New iPhone OS Allows Multitasking*

iPhone OS 4 will at long last allow iPhone users to multitask—as long as they’re using the latest version of the device. Just double-click the home button and you’ll see a list of apps you can switch between. It’s not precisely true multitasking—apps can only access select services the phone is running in the background—but it seems fairly effective, Engadget writes.

Apps will be able to use those background services to play audio, make and receive calls, and use GPS location services. You’ll also be able to finish tasks like uploads and downloads in the background, and you’ll be able to put apps to sleep and resume them instantly. But there’s some bad news: the service will only work on the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3G. The suckers who bought an iPhone 3G or earlier are out of luck. (More iPhone 3GS stories.)