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Multifl0w... Wow!! Best/New Way to Multi-Task! (Update out, close apps easily)
- Thread starter Vandam500
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Finally, task closing!
Tried again at version 1.2.2 this morning. All my problems have been fixed, and the program finally does what it says it does virtually flawlessly. And as an added bonus we finally get a close button a la Safari tabs. The dev should have released previous versions as free time-limited betas; only now is it really worth paying for. And I think it definitely is worth paying for.
There remains only one problem: it's really going to be hard to choose between Kirikae and Multifl0w. I wish that they did not conflict. Ideally they would play well together, so that we could alternate between the two. Even better would be to create a Kirikae-like task list within the Multiflow interface (a "Tasks" tab to replace the "about" tab on the right).
Tried again at version 1.2.2 this morning. All my problems have been fixed, and the program finally does what it says it does virtually flawlessly. And as an added bonus we finally get a close button a la Safari tabs. The dev should have released previous versions as free time-limited betas; only now is it really worth paying for. And I think it definitely is worth paying for.
There remains only one problem: it's really going to be hard to choose between Kirikae and Multifl0w. I wish that they did not conflict. Ideally they would play well together, so that we could alternate between the two. Even better would be to create a Kirikae-like task list within the Multiflow interface (a "Tasks" tab to replace the "about" tab on the right).
I tried the very latest version this morning but it's not working right for me so I had to uninstall. I could flick through open apps just fine but when I picked one, it would zoom in then hang. Multiflow app buttons on the bottom and the red "x" icon didn't disappear after zoom in. Tried hard reset, uninstall and reinstall of Multifl0w, turning off Intelliscreen, etc. No luck.
I have a 3GS with the following jailbreak apps:
Backgrounder
Intelliscreen*
Smsettings
Mxtube
3g unrestrictor
Ifile
Pdanet
Appbackup
20 second homescreen
Rock app
Safari Download Manager
AttachmentSaver
looking forward to testing again after future updates. I can tell this is going to rock once it's fine tuned.
I have a 3GS with the following jailbreak apps:
Backgrounder
Intelliscreen*
Smsettings
Mxtube
3g unrestrictor
Ifile
Pdanet
Appbackup
20 second homescreen
Rock app
Safari Download Manager
AttachmentSaver
looking forward to testing again after future updates. I can tell this is going to rock once it's fine tuned.
You should update to the latest version. Now you can close out individual apps from within Multifl0w, without opening the app back up:
Attachments
Going to take advantage of the free trial for a while and see if I like this better than Kirikae (which I really like, so I'm biased). Once the trial is over I'll probably return to Kirikae, but that's what trials are for!
Edit: Sorry, this is crap. Every time I try to select an app from multiflow, it does a respring. I can't believe the dev is charging for this while it is still in "beta". That's almost insulting. Back to Kirikae much sooner than expected. Nice try...FAIL
Edit: Sorry, this is crap. Every time I try to select an app from multiflow, it does a respring. I can't believe the dev is charging for this while it is still in "beta". That's almost insulting. Back to Kirikae much sooner than expected. Nice try...FAIL
I was going to ask, do you guys think this is worth $5? I mean on Rock you get a free demo but not on Cydia?
Works exactly as advertised for me. I think it's probably worth the $5.
After using Kirikae for a week or two, I was planning on donating the $5 to that dev, but decided that, if Multifl0w does everything Kirikae does but looks nicer doing it, then I'd spent my money there. After reading that it now had the ability to quit apps from Multifl0w, I decided to go ahead and take the plunge.
At the moment, I think my only complaint is that you cannot unbackground and close an app while it is in focus. With Kirikae, you're able to invoke and use it to unbackground/quit the app currently in focus.
After using Kirikae for a week or two, I was planning on donating the $5 to that dev, but decided that, if Multifl0w does everything Kirikae does but looks nicer doing it, then I'd spent my money there. After reading that it now had the ability to quit apps from Multifl0w, I decided to go ahead and take the plunge.
