone devices than only these?
  • Reply 3 of 65
    chronsterchronster Posts: 1,894member
    "Jobs touted that Bing uses HTML5 for its mobile search results."



    Hey look at that. Microsoft is doing what they need to do to play nice with others, and not bicker about a bunch of shit that ultimately effects the consumer in a negative way
  • Reply 4 of 65
    chronsterchronster Posts: 1,894member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Chris_CA View Post


    Shouldn't this be "Because the iPhone OS runs on devices other than phones -- only the iPod touch and iPad" rather than "including", which makes it seem as if there are more non-phone devices than only these?



    Well the iWatch is scheduled to debut today. Also the iSneakers, iCheese grater, and of course, the iMicrowave. All of which will run iOS
  • Reply 5 of 65
    rhyderhyde Posts: 294member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Chris_CA View Post


    Shouldn't this be "Because the iPhone OS runs on devices other than phones -- only the iPod touch and iPad" rather than "including", which makes it seem as if there are more non-phone devices than only these?



    Perhaps a new Apple TV device?
  • Reply 6 of 65
    sfullersfuller Posts: 1member
    Lawsuit from Cisco incoming in 3, 2, 1...



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_IOS
  • Reply 7 of 65
    formerarsgmformerarsgm Posts: 191member
    Apple really doesn't care about trademarks. They just plow ahead and pay their way along. It's a good strategy for speed to market, if you can afford it.



    As a side note, I called the need for a new OS name a couple of months ago on AI.
  • Reply 8 of 65
    sheffsheff Posts: 1,407member
    Yay for the new mail app. Finally I can have conversation on my iPod!
  • Reply 9 of 65
    anakin1992anakin1992 Posts: 283member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sfuller View Post


    Lawsuit from Cisco incoming in 3, 2, 1...



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_IOS



    iphone used to be cisco's phone name... somehow apple persuaded cisco to give it to them... hope this time apple will pull it off again... but it is again a time to do free advertising for cisco...
  • Reply 10 of 65
    rokradrokrad Posts: 143member
    YAY! Its a free upgrade for iPod touch users! Finally!
  • Reply 11 of 65
    chris_cachris_ca Posts: 2,543member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by rhyde View Post


    Perhaps a new Apple TV device?



    Yeah, that was my thinking also, especially with the google tv thingy coming about.

    It may still be a "hobby" but hobbies are meant to be experimented/played with to see what you can come up with.
  • Reply 12 of 65
    anakin1992anakin1992 Posts: 283member
    apple.com US site is still not coming up with new iphone 4, but apple.com.cn is.



    http://www.apple.com.cn/iphone/featu...l#design-video
  • Reply 13 of 65
    stevetimstevetim Posts: 482member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    It's about time.



    I feel sorry for apple personal responsible for development guides, references and documentation. Do you know how big a deal is to get all the volumes of documentation up to date with this announcement of this new os name.
  • Reply 14 of 65
    joe hsjoe hs Posts: 488member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anakin1992 View Post


    apple.com US site is still not coming up with new iphone 4, but apple.com.cn is.



    http://www.apple.com.cn/iphone/featu...l#design-video



    www.apple.com has iPhone 4: this changes everything. again.
  • Reply 15 of 65
    yseanysean Posts: 11member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sfuller View Post


    Lawsuit from Cisco incoming in 3, 2, 1...



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_IOS





    IBM may want to get in on that as well with its i/OS
  • Reply 16 of 65
    geekdadgeekdad Posts: 1,131member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sfuller View Post


    Lawsuit from Cisco incoming in 3, 2, 1...



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_IOS



    Yep...exactly what I was thinking. Cisco has been using IOS for YEARS......
  • Reply 17 of 65
    code4funcode4fun Posts: 13member
    Use of iOS name may cause some problems. IOS is Cisco System's operating system for its network products.
  • Reply 18 of 65
    john.bjohn.b Posts: 2,742member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sfuller View Post


    Lawsuit from Cisco incoming in 3, 2, 1...



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_IOS



    I was thinking the same thing, but maybe not...



    http://paidcontent.org/article/419-d...used-by-cisco/



    Apple has apparently also garnered the name FaceTime from the eponymous company.
  • Reply 19 of 65
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,510member
    These other companies will go along with this. Generally, their trademarks aren't comparable in that their products don't compete in the same space, or because they aren't well known enough.



    I don't know how many of you were around back then to remember when Apple was sued because of OS 9. But the court ruled that Apple could use it, even though both products were OS's, because they didn't compete for the same customers.



    iOS is a natural for this. It's easy and simple to remember, and it will look good as a logo.
  • Reply 20 of 65
    gregoriusmgregoriusm Posts: 513member
    Pffffffffft..... Cisco. IBM. You don't think Apple thought of those before this?



    The deals are already done, I'll bet.



    If not, you know that Apple wouldn't make an announcement like this without being almost entirely sure that the name will stick.
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