Is is really that hard, Apple?

[iObama]

I recently switched to BlackBerry from an iPhone 3G S. I freaking hate it! However, there are two things (besides the awesome keyboard) that I LOVE about the platform: Notifications and multitasking.

Granted, the BlackBerry platform isn't great at either. However, with the near-abysmal implementation of these two features, they trump the iPhone. I genuinely don't understand why Apple chooses to not get off their butts and give the public what they want.

I don't care if multitasking "kills my battery." If I choose to run my battery down, I'd like to have that option. What's next? Only one brightness setting on laptops because SOME people might not know how to turn it down, thus "killing their battery?"

BlackBerry notifications are pretty weak in comparison with some other modern platforms. But in all honesty, I can't explain how much I love having the light on the front. It doesn't tell me anything but that there's something new on my phone, but it saves me from turning the display on every 5 minutes.

I know the majority of people really want these two things advanced with the next iPhone, so all you negative peeps: get off your fanboy chairs and let's have a thread!

 

[army91c]

Yeah.... I have multi tasking on my iPhone. Cool little program called pro switcher. As far as a little light letting me know I have a "new" item I don't really need that. If I don't hear the tone or feel the vibe then what ever I think I need to know isn't really that important.

 

[Maverick1337]

I don't care if multitasking "kills my battery." If I choose to run my battery down, I'd like to have that option. What's next? Only one brightness setting on laptops because SOME people might not know how to turn it down, thus "killing their battery?"

Should have jailbroken your iPhone. You can multitask and drain your battery to your hearts content.

It doesn't tell me anything but that there's something new on my phone, but it saves me from turning the display on every 5 minutes.

Get over the little light already. To be honest, a simple LED in the front doesnt make me want to drop my iPhone completely to get a BlackBerry.

If those are your only 2 reasons for giving up the iPhone in the first place, then I don't believe you liked your iPhone to begin with.

 

[Eso]

I don't care if multitasking "kills my battery."

This is probably the biggest myth about multi-tasking that people use to justify not having it. The truth is that having multiple applications open has very little affect on battery life at all. The obvious exceptions are apps that stream data even while inactive (IM, pandora, etc.), in which case it would be apparent to users that they are using battery power.

The vast majority of apps, however, remain idle when the user is not actively using them. They put almost no load on the processor which means they use virtually no additional battery power. All it takes is enough RAM to hold each open app in memory. You can test this for yourself on on your desktop. Open as many programs as you want and then open your system manager (which shows your CPU usage). Once all your programs are fully loaded, the load on your CPU will be less than 5%.

All multi-tasking requires is a UI mechanism that allows the user to easily switch between apps (and see which apps are open), like Safari pages, and perhaps a user-friendly notification to warn users when they should not run additional apps (RAM is full).

 

[omegac]

I have both a 9700 and iPhone 3GS, what notifications are you talking about that aren't well implemented? As for battery life, I can easily get two days out of the BB, with loads running....Still love the 3GS, like kids, love them equally, for different reasons

 

[thelatinist]

Where do you get the idea that Apple is not implemeting it because it's too hard? Apple has made a conscious design choice not to implement multi-tasking. You may disagree with the decision, but it was not made because Apple was too lazy to "get off their butts and give the public what they want."

As for a led indicator, I think you vastly overestimate the number of people clamoring for it. When the idea comes up on this board, the majority of people usually say that they do not want such a light.

 

[KidPub]

This is probably the biggest myth about multi-tasking that people use to justify not having it. The truth is that having multiple applications open has very little affect on battery life at all. The obvious exceptions are apps that stream data even while inactive (IM, pandora, etc.), in which case it would be apparent to users that they are using battery power.

The vast majority of apps, however, remain idle when the user is not actively using them. They put almost no load on the processor which means they use virtually no additional battery power. All it takes is enough RAM to hold each open app in memory. You can test this for yourself on on your desktop. Open as many programs as you want and then open your system manager (which shows your CPU usage). Once all your programs are fully loaded, the load on your CPU will be less than 5%.

All multi-tasking requires is a UI mechanism that allows the user to easily switch between apps (and see which apps are open), like Safari pages, and perhaps a user-friendly notification to warn users when they should not run additional apps (RAM is full).

Amen to that. A CPU can execute only one instruction at a time (assuming a single core), and what looks like several programs running simultaneously is really just several programs being switched in and out so quickly that they appear to be concurrent. It isn't the case that running an app in the background will halve your battery life.

Besides, the iPhone is running dozens of other processes besides the ones you see in the GUI...adding one or two additional processes won't affect the load that much.

Perry

 

[xraydoc]

I recently switched to BlackBerry from an iPhone 3G S. I freaking hate it! However, there are two things (besides the awesome keyboard) that I LOVE about the platform: Notifications and multitasking.

I agree with you about the notifications. Now, I don't necessarily need an LED flashing to tell me when I have email or a text (though I wouldn't remove it if it were there), but what I'd like to see is a more functional lock screen that shows me "today" information like a BlackBerry. Number of unread emails, missed calls, appointments, etc., so I don't have to unlock the phone and check for the little red notification badges, then open the calendar app just to see what's coming.

Yes, I know I could get this with Jailbreaking, but I'd like an Apple-sourced solution.

 

[IBradMac]

OP, I'm curious, which other platform besides BlackBerry, has true push notifications?

Anyways, I know it will probably never happen but if Apple bought out RIM, NOTHING could stand against the iPhone.

 

[Applejuiced]

I hate blinking lights.
And as far as multitasking, backgrounder is nice and simple on a JB iphone.

 

[rnauman821]

I hate blinking lights.
And as far as multitasking, backgrounder is nice and simple on a JB iphone.

