Rumor: Apple to bring split-screen multitasking to iPad with iOS 8
Apple's next-generation mobile operating system may give iPad users the ability to run -- and view -- two applications at the same time, thanks to new multi-app split screen support, according to a new rumor.
The new feature is said to be in the works for "iOS 8," Apple's anticipated next major release of its mobile platform, according to 9to5Mac. The feature has reportedly been designed with Apple's full-size 9.7-inch iPad models in mind, including the iPad Air, but said it's "unclear" whether multi-application support will be available on the 7.9-inch iPad mini.
Details on how such a feature might work remain unknown, though it was said that users might be able to more easily drag text, video or images from one application to another.
In the early days of iOS, multitasking support was limited to basic background functions for Apple-built applications. True multitasking support didn't arrive until iOS 4, then known as iPhone OS 4.0, which allowed developers to run specific processes in the background.
But to date, iOS has only been capable of showing one application at a time, leaving the iPad as essentially a "unitasking" device for viewing content.
The ability to view multiple applications at once and "snap" them into place on a limited screen size is currently offered by Microsoft's Surface tablet platform. AppleInsider had the opportunity to test out a Surface 2 last fall, and found that the ability to run two applications on the screen at once was a key advantage over Apple's iPad in terms of productivity.
Dual-window multitasking on Microsoft's Surface 2 is limited to only two apps at a time, and is a landscape-only affair. Windows are forced to the left and right of the display, as the 16:9 screen is too narrow to allow multitasking in portrait mode.
Apple is expected to officially unveil iOS 8 at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, which will kick off on June 2 with a keynote presentation. While enhanced multitasking support may be a key feature of iOS 8 on iPad, it's rumored that new health-related functions may be the defining aspect of the next-generation operating system on iPhone.
Apple is also reportedly planning to partner with Shazam to build in song recognition to Siri in iOS 8. And the company is also expected to introduce major improvements to the iOS Maps application, leveraging transit data it acquired in purchasing HopStop and Embark.
AppleInsider has seen steady traffic from both iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 in recent months, suggesting testing has been underway on both platforms for some time. In its WWDC 2014 announcement, Apple simply said it plans to show off its "latest advances in iOS and OS X" at this year's conference.
The new feature is said to be in the works for "iOS 8," Apple's anticipated next major release of its mobile platform, according to 9to5Mac. The feature has reportedly been designed with Apple's full-size 9.7-inch iPad models in mind, including the iPad Air, but said it's "unclear" whether multi-application support will be available on the 7.9-inch iPad mini.
Details on how such a feature might work remain unknown, though it was said that users might be able to more easily drag text, video or images from one application to another.
In the early days of iOS, multitasking support was limited to basic background functions for Apple-built applications. True multitasking support didn't arrive until iOS 4, then known as iPhone OS 4.0, which allowed developers to run specific processes in the background.
But to date, iOS has only been capable of showing one application at a time, leaving the iPad as essentially a "unitasking" device for viewing content.
The ability to view multiple applications at once and "snap" them into place on a limited screen size is currently offered by Microsoft's Surface tablet platform. AppleInsider had the opportunity to test out a Surface 2 last fall, and found that the ability to run two applications on the screen at once was a key advantage over Apple's iPad in terms of productivity.
Dual-window multitasking on Microsoft's Surface 2 is limited to only two apps at a time, and is a landscape-only affair. Windows are forced to the left and right of the display, as the 16:9 screen is too narrow to allow multitasking in portrait mode.
Apple is expected to officially unveil iOS 8 at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, which will kick off on June 2 with a keynote presentation. While enhanced multitasking support may be a key feature of iOS 8 on iPad, it's rumored that new health-related functions may be the defining aspect of the next-generation operating system on iPhone.
Apple is also reportedly planning to partner with Shazam to build in song recognition to Siri in iOS 8. And the company is also expected to introduce major improvements to the iOS Maps application, leveraging transit data it acquired in purchasing HopStop and Embark.
AppleInsider has seen steady traffic from both iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 in recent months, suggesting testing has been underway on both platforms for some time. In its WWDC 2014 announcement, Apple simply said it plans to show off its "latest advances in iOS and OS X" at this year's conference.