At the moment, I think my only complaint is that you cannot unbackground and close an app while it is in focus. With Kirikae, you're able to invoke and use it to unbackground/quit the app currently in focus.
How could someone else decide if it's worth it for you??? What does the free trial have to do with anything? There are enough threads and pictures of how it works (multifl0w.com) to make an informed choice whether $4.99 is worth it.
I've been using Backgrounder with my 3GS for months and I've never evoked Voice Control accidently.
Same here. Have never accidentally opened Voice Control. To background a app is less then a second that you have to hold it and to activate Voice Control is more like 2 seconds.
A few items:
1) You can invoke voice control if you are trying to background the standard apple apps that already background on their own!!!! For people less familiar, apps like Mail, Safari, iPod, SMS auto background as part of the OS and backgrounder does not background them - hence if you try and do so you will hold down until voice control pops up. Otherwise its a non issue, it does not happen, and so anyone that says it does has problems with their phone/jailbreak, etc.
2) I think if you are going to comment on apps in general, you really should specify what version you are using. Especially when this app has been updated as quickly as Vandam has updated it.
3) I am using the latest version 1.2.2 and it is much much improved over other versions. Closing an out an app is now easy with the safari-like red x's and their is no issue with a "window" in focus or not. You can hit any X anywhere on the screen and it will close the app. Memory usage is also improved and if you have solved the leak totally, its getting close.
4) As echoed by others, i do think you need to try and improve the order of the backgrounded apps as to how they appear as you move around between them. With Kirikae, its less relevant and the order can remain unchanged as its easier to manage in list form. With your app, the apps should remain in order such that if you have Apps A, B, C, D, E open, and you choose to open app C, when you multiflow from within app C the order should be (maybe springboard is always first but then) D, E, A, B. If I then switch to app A, then invoke multiflow again from within the app, the order should be Springboard, B, C, D, E. I think you get the point.
5) I think you should, if possible, list the app name under or over the app in the multiflow view. Its possible to have a lot of apps with text based screenshots and sometimes its hard to tell them apart. I think this would help alot visually.
6) Instead of the about tab (put all your info in the pref app), i think it should be a search shortcut. Kirikae just did this and its smart since alot of people use double tap home to take them right to the search bar (since its the easiest way to launch apps or search for a contact or search email). Frankly, you have alot of options with the tabs. Id probably make 3: Multiflow, Favs (default for now but im not in love with the concept), and search (or maybe this is a shortcut to the springboard home and you do away with the screenshot in the multiflow cards).
7) I like the way the current app your are running is treated - that it fades to background and multiflow is invoked over it. Very easy to tell what app you are in and you can always get back to it. I see no need to show somewhere else the current app you are on.
Overall this has not crashed my phone once. I am using a 32GB 3GS.
Keep up the good work.
1) You can invoke voice control if you are trying to background the standard apple apps that already background on their own!!!! For people less familiar, apps like Mail, Safari, iPod, SMS auto background as part of the OS and backgrounder does not background them - hence if you try and do so you will hold down until voice control pops up. Otherwise its a non issue, it does not happen, and so anyone that says it does has problems with their phone/jailbreak, etc.
2) I think if you are going to comment on apps in general, you really should specify what version you are using. Especially when this app has been updated as quickly as Vandam has updated it.
3) I am using the latest version 1.2.2 and it is much much improved over other versions. Closing an out an app is now easy with the safari-like red x's and their is no issue with a "window" in focus or not. You can hit any X anywhere on the screen and it will close the app. Memory usage is also improved and if you have solved the leak totally, its getting close.
4) As echoed by others, i do think you need to try and improve the order of the backgrounded apps as to how they appear as you move around between them. With Kirikae, its less relevant and the order can remain unchanged as its easier to manage in list form. With your app, the apps should remain in order such that if you have Apps A, B, C, D, E open, and you choose to open app C, when you multiflow from within app C the order should be (maybe springboard is always first but then) D, E, A, B. If I then switch to app A, then invoke multiflow again from within the app, the order should be Springboard, B, C, D, E. I think you get the point.
