The long awaited iOS4

This week Apple released their iOS4 software update for iPhone and iPod Touch.  In conjunction with the release of the iPhone 4, the update is free to download from iTunes for users of iPhones 3G, 3GS and 4 and iPod Touches 2nd or 3rd gen.  I have an iPod Touch 2nd generation and have updated but unfortunately for lowly users like me, and those of the 3G iPhone, not all new features are available.  What I have found to be nice and useful are app grouping, the new iBooks app, new interface and increased mail options. 

The iPhone 4
Image: ipadnewstracker.com

I think I had about six pages of apps I used regularly before so the grouping system is perfect for me: i now have my most used apps on the homescreen and following that a screen of groups for the rest including 'Reference', 'Utilities' and several 'Games' groups.  Very nice indeed.  The groups you make (by holding down to wiggle and dragging on top of another app) are automatically named for you but the names are editable.

iBooks is quite long awaited as many eBook reader apps have come and gone with an exclusive store missing.  It neatly puts your purchases on a bookshelf and, once selected, a turn of a page is easily done with your finger.  The only downside to the app, apart from a limited selection (for now at least) is the overpricing of the eBooks.  Most of them are around the £5-8 mark but hopefully as time goes on, a lot of free quality books will come available.

There is a new animation for the apps to slide into place which is lovely and the docked apps also have a much nicer area to live in.  In Mail there is now an option to view all your in-boxes at once and apparently the option for threaded emails (although I havne't experienced it yet...).

The iPhone 4 is smaller than previous iPhones but with better resolution
Image: telegraph.co.uk

The extras for iPhone 3GS and 4 and iPod Touch 3rd gen users are multi-tasking and homescreen backgrounds and some other iPhone specific things but I can't experience those so you'll have to ask someone else (or visit Yahoo's pretty sorted review)!