iOS 8 Likely to Bring Split-Screen Multitasking to the iPad

[Keerock]

Bad for Hulu, good for us!

Hulu LOVES iPad users.

They are captive viewers to the ads. You cannot leave a running Hulu show without raising the ire of the Hulu ad gods.

This will make it easier to check your email or browse the web during commercials…

Throw ABC, ESPN, NBC Sports and NBC apps in that same pool as well, they will not be pleased.

But if course they all just count the impressions anyway… they will say it's just as effective as it was before. We all know it isn't.

 

[edgonzalez32]

Ugh. Do we really need this? It's the kind of feature where the idea seems better than the reality. The vast majority of users would never bother with it.

The iPad needs multi-user support much more desperately.

Yes we do. Look at college students who only own an iPad and no laptop. Writing a paper is a pain in the ass when using online resources. Now they can have the browser on one side and pages/google docs on the other.

 

[pika2000]

1. This is just a mock up concept made by some one. Funny how many people think this will be real "Oh Apple is copying Samsung."
2. If it was real, then I hope it will be only enabled on devices with 2GB of RAM. I don't want iOS8 making all the iPads with 1GB RAM or less obsolete because of this feature(including the iPad Air). Right now, 1GB is okay, but many users already see its limitations. Considering the legacy support that is building up due to the popularity of the iPad (many businesses are using the iPad 2), I hope Apple can optimize each iOS release to run well on older devices. To gain full support from businesses, Apple needs to have a better approach for legacy support.

 

[Quu]

I think if my iPad had this feature I'd use it. Sometimes I'm using iMessage but I also want to surf the internet or watch a video and having to keep switching between the two applications is annoying and slows everything down.

It's probably the only thing I wish they would copy from Windows 8's Metro.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Let me guess, now multitasking will be a desirable feature, but before Apple had it is was a gimmick and needless feature. It's funny how that seems to be around here, isn't it?

Small tablet=no good, iPad Mini= great!
Large screen phones=too big, phablet, gimmick, etc, large screen iPhone=brilliant!
NFC=dated tech, useless, etc, NFC coming to iPhone= I can't wait!
Pono and HD music= gimmick, 256kbs sounds the same, Apple may sell HD audio content = I can't wait to hear good quality music!


Disclaimer: This is not a trolling post. It is my observations of what I have read here over the past couple of years.

 

[JoEw]

Only on iPad functionality? It's been awhile since we talked about fragmentation since iOS becomes more fragmented by the release. Funny how that works.

The screen realestate on iphone seems to restrict multitasking. Not a matter of fragmenting just not implementing something that probably is crappy to use.

 

[SkippyThorson]

The multi-tasking thing would be great, but the user account feature could be very simply implemented:

You know how you type in a 4-digit passcode now? Depending on which of multiple passcodes you enter, you log in to that account. 1122 could be the password getting you in to user A's account, while 3344 could be the password letting you in to user B's account.

Complex passwords could prompt for different user selection before you are given the option to type a password.

Just my theory, but what kind of UI designer am I?

 

[MUWarrior10]

This could be quite a useful feature, but I agree with many of you who posted already, give us multi-user accounts!

 

[nfl46]

About time. Now, multi-user and quick reply in iOS 8!

 

[lilo777]

With the rumored changes coming to iPhone and iPad it is hard not to appreciate what Samsung did to advance mobile computing. Apple is trying to catch up with larger iPhone, NFC and hopefully higher screen resolution. Multi-window GUI will be helpful too. But Apple still has long way to go: higher res camera, 4K video, pressure sensitive pen input, OLED display, memory card support, upcoming QHD display on Galaxy S5 Prime (will be released in June).

 

[Traverse]

Let me guess, now multitasking will be a desirable feature, but before Apple had it is was a gimmick and needless feature. It's funny how that seems to be around here, isn't it?

Small tablet=no good, iPad Mini= great!
Large screen phones=too big, phablet, gimmick, etc, large screen iPhone=brilliant!
NFC=dated tech, useless, etc, NFC coming to iPhone= I can't wait!
Pono and HD music= gimmick, 256kbs sounds the same, Apple may sell HD audio content = I can't wait to hear good quality music!


Disclaimer: This is not a trolling post. It is my observations of what I have read here over the past couple of years.

Did you expect more from an Apple news/rumor site?

