Yesterday I presented the idea of what I’d include in the next major update to the iPhone operating system, iPhone OS 4.0.  Simple items, nothing too flashy or complicated for Apple to address.  Things that I’d include were I in charge of Apple.  My ideas are based on conversations with actual users and my own personal wants.  Part one discussed a grossly overlooked feature, the ability to sync the handheld with the desktop via USB.  Read on for feature two.

Feature Two:  Dynamic Application Icons

My first reaction to the iPhone was one of lust.  Lust, pure and simple.  The screenshots of the UI had me salivating.  To be specific, the icons.  They were so clear, so bold, so interesting.  My initial impression was that Apple had created a UI based on dynamic icons, icons that provided users with useful information.  A Calendar icon that showed the actual date.  A Clock icon that showed an analog clock, displaying the actual time.  A Weather icon showing the actual temperature for the specified location.  You get the idea, right.  Basically, I walked around for months believing that Apple had built a UI based on widgets, with the application icons actually being the widget.

To my surprise, when I was actually able to get hands on an iPod Touch and iPhone, the only icon that  lived up to my expectations was the Calendar program.  As you know if you’ve ever been near an iPhone, the Calendar application icon displays the actual date.  The Clock icon displays the time, too.  10:15 am always.  Same with the Weather application, showing the current conditions as Sunny and 73.  Think about how much more interactive the UI would be if just these two icons were dynamic, displaying you actual information based on current conditions.  Now, think about the potential for this ability for other applications and their icons.

What dynamic icons would you add?  Let us know in the comments section below.  Be sure to check back tomorrow night for part three of five of the features I would give you in OS 4.0.

Were I in charge of Apple.