Why do non-supported multitask apps still run?

I think that's confusing because the "multitask" bar is actually a "quick launch" bar. Except, you can't tell the difference between a "background" app and a frequency launched app.

 

No kidding. I cant figure it out. better than nothing i guess.

 

yes, confusing. Apple used to close everything. RIM (Blackberry) lets them run, then it finally times out. Android is supposed to be "smart" and close as memory is needed.
We don't know the details on iOS4, but with 512 memory on an iPhone 4, don't worry until it gets sluggish, then like all "computers"- Reboot.

 

i think apple should have been the one to buy palm and just implement the amazing webOS multitasking UI - everyone would have won / be happy.

 

Here's how multitasking works on iOS 4 - it just works. Stop worrying about it. You don't have to close apps in the app switcher. They don't take up your battery or memory. Just stop worrying about it. That's the whole point.

 

You're over-thinking it.

Single Tap to find apps in a layout that you set (for example, your most commonly used apps that you positioned, so you know exactly where they are).
Double Tap to find apps in a 'most recently used' order (for example, to repeatedly flip back and forth between two apps, without maybe having to go back and forth between different SpringBoard pages to find them both).

The double tap really is just 'most recently used'. It doesn't imply _anything_ at all about resource usage. Nothing.

Really, what you need to know is: use whatever mode (single tap vs. double tap) you find more convenient. Use wherever mode allows you to find find the target app faster, and you don't need to worry about what is going on 'in the background'.

 

The bar on the bottom is simply to launch an app that you used recently and want to get back to quickly. It doesn't mean the app is running unless it's using one of those multitasking APIs like Pandora for instance. And for some others it keeps a frozen state in the app so that you don't need to reload everything when you get back to it, but it's not really "running". I find it very effective in my opinion. Haven't notices ANY sluggishness, and there hasn't been mutitasking functionality missing in any of the apps that I wish the iPhone had.