Apple Announces Multitasking in iPhone OS 4.0

[jtara]

In contrast, the approach in OS 4.0 is to multitask only key services

Accurate, if you remove the word "only".

Key services have new APIs that make it easy to multi-task. I gather the app will get a callback and be activated when certain events occur within a given subsystem (GPS, audio, etc.)

But there is a new service "Local Notification", as well.

Ugh, found a public reference to the details of this, but it's on a blog where they quote NDA material directly. Oops. Well, anyway, think about various ways that Local Notifications might be generated.

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

Because when Apple does it, they do it right. Just like copy-and-paste.

A task manager is still a task manager, no matter how pretty it is.

Steve pretty much said "nobody should ever have to see a task manager. Speaking of which, have you seen our new task manager?"

 

[dwman]

Do I know you? jk

I understand that you're upset . . . but the 3G is pretty slow and running several apps at once would be considerably more taxing. It's as much about their standards of smoothness/speed as it is encouraging people to upgrade.

I'm just venting. I realize what the end game is here, but it would be nice to have one of the more requested features available to a phone that's not even two years old.

 

[INeedAMacBook]

well because you can now have 2000+ apps that defo mean the next iphone will have at least 64gb mabey something bigger like 80gb, imagine a 80gb iphone i would love that

 

[Robbadore64]

I'll bet you any amount of money the next iPad will not be out this fall.

Agreed. When is the last time is the last time Apple released a new version of a product 6 months later? Hell, they rarely even upgrade processors in MacBooks...

I think if they were to update the iPad OS a few months after it's release it would be like admitting they failed originally. Besides, things like wall-paper changing and save-state apps are already on the iPad. I'm thinking the later release just gives them more time to refine on the abilities the iPad has over the iPod touch etc. That, and upgrading the OS before "back-to-school" provides more incentives for students later.

 

[hugodrax]

Multitasking looks good. Seems like you can switch between apps really
fast. GameCenter is actually interesting as well. Basically like xbox
live but on the iPhone. *I like folders the best. It'll make
organizing apps much easier. *Would've liked to see better
notification system and widgets or something similar though.

Don't think it's enough to switch back to the new iPhone when it comes
out, but definitely can't wait for 4.0 on the iPad in the fall. *One
downer is that my wife's new 8gb touch, she won't be able to get
multitasking-only for 3GS and 32/64 touch. Also kind of lame iPad is
last to the update because the multitasking feature would be most
important on the iPad.

Well 4.0 is for the new Fall/Winter ipads with the A5 chip(dual A9 cortex cpu) that will be released. The old first Generation ipads will be limited to 3.x

 

[Stella]

I'm surprised Apple did add the ability to sync over WIFI. Plugging in wires is inconvenient.

 

[Sweetbike40]

It is interesting to me that with the new features in 4.0, the iPad becomes even more compelling as a "real computer." If they do ad some sort of on-board file management/saving, along with the multitasking and background processes, the iPad comes closer to a real computer. I suspect apple won't go much further with the iPad, because it will begin to eat into macbook sales. Also, since the iPad is a much better media viewer and internet browser than the iphone, i wonder if people will ditch their iphones and get less feature filled phones, while using the ipad 3g with it's much cheaper data plan? Just thinkin'

It crossed my mind how it's tempting to ditch the iPhone, get a junk phone from a cheap carrier (i personally don't use the iPhone as a phone much) and get the iPad with 3G.

 

[Sweetbike40]

Well 4.0 is for the new Fall/Winter ipads with the A5 chip(dual A9 cortex cpu) that will be released. The old first Generation ipads will be limited to 3.x

There will be some very angry iPad owners if this is what happens.

 

[Meduolis]

+1

My iPhone 3G continually chugs, sometimes even while scrolling through the apps on the home screen. It only has 128Mb of RAM, and with apps like iStat you can see how little that really is. My iPhone currently has 1Mb free and 13Mb inactive. You telling me I can run multitasking with 14Mb of RAM free (plus all the other new stuff in OS 4.0)? Apple's work around would have to be a miracle.

I have never had a problem with RAM on my iPod Touch 2G. I bet if multitasking is only software disabled on 4.0 for iPod Touch 2G it will work just fine when enabled by jailbreaking the device.

 

[pendo]

I really wish there was an updated notification interface.