5) I think you should, if possible, list the app name under or over the app in the multiflow view. Its possible to have a lot of apps with text based screenshots and sometimes its hard to tell them apart. I think this would help alot visually.
6) Instead of the about tab (put all your info in the pref app), i think it should be a search shortcut. Kirikae just did this and its smart since alot of people use double tap home to take them right to the search bar (since its the easiest way to launch apps or search for a contact or search email). Frankly, you have alot of options with the tabs. Id probably make 3: Multiflow, Favs (default for now but im not in love with the concept), and search (or maybe this is a shortcut to the springboard home and you do away with the screenshot in the multiflow cards).
7) I like the way the current app your are running is treated - that it fades to background and multiflow is invoked over it. Very easy to tell what app you are in and you can always get back to it. I see no need to show somewhere else the current app you are on.
Overall this has not crashed my phone once. I am using a 32GB 3GS.
Keep up the good work.
Do you mean an app that is not yet backgrounded? Because once an app has been backgrounded you can close it while it's in focus. I agree that this is and area that needs work. I'm sure the dev is already on it.
As much as I loved trying Multifl0w, I had to uninstall it for now. For some strange reason it kept backgrounding the first page after you tap the Contacts Icon when I didn't even touch the Contacts icon as seen in the following screen shot.
It also (and you can't see it obviously in the screen shot) would background the first page after you tap the Mail Icon when I didn't even touch the Mail icon (I would have posted that screen shot also but it listed all of my email information). This screen shot was taken when I had nothing backgrounded and simply invoked Multifl0w.
I'm not sure what is going on but it also wouldn't free my memory back. After closing everything (red "X" all my backgrounded apps) I would be down to 56 MB with nothing running on a 3GS. When I would attempt to Free Up Memory" from SBSettings, I would get a "soft crash" to the Springboard (meaning it would free the memory, but it wouldn't come back to SBSettings, it would crash to the Springboard).
This doesn't mean I'm giving up, I just wanted to mention this in hopes it helps the dev if I happen to not be the only one. I'll keep trying and watch these threads for additional help or info.
Good luck to the rest of you...
It also (and you can't see it obviously in the screen shot) would background the first page after you tap the Mail Icon when I didn't even touch the Mail icon (I would have posted that screen shot also but it listed all of my email information). This screen shot was taken when I had nothing backgrounded and simply invoked Multifl0w.
I'm not sure what is going on but it also wouldn't free my memory back. After closing everything (red "X" all my backgrounded apps) I would be down to 56 MB with nothing running on a 3GS. When I would attempt to Free Up Memory" from SBSettings, I would get a "soft crash" to the Springboard (meaning it would free the memory, but it wouldn't come back to SBSettings, it would crash to the Springboard).
This doesn't mean I'm giving up, I just wanted to mention this in hopes it helps the dev if I happen to not be the only one. I'll keep trying and watch these threads for additional help or info.
Good luck to the rest of you...
Are you saying yours does the same thing? Like I said in my post, I NEVER opened "Contacts" or "Mail" apps. That screen shot is after a Reboot to make sure I didn't have anything in the background. In the Demos I watched, I didn't see "Contacts" or "Mail" already backgrounded. I understand that the apps you mentioned always run in the background but I don't think everybody elses "Contacts" and "Mail" show up like mine.
I should also mention, that in using Multifl0w for the past two days, I just noticed this late today.
I'll be very interested to hear what others have to say.
Thanks for your input, but I think there's more to it than what you are suggesting. I also, may just be an isolated incident.
I'll keep checking back...
I understand what you guys are saying but does your Mail app open automatically (backgrounded) to show all your email accounts and does your Phone app open automatically to show your Contacts page (backgrounded) like the screen shot I posted?
