Glance: A look at of the major changes coming to the software behind the iPhone, iPad

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Glance: Changes coming to the iPhone, iPad

Some of the major changes coming to the software that runs the iPhone and the iPad:

— The ability to use multiple apps at the same time. This is something iPhone users have long been clamoring for, and it will allow users to, say, play music from an app such as Pandora while surfing the Web — something that isn’t possible with the current software.

— A version of Apple’s new iBooks e-book reader that works on the iPhone, along with access to Apple’s Web-based iBookstore. This is currently only available for the iPad. The expansion will give many more people another way to buy and read digital books on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

— The ability to make folders for applications. Although it would allow people to load more apps on their phones, few would need that. For most, this will be most useful for organizing apps into separate folders for games, social networking and other tasks.

— Mobile ads within apps that Apple will host and sell. For application developers, this could offer a good way to make money. Those developers could still charge for apps or perhaps offer paid ones for free with ads. For consumers, it’s meant to be better than current mobile ad offerings, as you can more easily return to the app you were using after viewing the ad.