It would be cool if on the next iphone they would have a breathing/blinking apple icon that glowed similar to the Eseries nokia main pad.

 

[Rooftop voter]

Shouldn't have to jailbreak for things that the iPhone should do already.

 

[instaxgirl]

I hate blinking lights.
And as far as multitasking, backgrounder is nice and simple on a JB iphone.

My dad has a Blackberry. He gets endless spam which means the light is always flashing. I tend to pile magazines on top of the Blackberry if I'm unlucky enough to have it visible even from the corner of my eye. Drives me mad. I understand that some people love them, but I couldn't deal.

Kirikae + Blackgrounder <3

It would be cool if on the next iphone they would have a breathing/blinking apple icon that glowed similar to the Eseries nokia main pad.

Please not the glowing Apple logo idea again.

 

[pellets007]

My dad has a Blackberry. He gets endless spam which means the light is always flashing. I tend to pile magazines on top of the Blackberry if I'm unlucky enough to have it visible even from the corner of my eye. Drives me mad. I understand that some people love them, but I couldn't deal.

One word: optional.

Oh, and if you have a MacBook/Pro, take a look at the sleep indicator. That's powerful enough to alert the user but not strong enough to really light anything up. Even if you find that a bit much you could have the ability to turn it off.

 

[pcs are junk]

One word: optional.

Oh, and if you have a MacBook/Pro, take a look at the sleep indicator. That's powerful enough to alert the user but not strong enough to really light anything up. Even if you find that a bit much you could have the ability to turn it off.

my dog was barking cuz of that light. my friend was sleeping over, and my mac was on the couch. so he put a pillow over the light and she stopped. =)

 

[Applejuiced]

Shouldn't have to jailbreak for things that the iPhone should do already.

I agree. Probably will be included In a software update.
But till then backgrounder will do.
Once you jb you will never look back

 

[labman]

wow these threads

TS no single phone is for everybody you love BB I hate them ! So if you hate your phone sell your Iphone. I would jb/ul if I were you since you will get more money. should get at least $600 for it. Then buy a bb and move on with youe life!

 

[Rooftop voter]

I agree. Probably will be included In a software update.
But till then backgrounder will do.
Once you jb you will never look back

hopefully your right. Backgrounding, bieng able to turn things on and off like Wifi,BT, 3G without going into settings, info on the lock sceen, and homescreen customazation and landscape should be easy things to do. Should have been able to do it from day one. I would jail brake but I don't want to be teathered. If an unteathered jb comes out I'll do it, but I'm not gonna hold my breath as it doesn't seem like anyone is working on it. If the stuff I listed comes in an update I won't have a need to jb though other than to stick it to the man!!!

 

[GnrlyMrly]

Blackberry- 2
iPhone - 7,629,171

 

[CocoaPuffs]

Get it straight OP. There's a difference between "not being able to", and "choosing not to".

Apple is taking the latter for reasons that are beyond you and I.

 

[Eso]

Get it straight OP. There's a difference between "not being able to", and "choosing not to".

And the difference to the end user is... ? If anything, it is just that more frustrating when they "choose not to" implement features when they have the capability to do so.

 

[CocoaPuffs]

And the difference to the end user is... ? If anything, it is just that more frustrating when they "choose not to" implement features when they have the capability to do so.

Do you have an iPhone? And so does millions and millions other users. Apple can't please everyone, but they sure are pleasing a crap load of people without these two specific things.

Obviously they have other priorities in mind. And if end user really has problems about multi-tasking, help yourself and jailbreak. Warranty is not an issue, and even a monkey can do it.

 

[Eso]

Do you have an iPhone? And so does millions and millions other users. Apple can't please everyone, but they sure are pleasing a crap load of people without these two specific things.

Obviously they have other priorities in mind. And if end user really has problems about multi-tasking, help yourself and jailbreak. Warranty is not an issue, and even a monkey can do it.

This has nothing to do with the fact that the reasons why certain features are excluded don't change the result for the end-user, and why it can be frustrating.

Even with a jailbreak, there are no UI elements in place that handle multi-tasking in an elegant way.

Apple is taking the latter for reasons that are beyond you and I.

It probably revolves around the fact that they design for the lowest-common denominator. It's the majority of people that believe Apple when they say multi-tasking reduces battery life by 80%. They proceed to thank Apple for not allowing multi-tasking and experiencing horrible battery life.

Alternatively, there are non-idiots who will realize it is not multi-tasking that drains the battery, but rather keeping an IM client open which utilizes a continuous data connection. They understand that it would count as usage time, and fully expect the battery to be dead within 9 hours (equivalent to wifi browsing).

 

[kdarling]

Get it straight OP. There's a difference between "not being able to", and "choosing not to".

Apple is taking the latter for reasons that are beyond you and I.

Oh pooh. There's no mystery about it. Any experienced developer knows what's going on.

Apple has been creating and filling out the UI as they go along. Nothing wrong with that, it's normal. In addition, resource management means something always has to come first and last. For example, MMS and C&P were simply low on their priority list.

As you said, many people were buying the phone without certain features. As time goes on, Apple frees the resources to fill in those gaps and capture more sales. In the meantime, they take the easiest path possible by avoiding the thorniest issues like multitasking or memory card swapping, things that other device makers already try to handle.

 

[Vandam500]

Even with a jailbreak, there are no UI elements in place that handle multi-tasking in an elegant way.

100% Incorrect. There are several UI elements that handle multitasking in a elegant way, the best one called ProSwitcher. Think WebOS multitasking but for your iPhone and it works EXACTLY the same way. Just YouTube it "Proswitcher iPhone" and you'll see exactly what I am talking about.