iPhone SDK Beta 4 May Allow Background Processes
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One of the biggest problems that developers and end users alike have had with the iPhone SDK is the reported limitations with regards to background processes. By limitations, we mean that the original SDK guidelines specified that third-party applications were simply not permitted to run processes in the background. This would have been a huge problem. Hoards of potential applications would be rendered useless by these restrictions. Examples include IM apps, profile implementation and scheduling apps, theft recovery applications and thousands of other possibilities. While it still may be a problem, the latest word on the street is that the new iPhone SDK beta that has just been released may have changed the rules in this department. An anonymous developer who recently analyzed the latest SDK made some interesting findings:
There are definitely some very interesting methods added to UIApplication’s delegate, including methods for badging the Springboard icon, and methods related to gaining and resigning "active" status - seems like background apps may be permitted somehow.
Apple seems to be making a habit of not only listening to internet outcry, but responding to it as well. That, people, is a very good thing.
This has been debunked here:
http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/04/25/new-iphone-os-build-has-support-for-inactive-apps-not-background-apps/
The latest build of the iPhone SDK (beta 4) and accompanying iPhone OS 2.0 beta release (5A258f) include support for “active” and “inactive” applications. Though some developers initially interpreted this inclusion as the addition of the ability to run third-party applications in the background — a notable omission from the initial SDK. However, it appears that the new capability only allows third-party applications to remain active while the device is locked (asleep) or there is an overlaid window.
Apple’s documentation reportedly states: “When an application is inactive, it is executing but is not dispatching incoming events. This occurs when an overlay window pops up or when the device is locked.”
Regarding the use of background processes, Apple’s documentation still says:
“Only one iPhone application can run at a time, and third-party applications never run in the background. This means that when users switch to another application, answer the phone, or check their email, the application they are using quits.”
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What a joke. So I can spend $600 for a phone with sweet specs, only it can’t multi-task? This is why the iphone will contine to be a kidsa toy. “I’d love to answer your email mike, only I’m trying to finish super mario bros on my iphone and I can only use one neat feature at a time”
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You’re an idiot Dayne. You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about.
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For 10 seconds, I was actually considering the 3G iPhone.
No multitask, no deal.
Come on HTC Dream…
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