Yesterday Apple introduced iPhone OS 4.0. Once the subject of endless speculation and a mountain of rumors, we now know this summer’s newest OS release will feature multitasking, new revenue opportunities for developers and better enterprise support, to name just a few of the new offerings. What struck me about the Apple presentation, however, was not the ingenuity or the originality of the new features. No, what struck me is that I had seen almost all of them before in Android 2.1.
Feature |
iPhone OS 4.0 |
Android 2.1 |
| Tap to focus |  |
|
| In-app SMS API | |
|
| Home screen wallpaper | |
|
| 5x digital zoom | |
Varies by phone |
| Playlists | |
|
| Bluetooth keyboard API | |
|
| Data-only settings | |
|
| Multitasking | |
|
| Picture/video API | |
|
| Recent searches | |
|
| Alert/SMS font sizes | |
 |
| Background location API | |
|
| Background task completion | |
|
| Push notification API | |
Google services only |
| Location notification API | |
|
| Suspended background apps | |
|
| Desktop folders | |
|
| Home screen wallpaper | |
|
| Lock screen wallpaper | |
|
| Unified inbox | |
|
| Multiple Exchange accounts | |
|
| On-handset attachment opening | |
|
| Threaded emails | |
|
| iBooks | |
|
| Encrypted email | |
Possible with API |
| Encrypted email attachments | |
Possible with API |
| Centralized device management | |
Possible with API |
| Exchange 2010 support | |
|
| SSL VPN | |
|
| Administrative app distribution | |
|
| Ad infrastructure | |
Only if the FTC approves the Google/AdMob deal |
| Social gaming network | |
|
[via Icrontic]
