Apple iOS 4 review: Getting there

Gsmarena have posted a review of the new Apple iOS 4.

What�s new:
* Homescreen wallpapers
* Folder organization of the homescreen icons
* Multitasking and fast app switching
* Google/Wikipedia search in Spotlight
* Bluetooth keyboard pairing support
* SMS character counter
* SMS search
* Email threading
* Unified Email inbox
* Email archiving is now available when you setup Gmail
* Spell checker
* iPod music player can now create, edit and delete playlists
* 5x digital zoom in still camera
* Touch-focus in video capture (for video enabled iPhones)
* Keyboard layouts span over QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY
* Minor icon design facelifts
* Video call support (only in iPhone 4 and only over Wi-Fi)
* iBooks e-book and PDF reader

What�s still missing:
* No Flash support in the web browser
* No true multitasking for all applications
* iOS4 for iPhone 3G has limited new feature set
* Poor performance on iPhone 3G
* No quick toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or 3G
* No social networking integration
* No info widgets on lockscreen or homescreen
* SMS tones are still not customizable
* No mass mark emails as read
* No proper file browser or access to the file system
* No USB mass storage mode
* No vibration feedback when touching the screen
* No Bluetooth file transfers to other mobile phones
* Contacts lack a swipe-to-delete or mass delete feature
* No SMS/MMS delivery notifications
* No smart dialing (but Spotlight is a somewhat of a substitute)
* No DivX or XviD video support and no official third-party application to play that
* The whole iPhone is too dependent on iTunes - you cannot add the same type of content (video, photos, apps) to the phone from two computers, a regular file management interface would have been much better

We hope this is enough to keep you warm while you�re waiting on our full iPhone 4 review. We�ve covered most of the new software stuff available on iPhone 3G and 3GS but the iPhone 4 brings about even more new features � HD video recording, video calls, a three-axis gyro sensor, LED flash, etc.

Back to our story, the iOS 4 is a step in the right direction. It�s by no means revolutionary, compared to what contemporary smartphones can do. But it finally brings some long overdue features like homescreen wallpapers, accelerometer lock, multitasking, SMS search and character counter, threaded email, a common email inbox, iPod playlist management, etc.

There are still things missing though � tighter social networks integration, richer lockscreen functionality, dropdown with quick toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other features, and even custom SMS tones, if you like.

The iPhone is what it is. No other phone could�ve gotten away with omitting features that everyone takes for granted. So, where do we go from a Number Four that has so much to offer? We�re curious to know. It won�t be long we hope. And by the way, applicants for the next iPhone killer are welcome again.