iOS 4
Version of the iOS operating system | |
![]() | |
![]() iOS 4.0 home screen | |
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 |
Platforms | |
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), iPod Touch (1st generation) and, from iOS 4.3 onwards, for the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch (2nd 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. Starting with iOS 5, iPhones do not have the iPod app, but instead have the Music and Videos apps, as the iPod Touch and iPad do. 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).
Apps
[edit]History
[edit]iPhone OS 4 was introduced at the Apple Special Event on April 8, 2010. At the WWDC keynote address on June 7, 2010, it was renamed to iOS 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]Home screen
[edit]iOS 4 raised the maximum number of home screen apps from 180 to 2,160 due to the addition of folders. These folders would automatically be named based on the containing apps' respective App Store category.[4] On the iPhone, the ability to choose wallpapers and see them on the home screen was also added, though the feature was notably absent from iPhone 3G and the second-generation iPod Touch due to poor performance of icon animations.[5] Additionally, 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.
Multitasking
[edit]iOS 4 introduced multitasking. The feature allowed 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.[6][7] 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.[8]
Camera
[edit]The Camera app now supports 5x digital zoom.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11] It also gained support for MobileMe e-mail aliases and multiple Exchange accounts for business users.[6]
iOS 4 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.[12][13] It was not available on the iPhone 3G.[13]
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.[14] 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!.[15] Beginning with iOS 4.2.1, specific words or phrases on a page could be searched.[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 due to hardware limitations, though the iPhone 3G did support iOS 4, despite it having the same processor as the first-generation iPhone. However, 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 | iPhone only
|
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] |
|
Feature Update |
4.2.1[c] | 8C148 8C148a[d] |
Jasper | November 22, 2010[30] | 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) | |||||
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 | Fixes a bug that caused location to be reported incorrectly[36] | 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 | Fixes a bug that allowed an attacker in a privileged network position to capture and/or modify data in SSL/TLS-protected network sessions | Bug Fixes | |
iPhone 4 (CDMA) only | |||||
4.2.5 | 8E128 | Unknown | January 11, 2011 | Preview release on iPhone 4 (CDMA). Only available to reviewers, never shipped on release devices
|
Preview Release |
4.2.6 | 8E200 | Phoenix | January 31, 2011 | Initial release on iPhone 4 (CDMA), as while 4.2.5 also came with the device, 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 | Fixes a bug that caused location to be reported incorrectly[36] | 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 | Fixes a bug that allowed an attacker in a privileged network position to capture and/or modify data in SSL/TLS-protected network sessions[37] | 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.
- ^ 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.[29]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 c 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)