Apple's iPhone Software 4.0 multitasking feature demoed in video
Apple on Thursday said that this summer's iPhone Software 4.0 release will include long-awaited support for multitasking, which can be seen in action via the following video. [Updated with walk-through video].
In order to deliver multitasking without incurring a performance hit in battery life, the iPhone maker said it has created seven different multitasking services for developers, each tuned to solve different multitasking scenarios.
Among them are Background Audio, Voice over IP, Background location, Push notifications, Local notifications, Task completion, and Fast app switching.
When combined with Apple's Dashboard-like user-facing interface for fast app switching, the end result is what can be seen from the below video of an iPhone 3GS running the first external beta of iPhone Software 4.0:
A more extensive walk-through of the iPhone Software 4.0:
In order to deliver multitasking without incurring a performance hit in battery life, the iPhone maker said it has created seven different multitasking services for developers, each tuned to solve different multitasking scenarios.
Among them are Background Audio, Voice over IP, Background location, Push notifications, Local notifications, Task completion, and Fast app switching.
When combined with Apple's Dashboard-like user-facing interface for fast app switching, the end result is what can be seen from the below video of an iPhone 3GS running the first external beta of iPhone Software 4.0:
A more extensive walk-through of the iPhone Software 4.0:
Comments
I think many people are already using double home for things like camera or iTunes control. I use the later and I like having the immediate access to cut the audio as quickly as possible when necessary.
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Would this be just another option to the current setting or would it replace the Settings > General > Home setting altogether.
I think many people are already using double home for things like camera or iTunes control. I use the later and I like having the immediate access to cut the audio as quickly as possible when necessary.
Yeah, I hope they provide another way to control iTunes without opening the App.
Looks pretty snazzy!
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Would this be just another option to the current setting or would it replace the Settings > General > Home setting altogether.
Is long key press reserved?
Is long key press reserved?
Yes Voice control
Yes Voice control
hrmmmmm.
yeap, guess it's gonna take the place of everyone's shortcut key. Unless triple click comes in to play
But then again, how often does the average user make use of the voice control function? I got rid of my voice control shortcut key on my TP2 in favor of a task manager (for easy switching and closing of apps
hrmmmmm.
yeap, guess it's gonna take the place of everyone's shortcut key. Unless triple click comes in to play
As someone said it will be like Morse Code.
.-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.-- + -.. ..- -- -...
Yeah, I hope they provide another way to control iTunes without opening the App.
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Would this be just another option to the current setting or would it replace the Settings > General > Home setting altogether.
I think many people are already using double home for things like camera or iTunes control. I use the later and I like having the immediate access to cut the audio as quickly as possible when necessary.
Erm... iPhone OS 4.0 = multitasking????
This should solve the need for shortcut access to iPod functions - at least that's how I think Apple is viewing this multitasking functionality and why they've (possibly) overridden the 'double tap' option????
Erm... iPhone OS 4.0 = multitasking????
This should solve the need for shortcut access to iPod functions - at least that's how I think Apple is viewing this multitasking functionality and why they've (possibly) overridden the 'double tap' option????
Exactly what I was thinking.
It will be a shame to lose the ability to quickly change to a new song with only a double click and a tap but I would personally choose multitasking over it any day.
They might add iPod controls above the multitask icons in another beta.
Does Skype show up in the Dock when it only uses the VOIP Voice Protocol? (I know that probably nobody can answer that yet)
Multitasking or not, it'll now take at least two taps, and several taps in the worst case (when the iPod app's current state is inside some menu).
They might add iPod controls above the multitask icons in another beta.
Yeah that would work well actually seeing as the video shows that about 4/5 of the screen is wasted.
And why no widgets?
Exactly what I was thinking.
It will be a shame to lose the ability to quickly change to a new song with only a double click and a tap but I would personally choose multitasking over it any day.
I thought I read that Pandora will allow you to change songs using the "ipod control pop up." Maybe I was mistaken, or they've found another way to do it.
I thought I read that Pandora will allow you to change songs using the "ipod control pop up." Maybe I was mistaken, or they've found another way to do it.
I think it means from the lock screen.
I still don't understand how this works. So lets say I want to open Skype and Mail what do I do? Run Skype and afterwards? Hit homebutton and afterwards open up Mail? Now lets say I have Skype, Mail and Safari up and running and now I just want to quit Safari because I don't need it anymore. I know I can navigate between them with double tab on Home but how do I specifically quit Safari? Maybe slide it of the Dock or something (would be Mac like sort of)?
Scott Forstall said in the iPone OS 4.0 keynote Q&A that there's no need for users to close Apps as the OS will take care of it. Something akin to OS X: Apps that are open but aren't being used lie dormant but remain alert at the same time.
I was really hoping for proper multi-tasking, not just glorified app switching. Why can't I run a twitter or IM feed in the background Apple, you know, like you can do with Android?
And why no widgets?
Proper multi-tasking...
Why don't you wait until v4.0 before you start complaining about how it doesn't work for you.
Or you can always marry Android if you love it so much.
Because iPhone apps are all widgets+
Multitasking or not, it'll now take at least two taps, and several taps in the worst case (when the iPod app's current state is inside some menu).
They might add iPod controls above the multitask icons in another beta.
Deep breath, people.
Didn't I read that the wake screen in 4.0 will have iPod controls on it?
I know it's hard to resist judging the full functionality of features you learn about 3rd hand from a developer preview conference you weren't at.
"Control, control, you must learn control" - Yoda