Apple currently has a one app at a time policy when it comes to third party iPhone add-ons, but that could be set to change if it can’t get push notifications working as promised.
Currently, whenever you exit an app on the iPhone it stops dead. Fine if you’re just playing a bit of Tap Tap Revenge, but not so good for instant messaging as it signs you out.
Push notifications, announced last June, were meant to solve this but they’ve been quietly dropped and made no appearance in the latest 2.2.1 iPhone update. Notifications would allow shutdown apps to receive information while not active.
Apple is now, apparently, considering allowing applications to run in the background as an alternative. This would be user selectable, so you can decide whether you want an app to run.
If it’s added, it’s expected to be part of the rumoured iPhone 3.0 software update. Current hardware would be limited to only a couple of background tasks, but a next gen iPhone should have less of a problem due to its increased computing oomph.
Out TBC | £free | Apple (via MacRumours)
