The OS is already pre-emptive, and I've done multi-threaded stuff myself, both high-level (run loops) and low-level (manual sync), and I took a glance at most of the new calls. If I read things correctly, there are hooks to run your own code in what I assume are background threads, not just calls for passing grunt work off to a background thread with a specific function. Also, and again if I read things correctly, they might have extended the abilities of the notification callbacks beyond the 3 canned alert choices. Regardless, unlike the latest Sony PS3 fiasco, things seem to have gotten better, not worse. Just how much better I'm not sure I care at the moment; Maemo 5 has more to offer than I can handle right now.