iOS Can I have an application automatically open at a certain time?

[aaortega]

Can you have an application launch itself and then close like 5 seconds later? There are apps that send you reminders at a certain time, why would I not be able to do that?

 

[chbeer]

Can you have an application launch itself and then close like 5 seconds later?

I think you can. But I also think it's not a good idea because the user would wonder what happened and delete it right away. You should tell the user that your app is about to close...

There are apps that send you reminders at a certain time, why would I not be able to do that?

You are able to do that just as any iPhone developer. It's done with a server sending notifications to Apple that sends those notifications to given devices. Your app needs to register at your server and you can then send those notifications.

 

[robbieduncan]

Contrary to what is written above there is no way to schedule your app to startup at a certain time on a non-jailbroken phone.

 

[aaortega]

Isn't an alarm on the phone essentially the same thing? Are you not telling the phone to perform an action at a certain time? Or when you have your phone pop-up a reminder, it is all done remotely? Or can you at least tell your phone to send a message at a certain time?

 

[robbieduncan]

Isn't an alarm on the phone essentially the same thing? Are you not telling the phone to perform an action at a certain time? Or when you have your phone pop-up a reminder, it is all done remotely? Or can you at least tell your phone to send a message at a certain time?

The built-in alarm app is Apple provided so does not operate under the same restrictions. You cannot look at it and say "if it can, I can". For example the iPod app can run in the background and you can't.

 

[aaortega]

So every time you have an app give you a reminder it is all done remotely?

 

[amorya]

So every time you have an app give you a reminder it is all done remotely?

Yes. That's the only way.

 

[aaortega]

Wow, that sucks A**! Thanks everyone for all your knowledge and help!