Also, there's got to be a better way to close a *backgrounded* app that you don't want to use anymore. Maybe you go back into the app and just single click the home button?

 

[jtara]

Application may "ask" system service to perform certain common background tasks but the application itself gets suspended.

Yes. Until some event occurs within the service and the service sends the app a callback and wakes it up...

Once the app is woken-up, it can do whatever processing it needs to do with the notification.

So, a certain distance has been moved according to the location system. The app has registered to be notified, say, when you move more than 100 yards. The app is sent a message "we moved more than 100 yards!" and the app can then read the location and do what it needs to do with it - maybe play the Star Spangled Banner because we've just floated past the Statue of Liberty...

 

[squirrelist]

Trying to digest what "Sync IMAP notes" would mean... (link)

Sync them with what?

Currently notes sync with notes in Apple Mail only when you plug in your phone. This will allow notes to be synced to your computer all the time, assuming you use IMAP to connect.

 

[Sweetbike40]

Steve really let me down on this one. After hyping the iPad for months and then selling hundreds of thousands of them, I suspected that multitasking would come right along with the iPhone. Naturally, I should known something smelt rotten in Cupertino.

Happy about my iPhone finally becoming more versatile but I am extremely disappointed about the iPad's continued neutering until the fall. And we don't even know when the date is? It could be late Sept or early Dec?

That's the thing about Apple. Their products are fantastic and work well. But occasionally, they do stuff like this. For a loyal Apple owner, it does, frankly, piss me off. Maybe if we kick and scream, it'll come faster. But I bet that'll make Steve and Co. move slower.

I can't believe this either. His newest product with older UI. I don't get why they come up with a solution for the phone but not for the iPad. It's weird and it's terrible business.

 

[imakesense]

....And the 14 year olds all come out of the closet....

So everyone wants multitasking. We get it. The smartest implementation ever. And the nerds say "fail". Everyone wants a unified inbox. We get it. And the nerds say "worst update ever".

I'm totally lost as to what makes the kids on this site feel they have a better vision then Apple when it comes to what makes a product great. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the 85 million iPods & iPhones aren't owned by geeks who care for synching bluetooth keyboards, file management, terminal screens, activity monitors or task managers. The majority want to enjoy the product without figuring out how to resolve error messages, compatibility issues, or get lost in menus and menus of potential screw-up-able unneeded adjustable parameters.

Apple figured out how to deliver the best of both worlds and yet the crowd is still upset?

i mean i already can do all this stuff. worse update ever. looks like the iphone is almost dead to other phones.

So let me get you straight. With your jailbroken iPhone:

-You can already use iBooks to read your iBook purchases which you use on your iPad?
-You already have GameCenter to challenge your friends to multiplayer games?
-You already can receive skype calls in the background while barely using any CPU and memory resources?
-You already can use Pandora while only using the minimal amount of resources needed?
-You already have multiple exchange accounts setup in your email client?
-You already have a unified inbox?
-You already have the ability to receive turn by turn directions from your pirated copy of Tom Tom while running other Apps?
-All of your apps now can save state when quitting instead of reverting from the beginning?

I should also assume the people who can't comprehend how their 3G will not be able to support all these advanced functions are probably the same crowd who complain that they can't run Snow Leopard on their 12-inch PowerBooks.

In all seriousness, this revision is absolutely perfect. Its the essence of Apple. Do it right 110% or don't implement it at all. Like Jobs said, they weren't the first to do a lot of things, but when they did, they became the best.

Eventually there will be a next-gen iPhone which will run all these features with even more style & efficiency. It's gonna be a great.

I'm excited.

 

[GrndCherokee]

Are you sure you returned you n1? because your signature says that you have iPhone Also, keep in mind that at today's presentation nothing was said about ability of new SDK to support higher/different resolution which indicates that the chances of iPhone getting better screen are slim.

My crystal ball says we'll be having a slightly smaller version of iPhone to replace the current, but with maintained screen resolution (= higher dpi) and the same would go for the just released iPad.

 

[Sweetbike40]

As stated in the other thread. I am highly disappointed with the lack of multitasking on the 3G and iPod touch 2nd generation. The hardware supports it in jailbroken form, but Apple is choosing to not include it on this platform.

Wow, i didn't know this. Well this sucks. They manipulate us to buy the latest.

