Comments on: iPhone SDK Beta 4 May Allow Background Processes

By: TareX

TareX — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:19:04 +0000

For 10 seconds, I was actually considering the 3G iPhone.
No multitask, no deal.
Come on HTC Dream…

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:44:08 +0000

You’re an idiot Dayne. You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about.

By: Dayne

Dayne — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:52:15 +0000

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”

By: peteo

peteo — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:13:49 +0000

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.”