iPhone 4.0: Multitasking Exposé, Universal Inbox, Contacts on Home Screen
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AppleInsider is adding to the multitasking rumors we’ve been hearing for a while now, saying iPhone 4.0 will finally extend the same benefits to 3rd party apps that Apple’s own Mail, Phone, and iPod apps (among others) enjoy.
Using a key combination, such as the double Home click that now triggers Spotlight or Camera (or whatever you choose in Settings), the current app would zoom out and you’d get a grid view of all running apps, similar to Mac OS X’s Exposé feature. Tap an app, it zooms in, and you’re good to go. How many apps will be allowed to run at once, and whether or not multitasking will work on older, RAM-starved iPhone 2G and iPhone 3G devices is unknown. (iPhone 3GS has double their RAM, and we’re hoping the 4th gen iPhone doubles that again for buttery smooth multitasking).
Whatever the implementation, Apple has a to make sure the new functionality is enough for power users but not too confusing for the mainstream. Apple’s success to date has largely been based on their ease of use as much as their ecosystem so keeping that is key.
Also mentioned again is the Universal Inbox Steve Jobs “confirmed” previously, where you can see all new email messages in one view and not have to tap into and out of each account (if you have work, home, school, or any combination of multiple emails).
Lastly, they claim Apple will allow you to pin contacts to the Home Page for speed dialing, much as you could previously pin web page icons for speed browsing. Just tap the husband, wife, friend, or partner’s picture and you’re off an dialing.
We still have no idea when we’ll see iPhone 4.0, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a post-iPad beta launch and a typical summertime release. Right, Apple?
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Rene Ritchie, Editor
Chad Garrett, Writer
Jeremy Sikora, Writer
Leanna Lofte, Writer
Georgia, Writer
Allyson Kazmucha, Writer
Dieter Bohn, Editor in Chief, SPE
Multitasking? Speed-dialing?
There’s a jailbreak app for that.
i love my IPhone but I am waiting for 4.0 to decide if i stick with apple or jump to android.
I think these are must haves for 4.0 to be even slightly impressive. I think August is probably a more accurate time frame for 4.0 to officially drop based on previous beta periods.
@DT Agreed!!!! But at least there more news about iphone and not that f’ing ipad rubbish, getting sick of hearing and reading about it
Time will tell. Not worried…
@Vnes I am with you with added caveat to AT&T versus Verizon. I am not convinced Verizon will be any better (or worse) but I still want to wait and see.
@ Spaz. get used to it. Or, don’t read it. Simple?
I will chuck my 3G out the window the second I’m eligible for the upgrade to G4 iPhone. I’m guessing multi tasking won’t be supported on the 3G cuz of memory.
Am I the only one seeing apple implementing a very crippled form of multitasking ? Making up stupid SDK rules like, backgrounded apps may use no more than 1 meg of RAM.
To address the issue of streaming audio in the background, I rather see apple introducing a new API that would allow streaming music apps to plug into the existing iPod app (which already has the ability to run in the background). Sort of like a new tab in the iPod app that apps like Pandora & Last.fm would install into.
I’m in the same boat, but if OS 4.0 doesn’t impress me its not the end of the world. I’ll be interested in the new hardware.
Maybe they should consider showing a slow mo cam of Sidney Crosby’s GOLDEN GOAL!!!!!!!!!
I agree. It’s mostly hardware I’m looking forward to this time around. I have most features i want and I like the ui.
I prefer a Coverflow implementation for multitasking, but this ain’t too bad either.
Like Zak says, the 4.0 software update would be a nice upgrade, but I’m more interested in seeing what hardware update entails. I’ll take a bigger HD screen with a faster processor any day over multi-tasking….but that’s just me.
Waiting to see the new iPhone even before I look at the iPad again. If the new iPhone does not impress then I’ll keep the one I have and finish out my 2nd year of Apple Care. Forward Facing Camera wont do it for me. Multi tasking might do it. Just wish they would hurry up and get something going with the iPhone news.
Honestly.. if that’s the only change to the home screen besides wallpapers.. I’m leaving iPhone OS… The only reason I wouldn’t before is because of the far superior web browsing experience and the amazing performance of the iPhone 3GS, but with offerings like the Evo… If iPhone OS doesn’t get a LOT better this summer, I’m done.
Apples starting to piss me off… If the next iphone is a bs upgrade like the 3gs im done with them…
Dang, I didn’t know this is where everyone came to whine and complain, but 4.0 will be brilliant, just as 3.0 was.
Still agree with Dragonfly’s excellent coverflow interface for task management; and yes I expect some limitations on how many and/or what apps can be multi-tasked – IF there’s multi-tasking. I can only hope that IF there’s multi-tasking it means the new hardware has extended battery life – but I doubt I’d use it much in this 3G.
Hope you’re right Ray or I’ll be joining the others on android. Must say the app’s are great and hoping we get a better way to manage them as I have so many now!
