Ever since the original iPad launched in 2010, multitasking on the device and tablets in general has been slow to catch up to the PCs. Although over time the iPad has gained greater multitasking abilities through iOS updates, it is still lacking in many respects.
The ability to run multiple apps simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly is one thing that has made the Surface and other tablets more appealing to productivity users than the iPad. Based on latest rumors, Apple is indeed working on its own version of split-screen multitasking with the iPad, and it will make its debut with iOS 8.
Talking to 9to5Mac, the update will allow users to not only run two apps simultaneously, but share content between the apps, anonymous sources say. This means that each app, used with split-screen multitasking, can be split down the middle and combined with another app being viewed this way, instead of taking up the entire screen.
Although the update would not add full Windows functionality of viewing and editing apps through multiple windows being present on the home screen at once, it at least allows two apps to work in a collaborative environment. This is a great step into full multitasking functionality that has become the bread and butter of desktop computing.
The update allows Apple to compete with Microsoft's "snap" feature for the Surface to a degree. This multitasking feature allows users to snap multiple apps on the screen for simultaneous use.
Again, Apple is said to only be limiting the upcoming multi-app multitasking feature to two apps. So if this holds true, users will still have to go in and out of apps if they require more than that for a specific task. However, it should be a lot more seamless as dragging hyperlinks, images, video or other multimedia content can be done without having to exit the entire screen.
Another rumor coming from this news is that Apple may be readying "XPC" support for the iPad, "which means that developers could design App Store apps that could share content." Also, rumors suggest that the focus of the split-screen update will be the standard iPad and not the Mini.
This would certainly be an interesting development for Apple and make productivity a lot easier. Many apps do not, for instance, have integration with each other or the iWork suite so users have to email the document to themselves and open it with a separate app. This could alleviate this problem.
Expect more information about iOS 8 and its features at Apple's WWDC keynote that will take place June 2 in San Francisco. Many other new features are said to be added to the upcoming mobile OS.
