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Well one thing I wonder is - why keep adding icons to the fast app switching. I know some people might complain "how come I can only switch between 5, 10, 20, whatever" apps. But I still think that 5-10 is the most that should appear there. You could open just about every app and have it on that bar. Defeats any purpose of a fast app switch and just seems a messy UI "feature"
 
The important thing here is that you have to start thinking about things differently. You don't need to worry about what is or isn't running. Apple designed the system to be as efficient as possible. They didn't include a task manager because you shouldn't have to worry about that. Trust that the OS will do what it was designed to do.
 
Well one thing I wonder is - why keep adding icons to the fast app switching. I know some people might complain "how come I can only switch between 5, 10, 20, whatever" apps. But I still think that 5-10 is the most that should appear there. You could open just about every app and have it on that bar. Defeats any purpose of a fast app switch and just seems a messy UI "feature"

Why does it matter how many items are there? You all to keep scrolling to see them so just don't if it bothers you.
 
The important thing here is that you have to start thinking about things differently. You don't need to worry about what is or isn't running. Apple designed the system to be as efficient as possible. They didn't include a task manager because you shouldn't have to worry about that. Trust that the OS will do what it was designed to do.

I think people who don't want or care to worry about it won't.

But I don't "trust" (completely) any operating systems or piece of electronics. They aren't infallible. Issues arise. Glitches happen. It's the nature of the beast
 
Why does it matter how many items are there? You all to keep scrolling to see them so just don't if it bothers you.

I'll tell you why it bothers me.

Because by accruing all of the apps there - it defeats the purpose of that aspect of the UI. Why have over (say) 10 apps allowed in the fast app bar. Having 20, 30 - whatever apps is just messy. I don't know how else to describe it.

The purpose is to easily switch between apps you are using. First - with the advent of folders - there's a lot less scrolling through pages already to find the app you want

Second - if you have 30-40 apps on that bar - you can't really "fast" switch if the one you want is at the end.

To really have FAST app switching - there should be a limit to the # of apps that appear there so you AREN'T scrolling. It's counter-intuitive. And hence, my term - "messy"
 
To really have FAST app switching - there should be a limit to the # of apps that appear there so you AREN'T scrolling. It's counter-intuitive. And hence, my term - "messy"

If you only want to see 8 apps, only scroll once.

There you go. Problem fixed.

How is that ANY different from limiting it to 8? It's the same. It just gives other people the option to scroll more if they want to. But if you stop on the second page, then you're limited to 8 apps! Just what you wanted.
 
I'll tell you why it bothers me.

Because by accruing all of the apps there - it defeats the purpose of that aspect of the UI. Why have over (say) 10 apps allowed in the fast app bar. Having 20, 30 - whatever apps is just messy. I don't know how else to describe it.

The purpose is to easily switch between apps you are using. First - with the advent of folders - there's a lot less scrolling through pages already to find the app you want

Second - if you have 30-40 apps on that bar - you can't really "fast" switch if the one you want is at the end.

To really have FAST app switching - there should be a limit to the # of apps that appear there so you AREN'T scrolling. It's counter-intuitive. And hence, my term - "messy"

Just don't use the task switcher when an app is further away. Who's to say what's going to be quicker for anyone? What if I have 11 pages of apps on my iPhone and an app that is in the last page is actually only 7 swipes away using the task switcher?
 
If you only want to see 8 apps, only scroll once.

There you go. Problem fixed.

How is that ANY different from limiting it to 8? It's the same. It just gives other people the option to scroll more if they want to. But if you stop on the second page, then you're limited to 8 apps! Just what you wanted.

Just don't use the task switcher when an app is further away. Who's to say what's going to be quicker for anyone? What if I have 11 pages of apps on my iPhone and an app that is in the last page is actually only 7 swipes away using the task switcher?

We can agree to disagree. Funny though (not directed at you two) but when I make comments like the iPad having a camera and people say it makes no sense and I say - then don't use it, people don't accept that. Again - it's all preference.

But to me - I like the concept and implementation. I just don't see a need to clog that aspect of the UI with more than a 2-3 finger swipes of apps. To each their own.
 
We can agree to disagree. Funny though (not directed at you two) but when I make comments like the iPad having a camera and people say it makes no sense and I say - then don't use it, people don't accept that. Again - it's all preference.