& I know I shouldn’ bother, but what kind of person ditches a platform because they can’t make the UI look like their dreams? Jeez-o-Pete, people, just jailbreak if it means that much to you.
How about a better notification system? I would really like a android/ palm pre style notification would make 4.0 a really nice upgrade
Of the next iPhone is a bs update like the 3gs, I’m sorta ok with that. The 3gs is still the most reliable, responsive, and fun to use smartphone available. A few hardware upgrades, and a few morE features added to the os that made it famous is all apple needs to remain on top. As for multitasking, when I was jailbroken all I ever used it for was rhapsody, so if they can tie streaming audio to the iPod, I will be happy.
For all the people that say I want it to be like Android or Pre OS how about you do yourself a favor and get one of those devices. Wouldn’t it be easier to just do that instead of waiting? I get frustrated as well with waiting but 3GS is a very reliable device hands down. I have not been to Apple for anything pertaining to my device ever since I brought it last Sept. I will wait.
i will never switch to a *** little android phone! they dont have nearly the amount of apps that the app store has and theyre all limited to the internal memory of the phone so there isnt nearly enough room for apps!
@Vickie
Well, 4.0 will not satisfy everyones needs, but I’m sure those who’s needs aren’t met will find other suitable ways to do so. But generally speaking every other major OS update has brought something major, and I anticipate 4.0 will as well.
I agree that the iPhone is very reliable and quite stable. I wouldn’t switch to android unless they stopped making the iPhone altogether.
@Ericg1840 I second that. I love my 3gs but in my opinion the notification system is lacking when compared to android.
I’ll over look a lack of 3rd party multitasking if they can improve on the notification system. Heck by improving the notification system they’ll address my multitasking concern. I hate getting a text MSG and having to exit what I’m doing.
Played with the Sony Ericsson X10 today, while the camera, screen size and image quality was impressive, the phone was a complete nightmare to use. in fact it was so bad that it gave me a headache. The keypad was terrible, cut, copy & paste UI is a complete disaster, browsing the web (though very speedy) made me wan’t to tear my hair out, keypad is a jumbled mess. And even though this thing packs a 1GHZ proc, scrolling was slow and choppy as hell. Android still has a long way to go before it catches up to the iPhone in terms of UI ease of use. So for all the people that want to jump ship over to Android, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Enjoy.
Oh, and did I mention that the X10 had a terrible keypad?
@Ray know you’re right – think I’m just getting impatient now the rumours have started. Decent camera would be nice though.
@Dragonfly I tried the x1 of a friend and 100% agree, it was dreadful!
HTC HD2 – Standard is set. Now go above and beyond.
Don’t know if I would change OS but I will not buy the new phone unless Apple really go all out. I love my 3gs and think that most of my frustration is with AT&T rather than Apple. Steve, just read the damn board and give us what we want.
I have both iPhone and Droid. The droid doesn’t even come close to the iPhone. Plus everyone keeps saying that they want a Verizon iPhone. All of the multi-tasking in the world won’t help the iPhone on a CDMA network. Can’t talk and surf at the same time.
If there is something that defines why I buy Apple is because of the software and its perfomance. I don’t really care what will they come up in the next 4.0, as they’ve proved to keep focused on that 2 highlights. I’m sure it will we phenomenal. But, again, after being with computers for almost 30 years, I just have surrended to the apple way. And it is an enjoyable ride if you just put autopilot and let them take you wherever they take you. Because their stuff just. plain. works. And you really can’t say the same from any other, actually.
Coverflow a la iPod would be a poor multitasking UI switcher because it would double the number of interactions required to switch. Instead of a double push, you would have to double push AND rotate – or rotate AND double push. Coverflow is ok for something like browsing a content catalog, but for an action that by definition should be quick and seamless, that is awkward. It could also be confusing. Would it work in different orientations, or will switching only be possible when holding it a certain way. What should the user expect in portrait? Landscape? Holding it at an off-angle? Hopefully Apple is too smart to introduce a straight-up iPod coverflow implementation for a switcher.
@cupertino sweat
the only reason iphone has more apps is cuz its been around longer than android. and if there isn’t an app in the android market, i could make it. and also android phones AREN’T limited by their internal memory. you can save apps to your sd card therefore you can save internal memory space. and wait what happens if your sd card is full?? you can change it out and put a new one in! cant do that on the iphone can u?
@ BS shut up you fool have you read the name of this site???? The iphone blog! Not the ipad blog, so clearly it should be about the iphone false advertising there then, dickhead
Actually, iPhone, iPad and iPod site. Dickhead.
My boyfriend has a Palm Pre and I have the iphone. As soon as AT&T releases the Palm Pre Plus, I’m making the switch. His phone already has these features, and it’s obnoxious seeing how quickly and easily he can navigate between various apps and features compared to what I can do on my iphone. It’s so annoying we’ve almost broken up over it. Not quite, but close. Once I make the transition I think it will be smooth sailing for us.