As announced at the WWDC launch of the iPhone 4, iOS 4 will become available to older devices today. Just some of the goodies include multitasking, folders, home screen wallpapers, and 5 x digital zoom for the camera. The 3GS will get all of the new features, while some won’t be able to make it onto the 3G due to hardware limitations. iPhone 4 shipments are on the way and should be landing on the 24th., which will give existing Apple devotees a bit of time to play with the new features first.
It’s hard to say if the 3G is really getting stiffed on multitasking because of technical limits, or Apple just wants to push people to upgrade their devices. One way or the other, it likely won’t take long for someone to shoehorn the full iOS 4 into the 3G, and who knows, maybe even the original. There have been plenty of third-party multitasking solutions in the past, so it seems entirely plausible to get an official one to work.
Beyond the software, iPhone 4 has plenty more to offer, such as an incredibly high-resolution touchscreen (960 x 640) Apple is calling the Retina display. There’s also an especially nice 5 megapixel camera capable of HD video recording, and a front-facing VGA camera used for the new FaceTime video calling service. Everyone on IntoMobile team had their own take on the announcement, but as far as I’m concerned, the only real innovation here is the screen, although the camera is certainly impressive.
If you’re really itching to get iOS 4, crack open Apple’s software update page, and keep refreshing the tab throughout the day. Of course, we’ll be sure to let you know right here as soon as the update goes live, too. For those wondering if they should just grab the iPhone 4 instead, we’ve got some hands-on video and pictures over here to help you decide.
UPDATE: We’re hearing that the update is going live at 1 PM EST. So, ten minutes. Sit tight!