What is "True multitasking" ?

[sh4o8kid]

I just want to know the difference between multitasking and true multitasking. I keep hearing that i4 doesn't have true multitasking but i just don't see it. I have an Evo btw.

Thanks!

 

[Rigmaster]

True multitasking would be if you had two windows or apps open, gave one a command and switched to the other to use and then returned to the first one and it had completed commands.

Think of how on your PC you might be able to open YouTube and your music player and have them both running - you can have multiple sound sources running at the same time so it's easy to demonstrate audio multitasking. On phones, most of the time one operation suspends while not in use but returns to exactly where you are when you come back to that page/app. On phones, it's hard to do trule multi-tasking because there are so many shared resources that use all/most of the components. But that's changing now that there's more to the OS and hardware. Phones still struggle with shared resources though, which is why you can't stream music and watch youtube at the same time.

 

[sagedil]

I can play Pandora and still surf, read, do anything else I want with my phone. That is true multitasking.

So not paying all attention. Can the iPhone4 not do that?

 

[eric3316]

I can play Pandora and still surf, read, do anything else I want with my phone. That is true multitasking.

So not paying all attention. Can the iPhone4 not do that?

From what I read the iPhone4 can do that with some programs. Supposedly, true multi-tasking on the iPhone only works with certain apple software. That option is not given out to 3rd party developers to use so in a sense it is pretty limited. What happens with 3rd party apps is they will just suspend where they are.

At least this is what I have read.

 

[NeoteriX]

It's simple, "true multitasking" is when two programs can run at the same exact time. For example, if you started a stopwatch app, and let it run, and then started the other -- true multitasking would allow both stopwatch apps to be running/counting simultaneously; one in the background while the other runs in the foreground. You can switch back and forth between the two and not lose time in either of them.

On the original iphone, you would have to stop one stopwatch (and lose the time you were recording) to start the other.

On the new iOS4, this is still the case, but the best way to analogize the new pseudo-multitasking save state function is that when you load up the second stopwatch, the first one pauses, but remembers where it was when you switched. Thus, the first stopwatch cannot still record time, but when you switch back to the first, you can at least resume timing where you left off.

 

[Minjin]

The iPhone allows certain tasks to be done in the background. I think it's d/ling, music, and updating. Basically, the operating system is saying that we're closing you down but if you want to run a certain allowable task, we'll allow you to do it even after you close.

For most people, that's all they need. It certainly is a smart implementation with benefits to speed and battery life.

 

[swazedahustla]

The iPhone allows certain tasks to be done in the background. I think it's d/ling, music, and updating. Basically, the operating system is saying that we're closing you down but if you want to run a certain allowable task, we'll allow you to do it even after you close.

For most people, that's all they need. It certainly is a smart implementation with benefits to speed and battery life.

I think it also allows its location based services to "multitask" in the background as well. but its still not the real thing.

 

[meyerweb]

The iPhone allows certain tasks to be done in the background. I think it's d/ling, music, and updating. Basically, the operating system is saying that we're closing you down but if you want to run a certain allowable task, we'll allow you to do it even after you close.

For most people, that's all they need. It certainly is a smart implementation with benefits to speed and battery life.

It's basically the same multi-tasking capability the PalmOS platform has had for 15 years. All most people need? I disagree. If I start downloading a large web page, then switch to say, email to read and reply to a message, then back to the browser, I expect that page download to have finished, not to start up where I left off.

 

[Rigmaster]

No such thing as true multi-tasking without drawing power. Also, as Meyer pointed out Palm's done it for many years, and quite well.

Now that Google has one of Palm's key visionaries on board, look for Gingerbread to reflect the smoothness and integration that was a hallmark of Palms.

 

[BenChase7]

As much as I love my EVO with Android... I dont think anything multitasks like WebOS. Android handles it well.. but not with the simplicity that WebOS had.

 

[supaumar]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[Rigmaster]

As much as I love my EVO with Android... I dont think anything multitasks like WebOS. Android handles it well.. but not with the simplicity that WebOS had.

Agreed. Palm's always had great interface even back to their origins as a PDA device maker. They just were never great in the phone hardware arena.

I'm betting that open source like Android can't be as tightly-integrated as closed-system like Palm. But closed systems could never have evolved this fast. Android's closed a lot of gaps in less than 2 years that it took others over a decade to create.

 

[Jahmakan]

The Palm Pre is the closest thing to "true multi-tasking" on a phone.

