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Apple Announces Multitasking and many more in iPhone OS 4.0

At its ‘Sneak Peek Into the Future’ media event today, Apple announced several major feature additions, including multitasking and an in-app ad network, to iPhone OS 4.0 for release this summer.

The most significant new feature of iPhone OS 4.0 highlighted by Jobs is multitasking, which recent rumors had indicated might be coming. Apple had not previously implemented this feature out of concern for battery life and overall performance, although Jobs said that the company had found a way to implement multi-tasking without these negative effects.

Providing a demonstration of multitasking, Jobs showed a pop-up tray at the bottom of the iPhone’s screen – which is triggered by double-clicking the home button – with the icons of all currently-running apps displayed. Clicking on the desired app opens it without closing the other apps. Scott Forstall, SVP of iPhone Software, described the multitasking feature in more detail, claiming that the company “distilled the services” that third-party apps need to run in the background, and these services are available as APIs to developers.

The seven multitasking APIs now available to developers are: background audio, voice over IP (VOIP), background location, push notifications, local notifications, task completion, and fast app switching. Demos highlighting the new APIs used Pandora, Skype, TomTom, and Loopt. Incoming notifications can be shown just below the status bar or in a pop-up dialogue on the home or lock screen.

While the iPhone 3GS and late 2009 32 GB and 64 GB third-generation iPod touch will be fully-compatible with iPhone OS 4.0, earlier models of the devices will not support all of the features announced today. Notably even the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod touch will not support multitasking. iPhone OS 4.0 will also come to the iPad in the fall.

Source: macrumors.com

2010: 04/09
CATEGORY: mobile advertising
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Multitasking in iPhone OS 4.0?

AppleInsider reports that it has received information from sources claiming that the iPhone OS 4.0 firmware release, that will probably be released later this year, will support multitasking by allowing multiple applications to run simultaneously. The report, however, offers no details on how this will be implemented beyond noting that it will take advantage of interfact technology used in Mac OS X.

People with a proven track record in predicting Apple’s technological advances tell AppleInsider that the Cupertino-based company has developed a “full-on solution” to multitasking on the iPhone OS but offered no specifics on how the technology would optimize resource conservation and battery life — two of the most critical issues surrounding the matter, alongside security.

From a user-facing perspective, Apple plans to deliver a multi-tasking manager that leverages interface technology already bundled with its Mac OS X operating system, according to those same people. It was requested that specifics be withheld at this time, as the iPhone Software 4.0 remains under development and reportedly has a quite ‘way to go’ before it’s ready for prime time.

Whether this functionality will be introduced on the iPad is currently unknown. The lack of multitasking in the device has been a major point of complaint among users of the iPhone, and of potential purchasers of the future iPad. Both gadgets only allow for one application to be used at a time, something that Microsoft has been poking fun at recently.

But why isn’t there any multitasking on the iPhones? Some people say it is for better battery life and phone performance. More applications running will lead to lower battery life, and the mobile processors might not be able to handle the load.

Let’s wait and hope multitasking will come to the iPhone! Better late then never…