theAppleBlog: The iPhone has a number of advantages over its smartphone competitors, but one thing it hasn’t had that users have been clamoring for is true multitasking. Push notifications were intended as a workaround designed to give users the ability to stay up-to-date with multiple apps without having to actually run them at the same time.

TechCrunch: Apple has set the standard that once every year they will release a new version of the iPhone. It stands to reason that this year will be no different, with a new model likely coming sometime this summer. But arguably just as important as Apple’s hardware refresh is the accompanying software refresh that comes with it as well. And that’s why it shouldn’t be surprising at all that whispers of iPhone OS 4.0 are starting to grow.

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Sure I’ve used a slew of apps, but who am I to be the best source of the best mobile apps? What would be best is if any one could add to one central list the best apps. And, let’s do this for journalists specifically (though others are free to use this list as well).

Thanks for joining in this fun mobile journalism project!

Used a smartphone for a while?

Pick a form and fill it out for an app other journalists should use. Explain why. If you have lots of apps to suggest, fill out the form several times – once for each app.

Did you just buy a smartphone?

Pick a results page and browse to find cool apps you should check out.

ANDROID

Form: http://bit.ly/journappsandroidform

Results: http://bit.ly/journappsandroidresults

BLACKBERRY

Form: http://bit.ly/journappsblackberryresults

Results: http://bit.ly/journappsblackberryresults

IPHONE

Form: http://bit.ly/journappsiphoneform

Results: http://bit.ly/journappsiphoneresults

PALM

Form: http://bit.ly/journappspalmform

Results: http://bit.ly/journappspalmresults

WINDOWS

Form: http://bit.ly/journappswindowsform

Results: http://bit.ly/journappswindowsresults

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Yes, the app is simple enough that users can edit photos quickly. The app has replaced my other photo editing apps – but I’m still using ToyCamera for most of my photo purposes.

What I like:

Simple, but effective photo editing options.

I love, love, love the ability to tint my photos – a very cool way to take a simple photo and really make it pop as though it was taken with a color flash.

What I don’t like:

Overall – I really don’t like that Photoshop for iPhone tries to be an all-in-one. Why should Photoshop try to be what it is not? Photoshop for the desktop is used for editing images. The app tries to also be a place for taking photos (but offers nothing beyond the normal camera) and for sharing photos (why go up against all the other sharing apps).

And, just a simple thing, but why does Adobe offer a different icon for the mobile Photoshop – I miss the opportunity to have a beautiful, aqua-styled icon like the feather icon used for desktop app.

In conclusion:

Adobe’s app should be an extension of itself. Why go up against photo-taking apps? Why go up against photo sharing apps? That’s more to worry about. Adobe should focus on what it does best – elegant and complex, yet simple to use image editing.

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Fluent News is made by Fluent Mobile and the Fluent’s founder and CEO, Michael Adler,  says it “is the first iPhone and iPod Touch application to aggregate exclusively made-for-mobile content from the most trusted news sources across the Web into a single, easy-to-read and up-to-the-minute mobile newspaper.”

Fluent News can also be accessed through other mobile devices at http://www.fluentnews.com. The iPhone app fetches information from multiple news sources, but here are some of the interesting features: article sharing (through Facebook, Twitter and e-mail), offline access, ability to compare coverage by multiple sources for the same story.

The Fluent News app is available free and click here to visit the app in Apple’s App Store. Click here to see a demo video on YouTube.

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Here’s Apple’s description of the camera: “iPhone 3G S features a new 3 megapixel autofocus camera that takes amazing pictures and video, making it easier than ever to capture, edit and share those moments instantly with family and friends. The new autofocus camera adjusts focus, exposure, color and contrast for the best possible image and includes an automatic macro focus for extra close up shots. With the new “tap to focus” feature, you simply touch the display to select an object or area of interest and the camera automatically re-adjusts focus and exposure. You can record incredible high-quality video clips and edit them right on your iPhone 3G S by simply trimming the start and stop points. With iPhone 3G S you can send photos and video by email or MMS and post them to MobileMe or YouTube with just one tap.”

During the announcements, Apple said that the iPhone responsible for 3.5 times more picture uploads to flickr.com. Not much of a surprise to some people, the added camera functionality will really make me happy – as I’ve been using the iPhone as my only camera for a photo-a-day project on flickr this year.

I’m betting that the iPhone’s video camera functionality will mean a dark day for the low-cost cameras by Flip (and other brands). iPhone videos will probably lack the quality available with, say, the Flip HD. But, why carry around my Flip Ultra any more once I get the new iPhone? What do you think?

(Photo: I took this photo Feb. 21 of a tree in my backyard using the Toy Camera app on my iPhone.)

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From Apple: ”The voice control feature in iPhone 3G S offers hands free operation for both iPhone and iPod functions. Simply speak the appropriate commands into the built-in microphone or headset microphone to dial by name or number. With voice control you can play your favorite music by artist, album or playlist and activate the Genius feature by saying “play more songs like this.” You can also tell iPhone to pause the music, play the next track, turn on shuffle or ask, “What’s playing right now?”"

An interesting move. Rather than going the route of tactile input (typing on a real keyboard), or handwriting recognition: Apple is using touch and voice.

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New iPhones, if unveiled, COULD:  be “ultra-thin,” include a front-facing camera as TechCrunch suggests, a matte black finish, go on sale at WWDC – which would make tons of people happy, be available in 16GB and 32GB models, include a low-cost 4GB iPhone, the new phones would be a stand against the Palm Pre — which people say was modeled after the iPhone, AT&T is increasing its high-speed wireless data network that could help out new iPhones, the iPhones could be called iPhone Video and go on sale right after the WWDC keynote, or the iPhones could not be available Monday — and only announced Monday, they could include a glowing Apple logo — sure another battery life waster!, the camera may be beefed up to 3.2 megapixels (if this happens, I’ll sing out in joy!), oh yeah, and Walt Mossberg may ALREADY have the new iPhone!

Mr. Jobs could return with a rock-star like performance to lead Apple, because some senior managers are hinting that Jobs will return in time to unveil a new product. Also, he’s been sounding energetic lately, surely a good sign.

The App Store will likely steal much of the show — as pointed to by WWDC banners and Apple’s stocks since the app store went live.

iPhone OS 3.0 is a crowd and rumor favorite: iPhone OS 3.0 may surprise users and let them share or suggest apps, 3.0 could also include radio tagging – something needed for Nike Sport Kit, these blurry photos taken in China could show camera auto-focus and a compass to be added with 3.0, users may be able to download movies straight to iPhones — wirelessly that is, TUAW has several last-minute suggestions for 3.0 – including organizing apps for each screen on your desktop computer – something that would save me much frustration and time, votes in a poll at TUAW show most people guess 3.0 will become available right after the WWDC keynote, Safari with 3.0 could include location awareness (accessing the phone’s GPS functionality and something that could mean a soon launch of Google Latitude for the iPhone), and parental controls within the app store.

Oh yeah, and that Snow Leopard thing will be discussed. iPhones sure do steal the pre-WWDC show.

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