Multitasking

[kroeks]

I think it does run music during some apps.
But I guess this is unable with 3rd party apps.

If you ask me, their just finalizing their new firmware which will defenetly add multitask before it hits the store, because I can't imagine a iPad without it.

 

[kevingaffney]

Pointless without multi tasking

I will buy an ipad in the future. However, without multi tasking, it is pointless to me. On my macbook pro, I usually have itunes playing in background. This is a huge drawback to ipad if the user has to say shut down itunes to run safari. Not such a big deal on iphone but definitely a deal breaker on ipad

 

[Shawnstra]

I think certain apps can run in the background, apple made ones. Like on the iPhone and the iPod Touch, iTunes runs as a background app which you can use alongside apple apps or third party apps.

 

[spinnerlys]

Music can be played in the background on the iPhone and iPod Touch while you use other apps.

The iPad will most probably not differ.

 

[greygray]

You just cannot multi-task with third-party apps like Pandora. Other than that, it runs the same way as an iPhone/ iPod touch.

 

[aaarrrgggh]

Simple Approach to Multi-Tasking

Why can't they just allow small processes to multi-task, and give limits to how much resources any process can consume (and offer an easy way to terminate them)?

 

[bossxii]

Unless i'm way of base here, mutitasking takes memory yes? I don't even see anything on the spec sheet that shows any amount of memory. I think I read somewhere the iPhone has 512mb? It would seem aside from any battery concerns, the amount of memory needed to do anything useful is not there.

I guess it could load it into the storage memory and have it act as virtual memory but other then that I think they would need to add 1 or 2 gigs to make it work well. Just a guess.

 

[mjobrie1]

Backgrounder

Unless i'm way of base here, mutitasking takes memory yes? I don't even see anything on the spec sheet that shows any amount of memory. I think I read somewhere the iPhone has 512mb? It would seem aside from any battery concerns, the amount of memory needed to do anything useful is not there. I guess it could load it into the storage memory and have it act as virtual memory but other then that I think they would need to add 1 or 2 gigs to make it work well. Just a guess.

For what its worth, I use Backgrounder from Cydia on my iPhone and I run multiple apps without a hitch. I guess Steve knows best, right?

 

[iCheddar]

I guess Steve knows best, right?

Well, he thinks he does. What disappoints me is that there is no curve of capabilities of the device to go along with the abilities of the operator.

Lets face facts, most users, at least half as a guess, have no clue how to use a computer. Even the people who make there livings off them don't know how to use them.

Case in point, an instructor of mine, knows how to use Final Cut Pro well enough, but doesn't know other basic tasks like how to use expose.

Even if multitasking wasn't a default feature, I'd like to at least see the switch to turn it on, like there is with 3G coverage on an iPhone.

*switch it to on* Enabling multitasking may hinder battery performance. Are you sure you wish to enable it?

Yes, a million times yes!

 

[Cinemagic]

Repeat after me..

I will do as Steve wants.
I will surf only the sites Steve wants me to see.
I will run only apps that Steve says I can run.
I will not multitask because Steve says I can't.
I will pay Steve for every single thing I see, listen to or read.
I will not jailbreak for Steve will try to brick my device.
I will have no other devices or OS before me for Steve says it shall be so.


I love Apple products and feel that they are the best on the market. But, they have certain limitations that are for the sole purpose of Apple's coffers and to the detriment to the consumer. I do have the right to not buy. In the case of the iPad, I'll decline to buy unless and until there are significant changes to make it more user friendly and complete device - such as multi-tasking and Flash support.

 

[redeclipse]

Multitasking... Maybe not off the table yet?

This is complete hearsay, but I was just thinking about it. Perhaps multitasking on the iPad isn't completely off the table yet.

Apple isn't stupid. Perhaps stubborn in some ways, (i.e. we're gonna do things our way whether or not you like it) but they're a smart company. They know that multitasking is a huge deal to people. Their new "A4" processor should be able to handle multitasking. If Android and the respective hardware can handle multitasking on other phones, so can Apple's hardware.

I think that Apple may have been saving a multitasking announcement for the next iPhone model/OS update. I would think that the iPhone 3G hardware could handle it, but if not, the 3Gs hardware definitely should be able to. And definitely their new phone hardware should if either of these fall short.