 

[colnago]

The Palm Pre is the closest thing to "true multi-tasking" on a phone.

I beg to differ:


YouTube - Nokia N900 / Maemo 5 / MULTITASKING in action

 

[Rigmaster]

N900 does, but it's not widely supported here in the US. I started my cell life with a Nokia, but I can't see returning to them without them getting widespread US carrier support. They're compatible, but nothing like being imprisoned to lack of support and lower speeds like Edge.

 

[Minjin]

It's basically the same multi-tasking capability the PalmOS platform has had for 15 years. All most people need? I disagree. If I start downloading a large web page, then switch to say, email to read and reply to a message, then back to the browser, I expect that page download to have finished, not to start up where I left off.

What do you disagree with? That it is good enough for most people or that you are part of most people? Because you are NOT most people. The fact that you are arguing about multitasking on an internet forum dedicated to a phone operating system proves it.

 

[adseguy]

13 posts and no clear answer!

Here is what Apple is doing:

"
Multitasking
iOS 4 delivers seven new multitasking services that allow your apps to perform tasks in the background while preserving battery life and performance. These multitasking services include:

Background audio - Allows your app to play audio continuously. So customers can listen to your app while they surf the web, play games, and more.
Voice over IP - Your VoIP apps can now be even better. Users can now receive VoIP calls and have conversations while using another app. Your users can even receive calls when their phones are locked in their pocket.
Background location - Navigation apps can now continue to guide users who are listening to their iPods, or using other apps. iOS 4 also provides a new and battery efficient way to monitor location when users move between cell towers. This is a great way for your social networking apps to keep track of users and their friends' locations.
Push notifications - Receive alerts from your remote servers even when your app isn't running.
Local notifications - Your app can now alert users of scheduled events and alarms in the background, no servers required.
Task finishing - If your app is in mid-task when your customer leaves it, the app can now keep running to finish the task.
Fast app switching - All developers should take advantage of this. This will allow users to leave your app and come right back to where they were when they left - no more having to reload the app.

"

We can do WAAAAAAY more than this which is why I am liking Android more. Things like Where's my Droid or automatic backups or automatic podcast or automatic wifi(on/off) through cell tower detection (y5battery saver) downloading a different e-mail, media player are all possible. Widgets are part of background processes too. I'll give some credit to Apple though. This method does cover 90% of what backgrounding should do, BUT, it's not all of it and I can handle the battery myself thank you very much.

 

[colnago]

N900 does, but it's not widely supported here in the US. I started my cell life with a Nokia, but I can't see returning to them without them getting widespread US carrier support. They're compatible, but nothing like being imprisoned to lack of support and lower speeds like Edge.

It doesn't take away from the fact that the n900 "also" does multi-tasking.

I don't see how 7Mbs+ (@ $10/mo.) is "restrictive", but I guess everyone has their own requirements:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4675782397_dece270bdf_b.jpg

 

[backdown]

Well if you wanted to be technical, or psychological, there is no such thing as multi tasking XD

 

[Jahmakan]

Ah! I forgot about the N900.

 

[colnago]

Ah! I forgot about the N900.

Unfortunately, so did Nokia.

 

[meyerweb]

What do you disagree with? That it is good enough for most people or that you are part of most people? Because you are NOT most people. The fact that you are arguing about multitasking on an internet forum dedicated to a phone operating system proves it.

I disagree that it's good enough for most people. iOS 4 users may not know what they're missing, but they're giving up a lot.


Chainging the subject: On the whole Pre vs. Android thing, it's not really accurate to say the Pre multi-tasks better than Android. They're both built on Linux, and both do real, true, multi-tasking, with apps staying active in the background. I'd argue that Android actually does a better job: I've never gotten the equivilent of "too many cards open" under Android.

What the Pre does do better is the user interface for switching between those multiple open apps.

 

[Premonition]

I beg to differ:


YouTube - Nokia N900 / Maemo 5 / MULTITASKING in action

Thats the phone i also have but sadly my ATT contract ends next week and im selling it, its a great phone but not my cup of tea.

 

[Premonition]

Unfortunately, so did Nokia.

sadly i agree, i got this phone looking for a great future but Nokia just left it in the cold, been out for a while now and its not moving no where and so Nokia is focusing on their new flag ship of Nokia 8 branding.

 

[Agent Jones]

Palm Pre had the best multitasking OS ever on a PHONE IMO...however the hardware and sorry ass excuse for an app store SUCKED ASS.

android is second. now if we can get the best of both worlds that would be amazing