Apple rumored to allow limited iPhone multi-tasking with iPhone OS 3.0

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The iPhone’s inability to run multiple applications simultaneously in the background could be a deal-killer in the face of the multi-tasking Palm Pre. One of the Palm Pre’s claims to fame is that its WebOS operating system is capable of running multiple applications at the same time, allowing the user to multi-task between applications as needed. But, if this latest rumor pans out, we could see Apple allowing some limited multi-tasking of third-party iPhone applications in the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0.

Apple is now rumored to be considering some limited multi-tasking support for iPhone 3.0 OS. According to Business Insider, Apple may allow iPhone users to select two iPhone apps that will be allowed to persist in the background (multi-task). Alternatively, Apple may approve certain third-party iPhone apps for multi-task support on the iPhone. Whatever the case, any kind of multi-task support in iPhone 3.0 would be a boon for iPhone users.

To be clear, Apple’s iPhone and iPhone 3G both are capable of running multiple applications in the background. Apple already allows limited multi-task support to its native iPhone applications – like Mail, iPod and Phone. Unfortunately, the 128MB of RAM in the iPhone just isn’t enough to keep up with native iPhone apps as well as multiple third-party applications.

Apple’s official answer to the multi-tasking problem is the delayed background push notification system that will go live with iPhone OS 3.0. Rather than having third-party iPhone applications continuously running in the background to keep abreast of the latest information, Apple wants to push all that data as “notifications” to inactive iPhone apps. The push notification system would save on battery drain, but will still be a multi-tasking compromise.

As great as push notifications might be, without true multi-tasking support, the iPhone will always be a compromise. But, there’s talk of the next iPhone sporting an upgraded 512MB of RAM – which would open the door to true multi-tasking support on the new iPhone. With quadruple the current iPhone’s RAM stores, the new iPhone should make easy work of running multiple third-party iPhone apps in the background. The only question is – will Apple allow it?

[Business Insider via: TheiPhoneBlog]

  • Dj Rayz

    Very interesting concept. The other downside with a lot of multi-tasking apps running in the background would be how much battery is drained while they run.

    Programs do have glitches and I wonder what would happen if an app can’t close itself? It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.

    I am highly excited that the Palm Pre is giving some competition to Apple’s iPhone. People win when technology competes with each other.

  • R

    This is just one of several lack of functionality that the iPhone had. I use a blackberry and moved to the iPhone for all that was rumoured about it. the phone works alright and I guess the iPod too – but it sucks big time on basic features – especially mail related. I am now sure that apple is not really serios in the business of business phones. I will never buy am iPhone again and will definitely not deploy at our office either – not matter what they say again

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