iOS4 Multitasking – What You Need To Know

Is this you? You updated your iPhone to iOS 4 and now you’re looking to multitask — and it isn’t working? What’s going on?

Here’s what you need to know.

With iOS 4, multitasking is already here, but in order to use it developers must update their apps to support this new feature.

(We have a short list of multitasking-enabled apps at the end of this report).

First of all, a quick explanation of what multitasking is on an iPhone.

The news here is that it isn’t really multitasking per se, more enabling access to specific tasks from within enabled apps.

Because these tasks are tasks you want to run, you get to enjoy a feeling akin to multitasking.

There are some SNAFU’s, for example, apps can’t grab new data from the network while they work in the background. This means Twitter or your RSS reader will still have to poll for new updates when you return to the app.

What is nice is that apps will retain the saved state in which you left the application. Overall, Apple’s ambition here is perfectly acceptable — it hopes to allow some apps to access some background processes in such a way as to not impact performance or battery life. And, to be honest, it works.

Here are the activities which can run in the background:

Perfect recall

Apps can remember where you left off. So when you return to the app they are in the same place.

Background audio

You can listen to audio from compatible third-party apps while checking email, surfing the web, playing games, and performing other tasks.

Receive VoIP calls

This is a big deal. VoIP apps like Skype will (eventually) let you receive calls even while you have other apps running. This is a big deal — unfortunately Skype, which demonstrated the feature at an Apple keynote earlier this year, hasn’t yet completed work on a multitasking-enabled version of its iPhone app. Which is poor.

Always on GPS

Apps that use GPS can continue to run in the background — good for networking and driving.

Background completion

This isn’t perfect (yet) as apps can’t actually access the network in order to fetch data, but Apple has at least enabled apps to complete tasks they are engaged in, such as uploading images to Flickr. This means you can switch to another app without interrupting the task. Which is cool.

Receive push and local notifications.

Third-party apps and services can send alerts and messages directly to your phone. This isn’t new, but is steadily being extended to all kinds of apps.

Apple’s official apps, such as Safari and Mail, are already multitasking compatible, so you can get an idea of what to expect.

While you wait for the non-Apple apps you already use to be enabled for multitasking, here’s two you can play with today.

Pandora Radio

This is an app to get into right away. With the latest Pandora Radio update you can create personalized radio, streaming music to your ears via your iPhone or iPad.

All you need to do is tell Pandora about a favorite artists, song or composers and the app will create a “station” that plays their music and more music like it.

The introduction of multi-tasking support within the app means you’ll be able to continue listening to the music while working within another app. This could be a must-have app.

Dropbox

This fab app is certainly the easiest way to sync and share your files online and across computers or devices. Better yet, it enables you to export documents from your Dropbox into third-party iPad apps. This seems likely to be a boon for those trying to do productive work on their Apple device.

App features include:

• Access your Dropbox on the go.
• View documents, spreadsheets, presentations, videos, and photos.
• Export files to other iPad apps.
• “Favorite” files to download them for fast, offline viewing.
• Use your iPhone camera to take photos and videos and save them directly to your Dropbox.
• Share and send files via email, text message, or copy and paste links to use in another app.
• Swipe your way through photo galleries

This app requires a Dropbox account which is free to set-up. Go grab it.

We’d like to see more apps equipped with multitasking support appear, and we do expect a tidal wave of updated apps to reach the App Store now iOS 4 is in the public domain. Perhaps you’ve come across a multitasking-ready app? If you have, then do let us know in comments below.