iPhone OS 4 Bringing Exposé-like Multitasking

AppleInsider chimed in with some information from people who are familiar with the Mac OS and iPhone OS on how Apples latest implementation of the iPhone firmware will display features like that of Exposé of the Mac OS platform to manage multiple third-party applications being ran concurrently on the  system. Based on the information that it has received from its source, the site states that the function would be invoked by pressing the Home button on the iPhone twice which will then bring up a collection of icons that represent the current running applications that the user can choose from.

Those familiar with the design of iPhone 4.0 said that the user interface will resemble Apple’s desktop Expose feature, in that a key combination — reportedly hitting the Home button twice — will trigger an expose-like interface that brings up a series of icons representing the currently running apps, allowing users to quickly select the one they want to switch to directly. When a selection is made, the iPhone OS zooms out of the Expose task manager and transitions to that app.

The reading also goes on to mention the want for multitasking from select users of the mobile operating system and the benefits of Apple properly configuring the OS to execute multitasking compared to the user jail-breaking the device and using multiple apps in that fashion.

Controversy over “multitasking” within the iPhone OS has been brewing ever since Apple launched iPhone 2.0 with the ability to run third party software titles. While often reported as being a technical flaw, the iPhone OS really has no problem with multitasking. The system’s phone, SMS, email, iPod, voice recorder, Nike+, and certain other bundled apps can continue in the background while the user launches another app.

However, third party titles obtained from the App Store (including apps from Apple, such as Remote or iDisk) can not be launched at the same time. This is currently only possible after jailbreaking the system, where the iPhone OS security model is compromised via an exploit, allowing the user to launch and run multiple apps.

This also opens the door to both malware and widespread piracy, both of which have been contained by the default security system put in place by Apple. At the same time, Apple’s signed app model in iTunes with its mandatory certificate security mechanism means that iPhone users will be able to run multiple apps from the App Store without fear that their software will spy on them, pop up ads, or send out spam.

Other platform vendors do not mandate rigid security for their software libraries, with Android permissively allowing users to install apps from any source, something that will likely serve as a welcome mat for malicious hackers once that platform gains enough visibility.

Its definitely intriguing to see what sources who have followed Apple for a very long time and sources that have actually been close to the group interpret what the boys in Cupertino are planning to do for the next major release for the iPhone software. Apple-related software is our specialty at MacApper, and we are looking to keep you posted on what other developments are being made on the iPhone OS and Mac OS home front. One thing is certain about all of these stories though, Apple has the final say so in anything.

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