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iOS 4 - Can you upgrade YOUR iPhone/iPod touch?

By | June 21, 2010, 6:55am PDT

I’m getting a lot of questions about iOS 4, in particular related to which devices can be upgraded. Here’s the info you need.

First, availability. June 21st. Currently the only word I have on iOS 4 for the iPad is that it will appear sometime this fall.

IOS 4 will be a free update for iPhone and iPod touch (unlike previous OS updates for the iPod touch, which have been chargeable, setting users back $9.99).

iOS 4 will be compatible with the following devices:

  • iPhone 3G
  • iPhone 3GS
  • iPhone 4
  • iPod touch 2nd and 3rd-generation only

Note: How can you tell if your iPod touch is 2nd and 3rd-generation? Look for the volume control buttons on the left hand side - this feature wasn’t present on the 1st generation iPod touch.

The original iPhone 2G and 1st-generation iPod touch will not be able to upgrade to iOS 4.

Note: How can you tell if your iPhone is 2G? Flip it over. The fist-generation 2G handset had a metal finish on the back with a black plastic band at the bottom. 3G and 3GS handsets come in a smooth glass black or white finish.

Also, not all features will be available across all devices. The following features are only available for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and the 3rd-generation iPod touch:

  • Multitasking
  • Custom wallpaper
  • Bluetooth keyboard support

More info on iOS 4 here.

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Topics

Apple iPhone, Apple iPod, Apple iPod Touch, 2G, Digital Music, Smart Phones, Digital Media, Cellular Phones, Personal Technology, Consumer Electronics, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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