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Multitask apps can be killed in OS 4.0
Scott Forstall, SVP of iPhone Software for Apple, appeared to dodge the question of how to kill an app running in the new multitasking interface for iPhone OS 4.0. When asked during the Q & A session post announcement, he stated that it wasn't necessary to kill the apps in the first place. Note he never actually said you can't kill an app, and the iPhone Simulator for OS 4.0 confirms directly that yes, rest assured, you can kill a running app quickly and easily, and it's just as you would expect - tap and hold, and a red dash icon appears over the app. Touch again and the process is killed. Simple, expected, works. See the image to the right for a screen shot.
Really, killing apps is the only reason to have the multitask bar anyway - since multiple instances of running apps isnt possible in iPhone OS, you could simply return to the running app by re-tapping the app icon on the home screen. The multitask bar exists solely for a shortcut to running apps and to kill them from running.
No more stressing in the blogs about apps being killed only by the OS! You do have control if you want it. Likely what Scott was implying is that you just don't have to monitor it if you don't choose to.
iPhone OS 4.0 beta does not include iPad device firmware
Officially official - Apple already stated the iPad wouldn't get an end user 4.0 release until the fall, and in line with that developers do not have access to an on-device 4.0 beta in the just released SDK either.
iPhone SDK 3.2 beta and iPad simulator released
Following Apple's iPad announcement today, the latest version of the iPhone SDK is now available in the Apple developer center. As predicted, Apple has not announced OS 4.0, nor has it acknowledged any new functionality for the iPhone. However, a glance at the launch date for the iPad, March, does tie in rather nicely with the annual March announcement of iPhone OS updates. Expect to see unnanounced iPad features that would be shared with the iPhone (read: multitasking, new ways to manage apps) to be announced at that time along with the new features and API's of OS 4.0, and possibly a name change away from 'iPhone OS' to something more generalized, as there are now more product lines that do not have phone functionality (two) than those that do (one). In the meantime, registered developers can access 3.2 in the dev center.
2010 predictions: iPhone OS version 4.0 features
As 2009 draws to a close, it's a good time to start preparing for upcoming trends and advances in the web and mobile space. The first in a series, this post is all about what should be the buzz of March 2010: the iPhone OS 4.0 announcement.
If history is any indication (and with Apple, it definitely is), we know a few things are likely facts about the next major iteration of the iPhone OS.
Jeff dePascale is a web and mobile applications professional based in Fairfield County, CT.