Comments
This is surely a sign that the large screen iPad is on its way. Also I wonder if this means Apple is going to increase RAM to 2 GB for the iPad AIr 2. Multitasking will be more memory intensive and Apple wants to make the experience as smooth as possible.
Makes me wonder if they will bring this to the iPhone, but the larger rumored 5.5" version only. I doubt it would make it to the current size models.
The later it is, the better it will work.
Same with larger screens, cut and paste, etc.
Makes me wonder if they will bring this to the iPhone, but the larger rumored 5.5" version only. I doubt it would make it to the current size models.
This drives the question of how screen splitting will work for the UI... will you only see a scrollable portion, or will it be scaled... even on a 5.5, reducing the real estate by 50% (what's that, something like two 3.25 " diagonal displays?) in landscape mode will require some pretty finely sandpapered fingers. ;-)
I would think the more likely model is 2(more?) active apps that you can, hypothetically, swipe between screens ala triple finger swiping in spaces on Mavericks.
May coincide with a larger iPad, too.
This is surely a sign that the large screen iPad is on its way. Also I wonder if this means Apple is going to increase RAM to 2 GB for the iPad AIr 2. Multitasking will be more memory intensive and Apple wants to make the experience as smooth as possible.
True multi-active Apps displaying in parallel, will be more intensive yes... but thinking you need 1GB of active pages per active app may be a bit overkill at this moment.
Safari tab refreshes drive me nuts too but certainly not enough to leave the iPad. Hopefully, this next batch of iPads will not only feature more ram, but will have an entry level set at 32 gb of storage.
I don't know how that would work. The entire ecosystem doesn't appear to be designed to make that work.
For example, imagine you have an iPad for family where 4 of the people play Infinity Blade. The game was bought and they all want to play it when it's their time. The game is 1.80 GiB. But right now, your game details are stored with the app which means that you would need that game installed 4x for this to work. Does that make sense? I don't think so.
But lets say space is infinite or they resolve the problem by storing apps clean in a general repository in iOS 8 but with every developer updating the million apps instantly so that apps are stored clean, like with Mac OS X. How do you switch users? On a Mac it can take many seconds to change the UI and load the app and that's with a faster system. If RAM is until 8 GiB I'm not sure you can store all these family accounts in memory so it's there at the push of a button. Even if you could there are power usage concerns by using RAM. So you are either dealing with speed or battery life.
It all just seems highly unlikely. If we still don't even have a Guest Account option that would only load Safari and a couple other apps without saving any data I can't see how we're going to get user accounts.
But then everything seems to drive you nuts.
2. I would like to see split screen on the iPhone as well. At the minimum FaceTime and another app or Notes or Calendar and another app. In landscape mode it could be done, especially with the larger screens.
Ha cool, another one of Samsung's features that Apple will be using/stealing.
The biggest problem of the iPad, that it can't be used as a replacement of a laptop, isn't addressed by this.
I suspect that the new iPads will have at least 4GB RAM
Here's the Surface 2 Pro Specs:
Storage* and Memory
64/128GB 256/512GB
4GB RAM 8GB RAM
It will be hilarious that the best versions of Office Apps for a tablet will be running 2-up side-by-side on an iPad
I don't know how that would work. The entire ecosystem doesn't appear to be designed to make that work.
For example, imagine you have an iPad for family where 4 of the people play Infinity Blade. The game was bought and they all want to play it when it's their time. The game is 1.80 GiB. But right now, your game details are stored with the app which means that you would need that game installed 4x for this to work. Does that make sense? I don't think so.
But lets say space is infinite or they resolve the problem by storing apps clean in a general repository in iOS 8 but with every developer updating the million apps instantly so that apps are stored clean, like with Mac OS X. How do you switch users? On a Mac it can take many seconds to change the UI and load the app and that's with a faster system. If RAM is until 8 GiB I'm not sure you can store all these family accounts in memory so it's there at the push of a button. Even if you could there are power usage concerns by using RAM. So you are either dealing with speed or battery life.
One should also take into account that the OS X desktop environment is quite a bit more complex than Springboard, with all sorts of background services running and what not. As logging in for a single user already takes much longer on OS X than it takes for iOS to set up the home screen, it doesn't make much sense to extrapolate the multiuser experience on OS X to that on iOS.
It replaced my laptop. So I think it's relative to what your use is. For me- it's a much better replacement.