Rumor: Split-screen multitasking on iPad not on tap for WWDC
A new feature that would allow iPad users to display and interact with two applications simultaneously is said to still be headed for iOS 8, but Apple may not be ready to reveal it at next week's Worldwide Developers Conference, according to a new report.
"I've been told that the split-screen feature for iOS 8 isn't ready yet and won't be shown at WWDC," Brian X. Chen of The New York Times said in a tweet. Chen went on to call the feature "a work in progress."
Word that Apple was contemplating the split-screen capability, which is though to be similar to a feature which has garnered applause on Microsoft's Surface tablets, first appeared earlier this month. At the time, it was said that it would likely debut on the 9.7-inch iPad Air while potentially skipping the smaller iPad mini.
Apple has steadily added multitasking features to its mobile operating system over the years, but has largely restricted support to background processes. The one app, one screen paradigm has not changed since the iPhone's debut in 2007.
With or without the split-screen functions, Apple is expected to officially unveil the next-generation mobile operating system during a keynote address on Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. AppleInsider will bring live updates from the keynote and will continue to report on developments at the conference throughout the week.
"I've been told that the split-screen feature for iOS 8 isn't ready yet and won't be shown at WWDC," Brian X. Chen of The New York Times said in a tweet. Chen went on to call the feature "a work in progress."
Word that Apple was contemplating the split-screen capability, which is though to be similar to a feature which has garnered applause on Microsoft's Surface tablets, first appeared earlier this month. At the time, it was said that it would likely debut on the 9.7-inch iPad Air while potentially skipping the smaller iPad mini.
Apple has steadily added multitasking features to its mobile operating system over the years, but has largely restricted support to background processes. The one app, one screen paradigm has not changed since the iPhone's debut in 2007.
With or without the split-screen functions, Apple is expected to officially unveil the next-generation mobile operating system during a keynote address on Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. AppleInsider will bring live updates from the keynote and will continue to report on developments at the conference throughout the week.
Comments
I agree. I can think of a few cases where it would've been nice if I had a split screen to speed up some editing tasks, but I think the screen would have to be a bit larger for it to be more functional.
Not a big deal for most consumers
According to who? You?
That'd be a huge improvement for things I do on it- and I don't even use it for "real" work.
I agree. I can think of a few cases where it would've been nice if I had a split screen to speed up some editing tasks, but I think the screen would have to be a bit larger for it to be more functional.
I would use it when copying and pasting things all the time. Additionally, I'd love to be reading in safari about something I'm texting my brother about- or facetiming while I'm looking up something instead of giving them a black "hold" screen, etc
Its one of those features you wouldn't think you'd use and think you wouldn't really need it until you realize you use it all the time (like gestures).
Try this.
Touch once for a word.twice for a sentence. There times for a paragraph. Four times for the crazy selection thing they show now.
I would find this feature useful as well when creating some documents, but not to watch a movie as I created a complex spreadsheet... like Microsoft's Surface example. That's just stupid.
I'd like to have it.
Most users wouldn't care.
It will happen eventually in some form, at least on the full-size iPad.
But it needs to be intuitive (not the hidden gestures of Windows 8), it needs good developer support, and it needs to be done right. Wait as long as it takes to get it right!
Many pitfalls:
http://roopc.net/posts/2014/imagining-split-screen-ipad/
As would a whole slough of iBook improvements. Apple has really let iBooks lie fallow. The kindle app beats iBooks handily now.
Easy on the caffeine...I would probably use it too. But I can almost guarantee that most consumers would not use this feature as it is geared towards users that multi task. Again understand the uses as I am a power user but what you are not understanding is the true audience that will actually use it. Apple clearly understands this and that is why it has not been released yet. You also have screen size issues tied to this as well.
I get it- but I think most people would use it in some fashion- particularly if it was intuitive. It's like saying most users wouldn't use multiple tabs in safari.
As far as screen size, it's not an issue. Currently- gestures are iPad only , this can be the same.
Hysterical.
Split screen will be tough to make work reliably in only 1GB.
Split screen will be tough to make work reliably in only 1GB.
Why? All iOS 7 applications currently work on devices with only 512MB of RAM. When running two apps side by side, the maximum RAM allocation for those two apps would be limited in a way that one app cannot take over all RAM and force quit the other.
And in other news... Apple stock plummets 10 points when the street hears that the rumored feature is being rumored to not make it in by WWDC .
Watch the side-by-side video here for the Surface version.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/getting-around-tutorial
Very unintuitive.
If it is not ready, I hope it is not something they add in Beta 2 or 3. Last year was rough with the APIs for the IOS 7 Betas changing up through the first couple of Betas (Which by definition makes them really Alphas).
With as big of a change as IOS7 was, not having a stable API until August made life interesting for a September release.