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iOS 4 facts for kids
| Version of the iOS operating system | |
 |
|
iOS 4.1 home screen on an iPhone 3GS
|
|
| 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)
|
| Repository |
|
| Update method | iTunes through a computer |
| Package manager | App Store |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
| License | Proprietary EULA except for open-source components |
| Preceded by | IPhone OS 3 |
| Succeeded by | IOS 5 |
| Support status | |
| Obsolete, unsupported. Drops support for the iPhone (1st generation) and the iPod Touch (1st generation). | |
iOS 4 was a big update for Apple's mobile phones and devices. It was the fourth main version of the iOS system, coming after iPhone OS 3. Apple first showed it on April 8, 2010, and released it to everyone on June 21, 2010. This was the first time Apple called its system "iOS" instead of "iPhone OS". This change happened because the iPad had just come out. iOS 5 replaced iOS 4 on October 12, 2011.
iOS 4 brought many new features that we now use all the time. These included folders on the home screen, which let you put many more apps there. You could also set a cool picture as your home screen background on newer iPhones. This update also added a way for apps to do things in the background, like making calls or playing music. This meant you could switch between apps more easily. iOS 4 also added a spell checker, brought the iBooks app to iPhone, and combined all your emails into one inbox. It also introduced Game Center for playing games with friends and FaceTime for video calls.
Some users with older iPhone 3G phones had problems with iOS 4. They reported that their phones became slower and the battery ran out faster. Apple looked into these issues. Around the same time, the iPhone 4 came out and had problems with its antenna. Apple tried to fix this with software updates, but it was difficult.
iOS 4 was the last version of iOS that had the "iPod" app for music and videos on iPhones and iPads. After iOS 4, iPhones and iPads got separate "Music" and "Videos" apps. It was also the last iOS version to work on the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod Touch. These devices could only update to version 4.2.1 because of their older hardware.
New Features in iOS 4
iOS 4 introduced many exciting new features for Apple devices. These updates made phones and other devices much easier and more fun to use.
Organize Apps with Folders
One of the biggest changes was the ability to create folders for your apps. Before iOS 4, you could only have a certain number of apps on your home screens. With folders, you could put many apps into one group. This made it possible to have up to 2,160 apps on your device! The folders even got names automatically based on the types of apps inside them.
Multitasking for Apps
iOS 4 brought true multitasking. This meant that some apps could keep working even when you switched to another app. For example, an app for internet calls could stay active while you checked your messages. You could quickly switch between apps by double-clicking the home button. This feature was designed to not drain your battery too quickly. However, older devices like the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod Touch did not get this feature because they weren't powerful enough.
Spell Check
A helpful spell-checking feature was added across the system. If you typed a word incorrectly, it would be underlined in red. You could then tap on the word to see suggestions for the correct spelling.
Camera Updates
The Camera app got a small but useful update. It now allowed you to zoom in up to 5 times digitally when taking photos.
Better Mail App
The Mail app became much more convenient. It got a "unified inbox," which meant you could see all your emails from different accounts in one place. This made it easier to manage all your messages.
Game Center for Fun
iOS 4.1 introduced a new app called Game Center. This was an online network for social gaming. It let you invite friends to play games together and compare your scores on leaderboards. It was a great way to connect with friends through games. However, it was not available on the iPhone 3G.
FaceTime Video Calls
FaceTime was a brand new app in iOS 4. It allowed users to make video calls using their device's camera. You could talk face-to-face with other FaceTime users over Wi-Fi. This feature was only available on devices that had a front-facing camera, like the iPhone 4.
Safari Web Browser
The Safari web browser also got some updates. When you searched the internet, you could now choose Bing as a search option, in addition to Google and Yahoo!. Later, with iOS 4.2.1, you could also search for specific words or phrases directly on a web page.
Home Screen Wallpapers
On the iPhone, you could now choose a custom picture for your home screen wallpaper. This feature was already on the iPad, and now iPhone users could enjoy it too. However, this feature was not available on older devices like the iPhone 3G due to performance reasons.
Common Issues
While iOS 4 brought many improvements, some users experienced problems.
Performance and Battery Life
Many users with the iPhone 3G noticed that their phones became slower and their battery life got worse after updating to iOS 4. Apple looked into these issues.
Alarm Clock Glitch
In all versions of iOS 4, the alarm clock in the Clock app had a problem. During Daylight Saving Time changes, the alarm might go off an hour too early or too late.
iPhone 4 Antenna Issues
When the iPhone 4 was released, some users reported problems with its antenna. This issue became widely known as "Antennagate." Apple tried to fix this with a software update in iOS 4.0.1, but it did not fully solve the problem.
Supported Devices
iOS 4 stopped supporting the very first iPhone and first-generation iPod Touch. This was because their hardware was too old to run the new features well. This was the first time Apple stopped supporting an iPhone model.
The following devices could run iOS 4:
iPhone |
iPod Touch
|
iPad |
Apple TV
|
Version History
iOS 4 had several updates after its first release. These updates often fixed bugs, improved performance, or added small new features.
| Version | Release date | Main Changes | Update type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | June 21, 2010 | Initial release for iPhone 4. Introduced folders, multitasking (on newer devices), iBooks, and FaceTime (on iPhone 4). | Initial Release |
| 4.0.1 | July 15, 2010 | Changed how cellular signal strength was shown. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.0.2 | August 11, 2010 | Fixed security bugs related to viewing certain PDF files. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.1 | September 8, 2010 | Introduced Game Center. Added HDR photos for iPhone 4. | Feature Update |
| 4.2 | November 1, 2010 | Added AirPlay (for streaming audio/video) and AirPrint (for wireless printing). Improved performance for older devices. | Feature Update |
| 4.2.1 | November 22, 2010 | Last version for iPhone 3G and iPod Touch (2nd generation). Fixed Wi-Fi issues on iPad. | Bug Fixes |
| Updates for most devices (except iPhone 4 CDMA) | |||
| 4.3 | March 4, 2011 | Introduced Personal Hotspot for iPhone 4 (GSM) and iTunes Home Sharing. Improved AirPlay. | Feature Update |
| 4.3.1 | March 25, 2011 | Fixed screen glitches on iPod Touch and iPhone activation issues. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.3.2 | April 14, 2011 | Fixed FaceTime calls freezing and connectivity issues on iPads. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.3.3 | May 4, 2011 | Fixed a bug where location data was reported incorrectly. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.3.4 | July 15, 2011 | Fixed security bugs related to PDF files. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.3.5 | July 25, 2011 | Fixed a security bug that could affect secure network connections. | Bug Fixes |
| Updates only for iPhone 4 (CDMA) | |||
| 4.2.5 | January 11, 2011 | Preview release for iPhone 4 (CDMA), adding personal Wi-Fi hotspot. | Preview Release |
| 4.2.6 | January 31, 2011 | Initial public release for iPhone 4 (CDMA). | Initial Release |
| 4.2.7 | April 14, 2011 | Fixed FaceTime calls freezing. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.2.8 | May 4, 2011 | Fixed a bug where location data was reported incorrectly. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.2.9 | July 15, 2011 | Fixed security bugs related to PDF files. | Bug Fixes |
| 4.2.10 | July 25, 2011 | Fixed a security bug that could affect secure network connections. | Bug Fixes |