Rumor: iPhone OS 4.0 to support multitasking
If the rumors are true, the fourth version of the iPhone operating system could finally bring support for multitasking. One of the biggest criticisms of the operating system (OS) that runs the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is that it doesn’t offer any multitasking capabilities. This is to say that if you want to listen to your Pandora music application while using another app to plan a trip, you can’t do it.
For a long time this has been a point of contention for many people with Apple, but it looks like this all might change come this summer. AppleInisider is reporting that “people with a proven track record in predicting Apple’s technological advances” are saying that multitasking support is indeed coming in the next iteration of the iPhone OS.
The fourth version of the operating system is expected to be shipped with the next version of the iPhone that is currently rumored for a June or July release. The problem has never been a software or hardware issue as Apple-produced apps can run in the background, but it has been more of an issue of security and how to make an interface that allows switching between apps to be intuitive. The iPhone OS is all about simplicity, so Apple has to design a way for you to switch between active applications without it being too overly complicated. As for security, there are potential issues with app conflicts (two apps vying for the same resources at the same time) and so on. Also, with the current system, an app shuts down every time you hit the home button, with it running in the background now, you could potentially leave a back door open to a virus without realizing it. While none of this is set in stone yet, this would be a huge step forward for the iPhone operating system, and one that is very much needed.
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