So point being, I believe the iPad is probably already capable of multitasking (as far as hardware issues go), but the iPad and the iPhone are part of the same family. They both use the iPhone OS, so adding provisions for multitasking to the iPhone OS for the iPad would be ok - Unless they were already adding multitasking for the iPhone (and thereby the iPad) and didn't want to give away the new features of the iPhone OS or new iPhone model yet.

That's just speculation, but there you go

<-- And I just wanted to use that for fun

 

[dave1812dave]

this has been discussed already.

 

[miknos]

Multitasking IS possible

Multitasking is not enabled by default because applications will run slower, specially if you leave many open, degrading the "experience".

In the iPhone you can listen to ipod while browsing the internet, so a partial-multitasking is present.

If you jailbreak your iPhone you have a few multitasking apps to choose.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMAVyaNQdnw

As you see, it's just a matter of time till the iPad is jailbreak to use such apps.

 

[goobot]

As you see, it's just a matter of time till the iPad is jailbreak to use such apps.

99% of people knew this

 

[miknos]

99% of people knew this

Seems like more than 1% complained.

 

[MacDawg]

Seems like more than 1% complained.

They want it out of the box ready, not a jailbreak solution

Nobody has jailbroken an iPad yet, cause nobody has one

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[Sketh]

It's my impression that those complainers want multitasking without having to jailbreak.

And really, it's something that will probably happen with an OS update, I think Apple wants to unveil that on the actual iPhone, be able to say "Hey, this much power in something so small, btw iPad can do it too."

 

[miknos]

But I think people will start opening 20 apps, and complain how slow the OS is.

Maybe Apple is keeping it away to avoid that?

 

[MBHockey]

worst thread ever?

 

[MacDawg]

worst thread ever?

There have been much worse, trust me

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[Sketh]

But I think people will start opening 20 apps, and complain how slow the OS is.

Maybe Apple is keeping it away to avoid that?

We have here, folks, a real smart guy.


Why hasn't anyone mentioned that before, ever?

 

[smiddlehurst]

Okay, I admit it, I don't know why people are going so crazy over wanting multitasking on the iPad. Here's my logic:

A device like this will always be running apps full screen, there just isn't enough real eastate to do otherwise. That being the case you will always need some form of switching mechaic to get between apps when you're multitasking; alt-tab, expose, swipe gesture, doesn't matter what exactly. Now I really don't see the main difference between that and the current system of press home button, tap icon to launch the app you're switching to. Apps, at least productivity apps, on the iPhone / iPod Touch launch pretty much instantly and a lot of 'em preserve your state from the last launch. Assuming that remains the case in the iPad (and I see no reason it wouldn't)... where's the big difference?

The two cases I could see being a decent case are streaming music in the background and IM clients. Other than that... *shrug* just doesn't seem like a big deal, at least not the extent that the complainers make it out to be. Nice to have but not essential by any stretch of the imagination. Actually, I thought this was summed up nicely by the Engadget podcast (I believe Josh said this but could be wrong) when they claimed that 'being productive means doing many things at once'. Uh, wrong, being productive if often better served by concentrating on a single task. Certainly I get my best writing done when I close everything else down and just spend a few hours with a keyboard and text editor.

 

[bobr1952]

They want it out of the box ready, not a jailbreak solution

Nobody has jailbroken an iPad yet, cause nobody has one

Woof, Woof - Dawg

You're totally correct--I just don't want to jailbreak my phone--so what I want is out of the box multitasking for 3rd party apps--which I'm sure it the "they" in your post.

 

[MRU]

^ There is no conceivable reason why Apple could not simply implement a limit to the amount of multi tasking incidents which can run concurrently.

They already do this to some extent.

People should not have to Jailbreak a device in order to obtain functionality which should be natively supported.


Multitasking, Categories & application management, basic GUI user modification should all be standard, and it would be in Apples interest to support these.

The majority of people who Jailbreak do so to utilise these features. However once Jailbroken the likelihood of piracy etc. increases too.

So take the main reason for Jailbreaking off people and we will all be happy.

 

[MacDawg]

You're totally correct--I just don't want to jailbreak my phone--so what I want is out of the box multitasking for 3rd party apps--which I'm sure it the "they" in your post.

Correct

How many threads are there that say "Help, I jailbroke and now..."
Apple will not help you, and I don't blame them

I don't want a jailbreak solution either

Woof, Woof - Dawg