On April 8, Apple unveiled plans for the biggest and most exciting iPhone software update yet. iPhone OS 4 will include over 100 new user features for iPhone and iPod touch owners to enjoy. There were 7 main features to the OS4 that were highlighted during the special presentation and they included Multitasking, Folders, Enhanced Mail, iBooks, Enterprise, Game Center, & iAD.

Multitasking

“We weren’t the first to this party but we’re gonna be the best!” Thats what Apple’s CEO Steve Job explained on Thursday when he introduced OS4 and the ability for users to multitask with the new software update which will be available later this summer. Everyon that has a phone that’s capable of multitasking (androids, Palm Pre, etc) has the same issue -  Huge Battery Life Issue & Sluggish Phone! In Apple’s new OS4, battery life is  not affected when multi-tasking nor is the phone’s speed and response time compromised. There are 7 features to Multitasking which includes:

• Background Audio: You’re listening to Pandora and you receive a text message. In the current software for Iphone, you would have to exit your Pandora app if you wanted to respond to the text and lose your music. OS4 allows users to switch to any other app whether texting or checking your bank account online while still listening to Pandora. Even with the phone in a locked state, you can switch to the next song just by hitting the arrow as if you were playing your Ipod.

• Voice Over IP: When you receive a Skype call currently with OS3, you can’t check your email or check to see what’s playing at the movies. But with OS4, users can now be talking via Voice Over IP and browsing through other apps or on the web at the same time.

• Background Location (GPS): This was a big one! At least for me it was. I love my GPS on my phone but I hate having to lose my gps just to answer a phone call or surf the web. With OS4 you can still get directions all while browsing the internet, talking on the phone, or using other apps. The audio will continue to give you directions in the background.

• Push Notifications & Local Notifications: This is kind of self explanatory. You can still receive push notifications while in other apps and browsing the web or on the phone.

• Fast App Switching: Users can switch from one app to another while multitasking without using the CPU hardware. That means no sluggish wait time when using your iPhone.

• Ability to change Wallpaper: Another popular request from user. You can now change the wallpaper on your Iphone.

Folders

Another major addition with OS4 is the ability to make folders. Many Iphoners have pages and pages of apps on their phone and no organization. With the new software you can create a folder simply by dragging the icon of the app to another app which then creates a folder. The folders intelligently names itself based on the category (ie. games, finance, social) or you can rename the folder whatever you like.

Email

Users now will have a unified email box. This makes it convenient so you dont have to switch from one mailbox to another mailbox when you receive mail. And of course. Those who like to keep their email boxes separate that option is still there as well. Another cool feature to the new email is now when you are having an email conversation with someone, a thread is created of the conversation so if you’ve replied to the person 3 or 4 times you can see the string of email conversation all there at once.

iBook

With over, 20,000 books downloaded in a weekends time, iBook is already a huge hit with the Ipad and of course we all knew Apple would bring it over to the Iphone right? Purchase your favorite book, comic, or magazine from iBook and read it right on your Iphone

Enterprise

Apple is showing that they’re getting more serious about attracting corporate company’s. OS4 will incorporate even more secure data protection, Mobile Device Management, Wireless Application Distribution (previously Enterprise users would have to plug into Itunes to download the apps distributed by their company), and multiple exchange accounts.

Game Center

This is big! If you have an Xbox or have kids that have an Xbox then I’m sure you’ve heard of the popular Xbox LIVE which allows users to play each other virtually online. OS4 brings “Game Center” to the Iphone! Apple has over 50,000 game titles in their application catalog and the new game center will allow Iphoners to to invite their iphone buddys to play each other. If you’re in a game and you need a partner, game center will automatically pair you with somebody with similar skills.

iAD

Leave it up to Apple to find a better way to do anything! Currently, on many of the free apps, users have to deal with annoying advertisements and banners for products. The developers incorporate the ads in their apps to make some type of income when users click on them. Apple has come up with a better way of advertising through iAds. Steve Jobs explained that the lack of interaction and emotion from web advertisement is what spun their interest in adding iADs to OS4. Instead of a user clicking on an ad and the ad taking them outside of their app, it keeps them in their app. A lot less annoying. Check out the video above for a better example. It’s almost like an app inside an app!

Again this are just some of the 100 new featured coming to the Iphone OS4. A few other features i though that were worth mentioning is the camera will have 5x zoom on it with OS4 as well user will now be able to “tap to focus” in video mode. And if all if this doesn’t get you excited, develpoers have discovered that Ichat is definitely coming to the Iphone and it will probably be available in the summer with the new Iphone that comes out. But thats a whole different tech t article for another time!

Expect OS4 this summer (more than likely June) available for iphone 3GS, Iphone 3G, and the second & third generation Ipods. it will be available for Ipad later in the fall. Not all features are compatible with all devices. For example, multitasking is available only with iPhone 3GS and the third-generation iPod touch (32GB and 64GB models from late 2009). And if you asking why…Jobs wil tell you straight up, its time to upgrade! Gotta love technology!

You can watch the full presentation from Apple here…