One of the most notable features of the new iPhone OS 3.1 and iTunes 9.0 update is the home screen feature. This is a very powerful feature, and I’m sure many iPhone and iPod Touch users will find it very convenient. I’m impressed with how easy Apple has made it for us.

In this post I’ll show you how you can rearrange applications on iPhone OS 3.1 using iTunes 9.

Note: Make sure you install the iPhone 3.1 update and iTunes 9.

How to Organize applications on your iPhone or iPod Touch home screen using iTunes 9.0

1. Connect your device to your computer and launch the iTunes 9.0 application.

2. Click the Applications tab.

3. Click and checkmark the Sync Applications box. If you don’t want any application synced to your device simply uncheck it from the list and it won’t be added. iTunes 9.0 also gives you the option of sorting the applications by category, name, or date and lets you search as well.

4. On the right of the Sync Applications box you’ll see your iPhone or iPod Touche’s homescreen. Rearrange the icons the way you want it. You can drag icons up and down, left or right, or even drag them to another home screen. The square boxes on the far right well show you the different home screen pages that you can add/rearrange icons to. Just click on “1″ if you want an app on the first home screen, “2″ if you want it on the second”, and so on. It’s that easy!

5. Once you’ve rearranged the icons the way you want them, click on the Sync button on the bottom right corner.

6. iTunes will now start syncing the applications the way you arranged them on iTuness to your iPhone or iPod Touch. A Sync in Progress message will appear on your device. Once iTunes is done syncing, your applications will appear on your device!

I really like this feature about iPhone 3.1. Thank you for finally listening to us and bringing us this feature to iTunes 9 Apple!

One of Boy Genius Report’s  “reliable source” has given them details on iTunes 9. According to the reliable source, iTunes 9 will include the following features:

1. Blu-ray support
2. Apps management - You will be able to visually manage your apps and rearrange them in iTunes 9.0
3. Social Networking – Integration with Twitter, Facebook, and Last.fm
4. Permanent bricking of jailbroken iPhones – If you jailbreak your iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPhone 3GS it will be permanently bricked.

Of course, this is just a rumor and nothing has been confirmed. The only feature I would use in this list is the iPhone apps management feature. It would be nice to be able to rearrange my icons from my computer instead of manually doing it. There is no iTunes 9 release date, but it is expected to launch in September when the new iPod Touch third generation will be announced.

[via Boy Genius Report and Tech Crunch]