Edit: I wonder if the jailbroken version of multitasking eats at the battery.

 

[MacFly123]

This whole iAds thing has me a bit concerned. While we already have some of this on the iPhone (think the adds that pop up on free apps like AIM and the NYTimes reader) how obtrusive will this get? Free apps? Ok, nothing is free, expect some sort of ads. $.99 and $1.99 apps with built in ads? What is this, Sirus/XM? If I'm paying for something, I dont want to be bothered by ads. I'm glad Apple has found another revenue stream, but if this starts looking like some Windows BS I think it will do long term harm to the platform.

I agree but I would think it wouldn't be much different from now. There will be little banners, but they won't do anything unless YOU tap them! It is opt in, not opt out. The only difference is once you do tap them now, instead of being kicked out of the app, you will stay in and have a really nice looking, cool, interactive experience. That is fine with me, but if they do start to become opt out and interrupt my experience by tracking location, personal data/trends and so on, then I will be up in arms!

 

[Max(IT)]

Not surprising, considering the 3GS is significantly faster than the 3G and multitasking is probably very processor intensive. The 3G probably wouldn't be able to handle it or it would be unbearably slow

It is a matter of memory (RAM), not speed

 

[wizard]

The lack of RAM is a big factor too.

Not surprising, considering the 3GS is significantly faster than the 3G and multitasking is probably very processor intensive. The 3G probably wouldn't be able to handle it or it would be unbearably slow

Let's face it processor performance sucks on the 3G, but it is notable that the supported devices have more RAM.

Besides from what I can see they really haven't provided for true multitasking anyways. What I'm seeing is a very limited hack that solves many problems but not all. In any event I don't have to worry about it until I upgrade.

As a side note I wonder what the hold up on the iPad is. Maybe it needs a RAM upgrade this fall.


Dave

 

[MacFly123]

A task manager is still a task manager, no matter how pretty it is.

Steve pretty much said "nobody should ever have to see a task manager. Speaking of which, have you seen our new task manager?"

It is not a task manager! The iPhone has limited screen real estate so they can't quite do expose or something like that. This is much more like alt-tab but in a sexy bottom tray. The apps are not waisting resources and churning nonstop while inactive. The ability to see and switch between apps does NOT denote a task manager. By that definition the pre's card interface is a task manager, expose is, alt-tab is, flip 3D is too. Think things over a little bit!

I'd love to hear your interface and experience design ideas on how to switch between running apps without ever seeing the apps! WOW you must be impossibly good!

 

[GrndCherokee]

There will be some very angry iPad owners if this is what happens.

Calm down, this won't happen for two reasons;

1) The current iPad is faster than the current iPhone 3GS (same processor, but running at different speeds) and they're having equal amount of RAM. Current 3GS will run 4.0 just fine, so obviously also the iPad.

2) Can't see such a quick & big HW update coming along until 2011.

 

[hitekalex]

Two applications on the screen at once? Theres like no screen real estate to do that, you wouldn't be able to see anything and even touch anything. This is a smartphone not a desktop.

Sure, no real estate on iPhone's crappy 320x480 screen. Any modern Android phone comes with 480x800 screen, and believe me.. you can certainly run widgets side by side. I do it every day.

 

[MacFly123]

I can't believe this either. His newest product with older UI. I don't get why they come up with a solution for the phone but not for the iPad. It's weird and it's terrible business.

Keep in mind this iPhone OS 4 announcement was just a developer preview. It will be actually released in the summer on new iPhone hardware. The iPad will therefore no longer be the newest device!

Yes it kinda sucks, but did it ever occur to you that they can only code so fast for so many devices? They JUST launched the iPad and wrapped up 3.2 for it. Give it a little perspective!

I will predict that when 4 does come for the iPad, its implementation will be a little different. iPad has much more screen real estate, I wouldn't be surprised to see multi-tasking work slightly differently, maybe more expose-esque, plus other features like printing, etc.

Now more importantly...... AT&T WHEN IN THE BLOODY @&%#$@ WILL YOU GIVE US TETHERING YOU WORTHLESS EXCUSES!

 

[125037]

well because you can now have 2000+ apps that defo mean the next iphone will have at least 64gb mabey something bigger like 80gb, imagine a 80gb iphone i would love that

I don't think they make SSD available in 80gb of storage do they?