Those sporting and iPhone or iPod touch will be happy today as its the day you can finally update your Apple device to iOS 4. Well, as long as you have a compatible device, but more on that in a second.

To begin with, Apple will have iOS 4 available today, though at the time of this posting its not yet available. Still, thats ok because it gives a little time to do some basic prep work. And as for those compatible devices, that will be the iPhone 3GS (full support) and iPhone 3G (limited support) as well as the third generation iPod touch (full support) and 2nd generation iPod touch (limited support). Those still sporting an original iPhone and/or older iPod touch will be out of luck on this one.

While you are waiting I would suggest doing a few things. First, launch iTunes and make sure you have the latest version of that installed. You should be at version 9.2, which was originally released back on last Wednesday. After iTunes is updated and running head on into the App Store and do a “Check for Updates” so you make make sure you have any and all iOS 4 app updates that may have been released over the past few days. And the last item in the prep work category — make sure you have some backups of your data.

Tip: You can force a backup by right clicking on your iPhone in iTunes. Just right click on the name of your iPhone and pick backup. From there iTunes will take over and do its thing.

And for a recap;

• Install iTunes 9.2
• Update all of your apps
• Backup your iPhone

Of course, at this point you can sit back and wait and think about all the cool things that iOS 4 can do such as multitasking apps and better organization through folders.

Plus you can also tease your iPad carrying friends who are still going to have to wait a few months before they can enjoy iOS 4, because if you remember back — that is not expected to arrive until sometime in the Fall.