“Apple Inc. plans to preview a new version of its software for the iPhone next week, amid widespread speculation that the company is also preparing to launch a new model of the cellphone later this year,” Yukari Iwatani Kane reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“The Cupertino, Calif., company said in an email invitation Thursday that it would provide a ‘sneak peek’ of a new operating system for the iPhone at a media event on March 17. It also said it would show a new software kit [SDK] that developers can use to make programs to distribute through the company’s App Store,” Kane reports.
“Apple’s event, its first since an appearance at the Macworld trade show in January, comes as speculation had been mounting about what new products the company was planning for this year. Analysts believe the software Apple will be showing is for a new iPhone that could be launched this summer,” Kane reports. “‘All of this could be the prelude before a new iPhone,’ said Charlie Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Co.”
“As popular as the iPhone has been, users have pointed to obvious improvements that Apple could make to the iPhone software such as including the ability to cut and paste and conduct videoconferences, and an advanced search technology to more easily find information stored on the device,” Kane reports.Software developers in the meantime are hoping Apple will start allowing applications, like instant messaging, that are always running in the background even when the phone is in sleep mode or being used for something else.”
Full article here.
