Apple caught many of us by surprise earlier this week when it announced that it would host an invite-only event, less than a week after iPad (Wi-Fi only) became available for purchase, in order to highlight the company’s forthcoming iPhone OS 4.0.

It goes without saying that some press events of this nature deliver an unreasonable amount of hype, but yesterday’s event in my estimation was a huge victory for a company, and a product that has been mercilessly scrutinized in various ad campaigns highlighting what the iPhone “can’t” do. Perhaps now those same ad agencies are scrambling to find something, anything to make the iPhone seem inferior to the gadgets on the block.

Let’s see here. As of this summer the iPhone will natively support: multitasking (VoIP, Audio, Location Services, Push Notifications, Local Notifications, Task Completion & Fast App Switching), iBook Store eBooks, enhanced email, opening attachments in third-party apps, desktop folders, robust enterprise features, social gaming, HTML5-based app advertising, Bluetooth keyboard connectivity and nearly 100 other consumer facing features. Honestly, even the most ardent critics must admit that Apple has addressed many of the feature requests that the nerdy/techy segment had been clamoring for, and that the general populace didn’t even know they wanted until now.

Apple’s iPhone OS 4.0 is quickly silencing the platform’s critics with a growing and intuitive list of cans, and this doesn’t even take into account that Apple is widely expected to announce new iPhone hardware in a few months that will undoubtedly contain new exclusive features aimed at enticing user upgrades.

Perhaps we’ll finally get that front facing camera for video conferencing?

Perhaps.

I am curious to get your take on it, so check out the keynote and post your thoughts as a comment. http://bit.ly/cXEzKf