Hasta La Gadget!

In addition to a tablet device, Apple is expected to introduce the next major upgrade for its iPhone operating system in a press event next week, according to reports.

Fox News cites an unnamed Apple employee who claims iPhone OS 4.0 will be a major topic of the Jan. 27 press event along with the fabled Apple tablet. The source did not disclose any details about the software upgrade, but in a separate report The Boy Genius Report cites one of its “trusty Apple connects” who stated the following:

• There will be multitouch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
• “A few new ways” to run applications in the background — multitasking.
• Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient.
• The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” more than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”
• The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.

“We’re not commenting on rumors,” an Apple spokesman told Wired.com.

Wired.com polled a few iPhone app developers who said it was realistic to expect iPhone OS 4.0 to be demonstrated next week. Last year, Apple held a press event previewing iPhone OS 3.0 in March and released the upgrade during May’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Apple could feasibly demonstrate iPhone OS 4.0 next week (assuming it’s ready) to give developers time to prepare their apps for the update prior to releasing it at WWDC.

Phillip Ryu, a partner at iPhone development house Tap Tap Tap, said his impression was iPhone OS 4.0 should be ready for announcement because Apple will presumably announce the tablet’s software development kit, which would most likely contain some elements of iPhone OS 4.0.

Fox News’ source added that Apple will launch iLife 2010 during next week’s event. That could indeed be true, because Apple has released most of its previous iLife software suites during January Macworld Expo conferences in years past.

We’ll find out soon enough. Stay tuned here on Gadget Lab, where we’ll provide live blogging and news coverage of Apple’s press event next week.

See Also:

• Everything We Know About Apple’s Touchscreen Tablet
• Approaching January, Apple Tablet Rumors Run Wild

Photo of an iPhone 3GS: Jon Snyder/Wired.com