 

[TWSS37]

Well what about those who have kids? They just expected to buy 4 more iPads?

TBH if I was in that situation I'd forget iPads and opt for a tablet that does support multiple users.

And why is everyone so against this idea? I just don't get it! It would be a great feature!

Because it currently doesn't exist on iOS but it does on other, perceived inferior platforms.

However, when it does come out and people use it, it will be proclaimed as "multi-user access done right".

 

[ThunderRobot]

Let me guess, now multitasking will be a desirable feature, but before Apple had it is was a gimmick and needless feature. It's funny how that seems to be around here, isn't it?

Small tablet=no good, iPad Mini= great!
Large screen phones=too big, phablet, gimmick, etc, large screen iPhone=brilliant!
NFC=dated tech, useless, etc, NFC coming to iPhone= I can't wait!
Pono and HD music= gimmick, 256kbs sounds the same, Apple may sell HD audio content = I can't wait to hear good quality music!


Disclaimer: This is not a trolling post. It is my observations of what I have read here over the past couple of years.

It's almost as if different people have different opinions on a forum. /s

 

[FSMBP]

Why does it? It seems very obvious to me that Apple intends for customers to have one device per person, with one account per person.

Any other option makes no sense to Apple from a financial perspective.

Yeah - their laptops/desktops don't support it either. As they want people to buy more of their products...

 

[TWSS37]

Did you expect more from an Apple news/rumor site?

Objectivity should not be such a difficult concept to grasp. Just because you favor a certain product or company over another doesn't mean you should be so close minded.

Imagine if you only had vanilla ice cream. Would you shun and bash every other flavor? So why do we do it with Apple?

 

[richwoodrocket]

I highly doubt it.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Well, with that logic, remove multi user accounts from their Mac offerings too. That way, I can buy 4 $2,000+ Macs for each one of my family members as well as $600+ iPads! I mean gee, my 2 year old should be able to use my account to move my icons around and start downloading email and I should be able to use his Sesame Street learning apps as well! Genius Apple, genius!

edit: I'll say this - if Apple doesn't implement multi-user accounts for the 2 iPads I already have, then I'm selling them both. Only the iPhone is meant to be used by one user and therefore we're better off using them for our mobile needs (especially since bigger screens coming), the iPad is clearly a multi-user device. If I need more power my mobile needs, my family will use our Macbook Airs, for which we have 2 (plus the iMac). Not having multi-user capabilities is completely unacceptable.

I get where you are coming from, I really do. The thing is that the iPad has been marketed from the beginning as a personal device with a very personal experience. Apple doesn't want you to think of it as just another terminal to log in to.

Traditional personal computing as evolved from the late 1970's and through to today has been a very immobile experience, and was marketed as an appliance. The strategy was to get you to think of the computer as something as necessary as the TV, fridge, and washing machine in your home. 1 per household was the goal. Nobody ever thought that each person should own a computer.

That shifted a bit with the advent of the modern laptop, but these still used the same OS's as the stationary machines for several obvious reasons, the biggest of which being compatibility. There probably weren't very many execs out there at the time who even thought about using the OS and how the user interacted with the device as a means of getting people to buy more than one computer for their family.

With the advent of the very personal 'post PC' smartphone, which was an extension of the cell phone, which was by its nature very personal, (notice how you think of a phone number as a personal connection - when you call someone you expect to come directly to that person, not to their household) you had computing devices that shed the shared machine paradigm. When the iPad was envisioned by Apple, they came up with an ingenious strategy - have it run the phone OS, market it as a magical customized personal experience. The iPad as we know it will always be marketed as a personal device and multi-user accounts won't be supported.

 

[TWSS37]

The screen realestate on iphone seems to restrict multitasking. Not a matter of fragmenting just not implementing something that probably is crappy to use.

OK - Apple dictating what is good or bad versus you having the ability to determine that for yourself aside, I can assure you that *if* the iPhone does increase in size, especially in the 5.5" form factor, it would be just as useful.

 

[sracer]

iPads are where this is sorely needed.

Yes, phones tend to be personal devices, but iPads tend to be shared across multiple users, especially in families.

Add Touch ID for easy user account switching, and people will literally line up around the block to buy them.

Only because you think it is a "must have" feature. Everybody has a pet feature that they think will cause people to line up around the block to buy.

