Developers writing for iPhone 4.0

Most are speculating great things for the June announcement however some believe that the 4.0 firmware will be with us sooner than that. Here is further news to fuel the fire for 4.0 arriving on the iPhone sooner rather than later.

iPhone OS 4.0 is imminent. That’s the conclusion I drew from an e-mail I received from a prominent app developer Friday, at least, before hearing from the developer that it was a typo.

The message included the following snippet: "Just wanted to give you a heads up that we’ve submitted an updated app for the new iPhone OS 4.0 software." (The developer later acknowledged that it meant to refer to a 4.0 version of the app itself, not OS 4.0.)

An operating-system update for the iPhone wouldn’t be surprising, given the all-but-certain announcement later this month of the hyper-rumored Apple tablet, which will most likely operate like an oversize iPod Touch–and require an updated version. For those seeking other evidence of the rumor, Boy Genius Report "discovered" OS 4.0 last month in some server logs.

Could this point to something more? A new iPhone model, perhaps? With all the recent buzzing about tablets, the rumor mill has been mostly mum on that topic. But the the timing is right: it was three years ago this month that Apple announced the first iPhone, and it’s been more than six months since the introduction of the 3GS.

In other words, a new iPhone is due. And let’s face it: The iPhone OS could do with a refit. On my wish list: multitasking, a to-do list that syncs with Outlook, and a better way to organize apps. At the very least, we may seecontact icons on the Home screen.

What’s on your iPhone OS 4.0 wish list? And do you think the expected January product launch will include a new iPhone or two, or just the tablet?

Update, 12:25 p.m.: According to the developer, this press release was meant to refer to a 4.0 version of the app itself, not OS 4.0. Even so, I think it’s very likely the Apple tablet will arrive with an updated iPhone OS. We’ll find out in a few weeks. In the meantime, keep the OS 4.0 wish list discussion going!