I thought a picture would be worth a thousand words but I guess I'm not making myself clear or I'm really missing something here.
What would be the purpose of those apps always being in the "window"? If your screen doesn't look like my screen shot then you're missing what I'm trying to explain.
I'll keep working at it...
mine shows my phone app with the keypad tab, and my mail app shows only one of my mail accounts
Ohio,
When the iphone is restarted, by default the phone application is always run. Depending on your mail settings as well (like push, etc), your mail app will always also be running as default. I did some testing and used the terminal app to see all the processes running on the iphone in real-time. For the experiment I am using SBSsettings and Multifl0w to test compared to the terminal of running apps.
I make sure multifl0w shows 0 backgrounded apps and then I powercycle to start clean.
After reboot, running apps in terminal:
Phone and Mail
Running apps according to SBS:
Phone and Mail
Backgrounded Apps according to Multifl0w
None
Now I open up Mail, Phone, Safari, and Tweetie. I close the first three outright and background Tweetie.
Running apps in terminal:
Phone, Mail, Safari and Tweetie
Running apps according to SBS:
Phone, Mail, Safari and Tweetie
Backgrounded Apps according to Multifl0w
Phone, Mail, Safari and Tweetie
Now I go into SBSsettings and kill safari and tweetie.
Running apps in terminal:
Phone, Mail
Running apps according to SBS:
Phone, Mail
Backgrounded Apps according to Multifl0w
Phone, Mail
Now I reopen Safari and Tweetie, and then proceed to close them via Multifl0w.
Running apps in terminal:
Phone, Mail
Running apps according to SBS:
Phone, Mail
Backgrounded Apps according to Multifl0w
Phone, Mail
Now I kill Phone and Mail via SBSsettings (and repeated by opening them back up and killing by Multifl0w - same result)
Running apps in terminal:
Phone, Mail
Running apps according to SBS:
Phone, Mail
Backgrounded Apps according to Multifl0w
None
SO in this test, even when you kill Phone and Mail, they automatically restart. I can see this happening in the terminal. They close briefly and then reopen. However, you will not see them in multifl0w once you kill them until you click on each one time. After that, they are present in multifl0w as cards to switch between.
Also note that if you do not kill these multiflo0w cards before a restart, such that in multifl0w you see a mail card and phone card, even when you restart, they will be present after the restart is finished. HOWEVER, if you kill these two processes such that there are 0 cards in multifl0w, then restart, they will not automatically show up after the restart, you will have to click on each once to have their cards show up.
Vandam, I am not sure if this is intentional or not, but my first thought at this would be that the multif0w should mimic the processes and therefore these cards can be "X" out but as soon as multiflow is invoked again, they are automatically recreated? Not really sure how to handle it but thats something to think about. Anyone know how this is handled within Kirkae?
Hopefully this helps people understand the processes a little more.
If I launch say safari and my twitter client (Tweetie) b
Ohio,
Open multifl0w, kill all running apps including phone and mail. Now restart. When its done, open multifl0w and you should see 0 apps running. Now click on phone. click on the keypad so it shows your dialer. Now close the phone app. Open multifl0w and you should see the keypad as your screenshot card. Now restart your phone. When it comes back, first thing, open multifl0w. You should see the phone screenshot card and it should be the keypad dialer not the contacts.
Do this and let me know.
Nobody can ever accuse you of not thoroughly explaining youself!
I won't be able to do it tonight, getting ready to turn in, early day in the morning. I will do what you ask and report back sometime tomorrow.
Thanks for your help
@dhy8386 I got the same exact effects but not for Mail. I have push and fetch turned off in Mail which is why it doesn't load itself after reboot.
Now why multifl0w doesn't show those processes after reboot beats me but once you open them and use them, just like you said, everything shows up and works fine.
Now why multifl0w doesn't show those processes after reboot beats me but once you open them and use them, just like you said, everything shows up and works fine.