Apple could allow real background applications on iPhone

February 4, 2009 — 11:00am ET | By Paul Mah

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Unspecified sources are now saying that Apple is considering backing down from its stance against letting user-space software run as background processes. This would be a rather dramatic change of mind indeed, since the iPhone maker had openly chastised Microsoft as well as other smartphone OS makers for not addressing what it says is the inability of current-generation hardware of running too many concurrent processes.

Apple then unveiled its background push notification at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WDC) in 2008 as a method for applications to receive new messages even when it is not running. Since then, multiple versions of the iPhone firmware has come and gone without this feature, beyond an alleged email from CEO Steve Jobs that Apple wanted to get its "background push" implementation "100% right the first time."

The theory now is that Apple will implement the ability to multitask upon release of new iPhone hardware. Time might not be on their side however, with the Palm's new smartphone scheduled to launch before the mid of this year. Demonstrated at CES 2009 last month, the Palm Pre will hit the ground running with authentic multitasking, allowing applications to be managed much like a deck of cards which can be swapped around or closed by simply swiping one's finger across its touch screen.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at AppleInsider