Developer Apparently Reports Updating Application for iPhone OS 4.0 [Updated]

CNET reports that it has received an e-mail from a "prominent" iPhone application developer noting that the developer's application has been updated for iPhone OS 4.0, implying that Apple has already delivered an early version of the updated operating system and development tools into the hands of select developers.

iPhone OS 4.0 is imminent. At least, that's the only conclusion I can draw from an e-mail I just received from a prominent app developer.

The message includes the following snippet: "Just wanted to give you a heads up that we've submitted an updated app for the new iPhone OS 4.0 software."

In the past two years, Apple has held March media events introducing iPhone OS updates and providing tools to allow developers to implement the new features included in the revisions ahead of the public launches of the new operating systems in June or July. Apple has, however, offered demos of applications running on the new operating systems at these March events, indicating that select developers had been provided even earlier access to development tools for the new iPhone OS versions.

One wildcard in the development of iPhone OS 4.0 may be Apple's tablet device, which has been rumored to be at least based on iPhone OS and is expected to be introduced later this month. A report from earlier this month indicated that Apple may be preparing to launch a beta version of iPhone OS 4.0 at this month's rumored media event. A separate report earlier this week claimed that the tablet does in fact run on the iPhone OS kernel and that the inclusion of tablet-related code in the latest iPhone OS versions has precluded Apple from offering any new software updates for the iPhone recently.

Sketchy evidence of iPhone OS 4.0 appeared in Boy Genius Report's browser logs in mid-December, although such data is easily faked. Soon after, an entry for iPhone OS 4.0 appeared in a developer's analytics data.

Update: MacRumors has identified and communicated with the developer of the application in question, and it appears that the mention of "iPhone OS 4.0" was in fact an error in the press release issued by the company. As was postulated by The iPhone Blog, the application had actually been updated to version 4.0 rather than for iPhone OS 4.0, which was likely the source of the error.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like a Huge Upgrade

Friday November 21, 2025 9:10 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the new features and improvements expected to come to next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple's next-generation iPhones are less than ten months away and we already have a good idea about what to expect based on corroborated leaks, rumors,...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 27 Will Reportedly Have Two Key Upgrades

Sunday November 23, 2025 8:48 am PST by
iOS 27 will reportedly have two major elements: quality improvements and new AI features. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that Apple is focused on improving "quality and underlying performance" over adding new features. Gurman said there is one exception to this rule, though, as he expects...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
apple news banner

Apple News Loses CNN

Monday November 24, 2025 7:56 am PST by
American multinational news company CNN has abruptly pulled its content from Apple News, Semafor reports. CNN quietly removed its stories from Apple News over the weekend and there is no longer a feed from the network to subscribe to in the app. This effectively ends its distribution agreement with Apple while the two sides negotiate new terms. Discussions are apparently ongoing and CNN's...