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How Multitasking Could be Done

J

Jakeoster

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 12, 2010
153
80
I was on the iPad browser today and noticed how easily you could zoom far out of the page.

DSCN2614.jpg


It seems like a great way multitasking could be implemented, except at some point the whole safari browser would be zoomed out of, not just the page. I am no graphic designer but heres a cheap step by step of how it would work to give you an idea. I dont know if this has already been thought of but it just seems like the most natural way to do it in my opinion, double tapping the home button or whatever seems kinda wonky when you got this wonderful touch screen to manipulate.

[the pink circles are finger tips]

multitasking.jpg


What do you guys think? Have anyone thought of this before?
 
Its an interesting idea, but there are some apps where this wouldn't work very well. For example, the maps app. At what point would it switch from zooming out of the map to the open apps?
 
In other words, Exposé for iPad. There have actually been rumors about this exact thing for the iPad. We'll see. But it's got problems. For example, what happens when you try that with the Maps app? You'd have to pinch-zoom out to see the entire earth before it shrinks down? There's a reason Apple hasn't put this in yet. Thinking about how to make these things work well, in a new interface, is hard.
 
That would actually be really slick. It would be efficient and intuitive considering that 9" is still a pretty small screen to work with.

If Apple doesn't implement a system like this, maybe you should grab the patent on it!
 
i think it's a good idea, but i also think multi touch gestures would be best, using a 4 swipe motion to see all programs running, a la expose.
 
troop231 said:
Too late, already gettin an application ready LOL jk
Click to expand...

The most sceptical patent lawyer would argue that this method infringes on the pinch to zoom patent. However, I've come up with an interesting idea, I'll draw it up for you.
 
NC MacGuy said:
With 256Mb RAM?
Click to expand...

That's why I think we will see a more limited, restricted form of multitasking (along with battery life concerns). As an alternate to actually having all those apps running simultaneously, you could still use some similar system for fast app switching, which would be faster than exiting to the home screen in-between every time. But, maybe those background apps are asked to sleep while they are in the background, or throttled back. If the RAM gets full, maybe they are asked to save state and quit, but the user wouldn't necessarily have to know this as the mechanism could cache an image and seamlessly re-awaken it as it swaps out other apps. As I said before, this stuff is really, really difficult to do well and there are many inhibiting factors.
 
While I agree that it'll actually be an event triggered with the home button.

I think a 5 finger grab/push motion would be fastest/best.

Push away to see all the apps, then "grab" the one you want.

..... there's a reason there's no 5 finger actions yet ...
 
gibjer said:
While I agree that it'll actually be an event triggered with the home button.

I think a 5 finger grab/push motion would be fastest/best.

Push away to see all the apps, then "grab" the one you want.

..... there's a reason there's no 5 finger actions yet ...
Click to expand...

My stepdad lost his pinky finger, I guess he's out of luck?
 
NC MacGuy said:
With 256Mb RAM?
Click to expand...

Yep.
We multitasked on computers running Windows 95 and 32 megs of edo ram.
I don't see why you couldn't do it on the iPad. Or does anyone think that the
apps on the ipad are too BURLY to do it. ehehhe. It can be done, it will be
done. Watch.

Webcam and Multitasking, coming to an iPad near you.
Well the multitasking sooner than the webcam. The webcam and an sd
card slot will probably be in gen2.
Just my prediction.
 
HiRez said:
In other words, Exposé for iPad. There have actually been rumors about this exact thing for the iPad. We'll see. But it's got problems. For example, what happens when you try that with the Maps app? You'd have to pinch-zoom out to see the entire earth before it shrinks down? There's a reason Apple hasn't put this in yet. Thinking about how to make these things work well, in a new interface, is hard.
Click to expand...

You know I never even thought of that:p maybe a button you could tap on the maps app bar? All the other native apps seem to be ok. Maybe a home button double tap or the like could be implemented as a fall back just in case an app from the app store has trouble with this method.
 
On iPad 5 finger gestures would work fine, but on iPhone they would not. Also, what if an app is already using all 5 fingers, the OS may think they are trying to access expose when they are just interacting with the app. I think holding down the home button would be best.
 
ipoddin said:
The Motorola Droid has 256mb of RAM and seems to handle multitasking.

Perhaps Apple will limit it to no more than say, 4 apps at a time.
Click to expand...

I may be wrong but isn't the 256Mb total? As in used for video RAM too?

Droid have wee screen. I don't see a problem with iPhone multitasking but iPad may be another issue altogether.
 
NC MacGuy said:
I may be wrong but isn't the 256Mb total? As in used for video RAM too?

Droid have wee screen. I don't see a problem with iPhone multitasking but iPad may be another issue altogether.
Click to expand...

How much ram does the current iPhone 3GS have? I have it multitasking all day long and it handles it fine. Having 8 apps open and running has not been in issue.

OP, I like the idea. This would be good for the iPad, but I don't know if I would want this on the iphone/touch. Screen might be to small for something like this. Don't know.
 
I don't think Apple will make a multitask like that it's too messy and desktop oriented. I saw once a jailbroken iPhone on youtube that had a "safari-pages-style" multitask, I reckon that would be more likely to be used and clean.
 
rhett7660 said:
How much ram does the current iPhone 3GS have? I have it multitasking all day long and it handles it fine. Having 8 apps open and running has not been in issue.

OP, I like the idea. This would be good for the iPad, but I don't know if I would want this on the iphone/touch. Screen might be to small for something like this. Don't know.
Click to expand...

I think it too has 256Mb. Multitasking would work fine for a smaller device. The same amount of RAM would have to drive a screen that demands 5x more pixels?
 
I think the leak said it's double tap the home screen for an expose type deal, and that's it.
 
Jakeoster said:
You know I never even thought of that:p maybe a button you could tap on the maps app bar? All the other native apps seem to be ok. Maybe a home button double tap or the like could be implemented as a fall back just in case an app from the app store has trouble with this method.
Click to expand...

I think that having it work in one way in some apps and another way in other apps would be pretty clumsy. Using the home-button in some way would be able to be universally used in all apps.
 
Here is what I was saying before. I made a keynote that explain how the multitask will work for me. :D
 

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