I'll offer you a response that many others receive: "Looks like what you need is a laptop."

That is the standard response to the following:
- I need a physical keyboard for my iPad
- I need a mouse for my iPad
- I need splitscreen on my iPad
- I need support for SD cards on my iPad
- I need enough RAM to have 8 Safari tabs open without reloading

Why does multi-user profile deserve a different answer?

 

[69Mustang]

(1) I'm not against it. Just don't think it'll happen. If it did, great. I'd still have my own and my wife would have her own. I use my iPad far too much.

(2) Sure, if you have 4 kids that would be tough. But how old are we talking? How about an iPad for each when they reach a certain age. @ $250 per iPad, you'd spend $1000 (plus tax) and assuming your kids are 2 years apart you could spread that $1000 over 8 years. Would it be impossible to save $125 per year?

Maybe its not that important. Maybe it is. Obviously a FREE OS update would work better in that situation. Just pointing out - with the advent of the cheaper iPads and the refurbished options, buying additional iPads isn't SO ridiculous. IF you really want whomever have access to one without messing up yours.

Anyhow, not meaning to argue about this. If it happens, great. Personally, I think it would make the most sense when they get everything over to TouchID. Then it just logs in based on whomever wakes the device. Would be pretty cool.

A lot of people are saying the "Apple wants you to have 1 iPad per user", "refurb", and "just buy another". That's one solution. Not one that I agree with, but it is a solution. As a consumer, what Apple wants never enters into my purchasing equation. I view tech in a different way. If you can't make what I want, you don't get my money. Buying more of your product because you don't offer what I want you to offer seems...

For some it's about the cost. Not for me. I spent over $3K for a new gaming rig a few months ago, so getting another iPad is not a matter of expense. My iPad2 works fine but it is getting long in the tooth. My next family tablet will have multi-user accounts. If the iPad has it, great. If not, I'm getting something else. My family is used to iOS, OSX, Android, Windows, etc. So there's nothing holding us to Apple or Google or Microsoft. We get what fits us. Well, we get what I say we get, but you know what I mean.

Bolded: I don't think you're arguing at all. Your statements make sense and your logic is sound. Your opinion just differs from some. Never actually ever seen you argue in this forum. That sir, is a good thing.

 

[dec.]

Let me guess, now multitasking will be a desirable feature, but before Apple had it is was a gimmick and needless feature. It's funny how that seems to be around here, isn't it?

Small tablet=no good, iPad Mini= great!
Large screen phones=too big, phablet, gimmick, etc, large screen iPhone=brilliant!
NFC=dated tech, useless, etc, NFC coming to iPhone= I can't wait!
Pono and HD music= gimmick, 256kbs sounds the same, Apple may sell HD audio content = I can't wait to hear good quality music!


Disclaimer: This is not a trolling post. It is my observations of what I have read here over the past couple of years.

Do you use a template for these posts?

Disclaimer: Funny. Haha .

 

[terrywfoster]

that aint happening since most of iDevices are for personal use.

Hopefully it will never happen. There is no reason more than one person should use an iOS device. Every person should have their own device.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Does anyone else think that it would be better to just open up full multitasking instead? I would much rather four finger swipe back and forth between beautiful full screen apps. I do that on my Macbook as well, it is only full screen apps and swiping sideways or up.

The only problem with the iPad is that is has to start up the apps again. What is really needed is full background multitasking and as a consequence migrating back to the desktop style RAM management, involving caching and virtual memory, instead of the mobile memory management which is to dump and forget.

This is one spot where they need to integrate an OSX feature into iOS instead of the other way around.

 

[Carlanga]

And hopefully multi user accounts.

for that you have to wait for the wePad

 

[Thunderhawks]

Only because you think it is a "must have" feature. Everybody has a pet feature that they think will cause people to line up around the block to buy.

I'll offer you a response that many others receive: "Looks like what you need is a laptop."

That is the standard response to the following:
- I need a physical keyboard for my iPad
- I need a mouse for my iPad
- I need splitscreen on my iPad
- I need support for SD cards on my iPad
- I need enough RAM to have 8 Safari tabs open without reloading

Why does multi-user profile deserve a different answer?

Correct, however over time the MacBookAir and iPad will be merged and we can use it as needed. Multi etc. or not