But to me - I like the concept and implementation. I just don't see a need to clog that aspect of the UI with more than a 2-3 finger swipes of apps. To each their own.

But having a camera on the iPad (which I wouldn't mind BTW) could make the iPad more expensive, for ex. Limiting the number of swipes on the task switcher brings absolutely no advantage.
 
But to me - I like the concept and implementation. I just don't see a need to clog that aspect of the UI with more than a 2-3 finger swipes of apps. To each their own.

I am still totally unclear on how something you don't see is "clogging" the UI or is "messy."

I don't even understand the concept of UI you don't see. (How can it be an interface if you're not interfacing with it?)

So yeah, I guess we just have to agree to disagree since I still don't understand.
 
Discussing the iPad and that argument would be taking this one off topic. Suffice to say - cost was rarely if ever the argument against it.

But back on topic - I do understand your point. I just personally find it a bit messy to have "unlimited" icons.
 
I am still totally unclear on how something you don't see is "clogging" the UI or is "messy."

I don't even understand the concept of UI you don't see. (How can it be an interface if you're not interfacing with it?)

So yeah, I guess we just have to agree to disagree since I still don't understand.

Forget the MR user.

The average Joe will see a stream of 10, 20, 30 apps (however many they've opened) when they double click the home button and see the non-task-taskbar (kidding). They won't know/care what is running and what is not. They will think all of those apps are taking up space somehow. Having a long stream of them will only raise more doubt as to whether or not it's impeding performance of their phone. Regardless of whether it is or not and regardless of whether they are told it's not. Because people like my parents, colleagues and less computer savvy people will just see a long line of icons.

Look - I'm not going to debate this further. If you don't understand where I'm coming from - totally cool. I posted my thoughts. I'm not trying to skirt the issue or backpeddle. I just don't care to invest oodles of time trying to explain or debate an issue which is completely personal preference and opinion.
 
When a program is truly 'running' in the background, you'll see an indicator on the menu bar, up by the clock.

GPS apps running in the background will display a compass needle.
Audio streaming apps running in the background will display a play button.
If you're on a VoIP call, I think the whole menu bar turns red.

This is the best explanation I've heard yet. When in doubt, check to see if that compass needle icon is upper right hand corner. If it's there, an app is running in the background.
 
Having a long stream of them will only raise more doubt as to whether or not it's impeding performance of their phone.


Well, forgetting the MR user...

I honestly think the average user never thinks of apps as slowing down their phone. They're just...apps...that do things. That's as much as they know.

Yeah, I'm not trying to change your mind or anything. If you don't like it, you don't like it. I just think that if people don't want to scroll, they won't scroll. I don't think we have to force them to not scroll. Just let them do what they want.
 
If you limit the number of apps shown to some arbitrary number you will only make people think, "Why isn't the app I was using earlier just suspended in memory?" when in fact, it is.

I think the implementation is elegant. It tells you all of the apps that are in memory if you want it to while not making you look at the information if you don't.

The only change I would like to see is to annotate the icons with the same symbol used at the top to show a background API is in use. That way we could see which app was using which API.

The confusing part about this is the use of the term "multitasking." It makes people think it is something that it is not. Some clever marketer at Apple should have come up with a new term. People would then ask, "what is that?" rather than coming to the question with the preconceived idea that it works like their desktop machine.
 
So, is there additional battery drain by leaving apps in the multi-tasking bar? My first two days using the I4 I experienced unacceptable battery drain. Once I began double clicking the home button and closing ALL apps when I was done with them the battery life "appears" to have improved. Real or in my mind?
 
So, is there additional battery drain by leaving apps in the multi-tasking bar? My first two days using the I4 I experienced unacceptable battery drain. Once I began double clicking the home button and closing ALL apps when I was done with them the battery life "appears" to have improved. Real or in my mind?


I can confirm this as well on my Iphone 4S, when i had my iphone 3G, i could run stuff most of the day on it without worrying about my battery, when i first got my iphone 4s i was astonished how fast the battery was draining, I would plug it in when i went to bed, then about after an hour after I unplugged it, the battery would be down to about 90%,

then i got the app battery doctor+ and it showed me the multitask feature, when i removed all the apps out of there and now my battery stays above 90% all day if i do not use any apps, where before it would drain without me doing anything with the phone.
 
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