Do You Want Multitasking or Just Clever App Switching on the iPhone?
One of the most common criticisms of the iPhone OS is that it doesn ‘t do multitasking. It ‘s one that is aimed at all the iPhone devices as well as the upcoming iPad. It ‘s not strictly true, as the iPhone OS does multitask already (that ‘s why we can listen to music on the iPod app while working in other apps), it just does it in a very controlled manner and does not allow 3rd party apps to run in the background.
Many iPhone ‘power users ‘ and tech-savvy types want more though. They want 3rd party apps to be able to run in the background. So Pandora can play music while you quickly reply to a text message, so a game can continue playing fluidly after you take a phone call, and so on.
I ‘ve seen a few developers talking about this subject on Twitter recently, and putting forward an argument that I think is spot on. It is that when most users say they want multitasking, what they really want is clever app switching.
Seeing those comments from developers, and also discussing the topic in this thread over at the everythingiCafe forums, has helped me get my thoughts together on the iPhone OS and multitasking and app switching. Helped me work out what I would like to see and what I think might be a good happy medium between what we have now, which leaves power users frustrated and wanting more, and full-on multitasking where all third party apps are allowed to run in the background.
Here are my quick thoughts on this:
– As a ‘power user’ I’d love to see a switch / toggle provided so those who wish to could choose to let the iPhone do more multitasking.
– I don’t think we have to jump all the way to allowing all third party apps to have the ability to run in the background. Thought this might be manageable for power users, it could also prove a big headache for many ‘normal ‘ users “ and would make the iPhone far more vulnerable to serious issues that could wreck the user experience, from running out of resources to malware running rampant.
– I agree with the argument that app switching is probably a more elegant and effective overall solution, with just a little loosening of the controls on 3rd party apps running in the background. Apart from the Phone app, music apps, and alerts, who really needs all your apps used within a ‘session’ to be kept alive in the background? If the OS could remember the state of each app (as is heavily rumored we’ll see in OS 4.0) and we get some elegant app-switching methods – a la those already available if you’re jailbroken or even the lovely, old school Dock utility from Nate True, that’s a nicer solution than full multitasking I think. Less hit on processor, RAM, battery; better performance for the currently running app, and easy, quick app switching – I could easily live with that.
– Jailbreak apps like QuickDo and Kirikae, which can be invoked from anywhere in the OS and let you instantly launch favorite apps with just a tap or two, and InfiniDock, which provides and endless and scrollable dock, show the potential for doing something clever and effective with app switching. If Apple brings us something equal to, or better than, those sort of apps for app switching, allows certain 3rd party apps a background ability, and allows the OS to remember apps ‘ state, I think we ‘d be getting towards a very nice solution. One that would still offer ‘protection ‘ for mainstream users but would also go a good ways towards making power users happier.
What do you all think? Do you want full, across-the-board multitasking for all 3rd party apps, or would a more app switching focused solution work for you?
my vote is for clever app switching – why not something similar to switching between safari pages?
My list is very similar. IMHO we don't need iPhone multitasking at all (at least for the next two years) if there's:
(1) an API for background music (a la HTTP streaming now), maybe even "plug-ins" for Apple's iPod app
(2) a new and improved system wide notification system a la Android (for IMs, missed text messages, calls etc.)
(3) every app automatically saves it's last state (OS level function)
(4) advanced app switching functionality, e.g. system-wide easy accessible like Kirikae but only with favorites and most recent used apps
(6) improved methods for one app to call another app (right now it's very limited)
for me, backgrounder and pro-switcher gives me what I expect (read require/demand) from my device. Then I am very restrictive and keep the backgrounded apps to a minimum, and only keep those I really need alive. Works for me.
I prefer the following:
-Clever app switching
-Droid-like notification panel
-iReal SMS application with quickreply & quicksend
I'd be mostly happy with clever app-switching. I would like some loosening of background restrictions for other music apps and sports apps that allow you to listen to games (e.g., MLB At Bat). Aside from those, I wouldn't want too much running in the background. Too much of a drain. Even when I was jailbroken, I rarely had apps running in the background other than when listening to music/sports games.
Actually, one of the things I miss most about being jailbroken was the ability via mQuickDo to quit the default apps that run in the background (like Safari). Saved on battery drain.
Oh – I also like th ability in QuickDo and ProSwitcher to stop some of the built-in apps from running in the background.
What you're calling 'clever app switching' would be incredibly useful in a large number of situations. I would even dare to say it would be the solution to MOST things people want multi-tasking for. However, it is not enough. There are still quite a few situations where a user does want the app to actually keep running in the background actively performing tasks.
Music apps — Mike11 asked instead for an API that allows music streams to continue in the background. This is a possible solution, but since there are many other use-cases for true multi-tasking, this would probably be more trouble than it's worth to implement.
Navigation apps — One of the main uses I have for multi-tasking is to keep Navigon running (and actively updating) in the background while I'm doing other things. I just recently took a long road trip to Atlanta. I was talking on the phone when I came up to a turn I needed to make. Navigon politely announced that my turn was coming up while I was jabbering away on the phone. No interruption to the phone call or my driving. As I checked Google Maps for traffic conditions, replied to IMs in Beejive (while stuck in non-moving traffic. I'm a safe driver, I swear!), and performed other tasks, I was able to keep Navigon running and updating and never miss a beat.
Games — Although most games wouldn't need active multi-tasking ability and a clever app-switching / state-saving system would suffice, there are some that still benefit from true multi-tasking. Games that are in constant communication with a host server to send and receive updates on the players location and other factors would not be able to handle a flash-freeze of their current state then a total shutdown. If the server stops being able to communicate with the client, it will consider it gone. There are also other games where it may be another users turn. While waiting for the other user to make their move, you switch to check your email or Facebook. With full multi-tasking, you will still hear sounds from the app so if there is a sound that lets you know you need to be back in the game, you'll know immediately.
I'm sure there are other use cases that can't be solved with push and/or clever app-switching. This is what I've come up with while still half asleep. The point is, multi-tasking in this day and age is something that is very important. Yes, there are better solutions in many cases. But I don't believe there are better solutions for all cases.
I can't disagree with any of your use-cases – but I think the clever app switching plus a few extras (remembering app state etc) would satisfy a whole lot of folks. Some power users will definitely agree on the 'not enough' side though. That's why I'd love to see a toggle, with whatever appropriate warnings Apple wants to give, that lets you toggle on 'full mulittasking' or similar.
I'd prefer some backgrounding ability for GPS applications. It's a pain to answer the phone, and the app pauses. It sometimes takes a few moments to restore the gps and figure out where you are….It's not a major pain on long straight trips but in town stop and go, turn and turn driving….it's a real pain.
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