iOS 6 includes new multitasking for navigation apps in the background

posted by Alan F. / Sep 12, 2012, 12:09 AM

iOS 6 includes new multitasking for navigation apps in the background

On iOS 6 you can still get turn by turn directions at the top of the screen while you are texting

Background multitasking first hit the Apple iPhone in iOS 4. For example, some navigation apps would continue to give turn-by-turn directions on iOS 4 in the background while you were on a call. Now, with iOS 6 coming, Apple has developed a way for you to continue to receive directions when you are using another app while Maps runs in the background.. Besides the "click to return" banner on the screen enabling users to quickly return to the Maps application, you will be able to view turn by turn directions in a street sign format at the top of the screen while another app runs below.

For example, you can start getting turn by turn directions and decide to send a text or play some music. While the messages are flying back and forth, the directions are still coming to you on your iPhone screen.. The beauty of this kind of multitasking is that it doesn't have to be limited to Maps. Third parties can eventually use that real estate to provide urgent messages, updates, or other messages that an Apple iPhone user might need to know about right away, even while doing something else on the phone.

Battery concerns prevent Apple from offering unlimited multitasking and someday we wouldn't be surprised to see Apple allow you to respond to a text message without leaving the app you're currently viewing. For now, knowing that you can multitask while using Maps gives users the chance to navigate to a friend's house that you've never been to before, text the friend to tell him/her that you're in your car and on the way and put on some tunes to sing to while you're driving, all without missing one turn on the way.

sourced: AppleInsider

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57 Comments

1. mas11

Posts: 1034; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

More android features for iOS though Apple did take it a step further.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:11 AM 19

6. MeoCao unregistered

To echo the late Armstrong: "One small step of Android, giant leap for iOS" LOL

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:27 AM 38

21. ChiX017

Posts: 308; Member since: Nov 09, 2011

OmG! was reading principles of Microeconomics when i read this......this gave me the break i needed. Good one! LMAO

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:39 AM 1

35. renegade626

Posts: 54; Member since: Dec 12, 2008

A leap over android in a couple weeks, sorry to say

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 2:18 AM 0

57. Jobes

Posts: 364; Member since: Oct 27, 2011

Baseless statement.. should check your footing before making yourself look too foolish.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:26 PM 0

9. anywherehome

Posts: 971; Member since: Dec 13, 2011

and still stealing more and more: goo.gl/04pud

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:44 AM 8

38. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

iOS multitasking is "limited".

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 2:28 AM 7

43. CharlieAtInfinity

Posts: 253; Member since: Apr 10, 2012

limited indeed... remember what Steve jobs said in 2007 when first iphone came out? i remember it well, "iOS multitasks.."

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 3:38 AM 5

2. sumitk593

Posts: 1; Member since: Sep 05, 2012

innovative but kind of copy of galaxy s3

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:12 AM 20

3. Quezdagreat

Posts: 428; Member since: Apr 05, 2012

here we go, fandriods who cry copy.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:22 AM 8

5. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Here we go, an ifanboy who cries about fandroids.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:24 AM 30

10. anywherehome

Posts: 971; Member since: Dec 13, 2011

deal with the reality, do you stand that? goo.gl/04pud ;)

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:45 AM 5

39. gregoryyy3 unregistered

Here we go, another android fan trolling in apple posts..

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 2:31 AM 3

54. anywherehome

Posts: 971; Member since: Dec 13, 2011

Trolling by providing facts? Do you know what is "trolling"? Do you know what is "to provide"? Do you know "anything"? :)

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 9:40 AM 0

4. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

I'm not sure that any Android phones have done this specific banner action first, though I remember even my Droid X continuing to give me the voice directions in the background if I had to do something else on the phone. Looks like a good feature of the navigation app though. Now let's hope it still doesn't have people drive off bridges.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:23 AM 12

12. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Or into the bay when there aren't a sufficient number of GPS satellites visible to get an accurate position.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:10 AM 3

46. Non_Sequitur

Posts: 1111; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

Well, if iFans drive off bridges, then there'll be less iFans... ;D

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 4:45 AM 3

7. Raptor9142

Posts: 41; Member since: Apr 15, 2012

Previous release iJobs Latest release iCopy

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:31 AM 6

8. shamatuu

Posts: 159; Member since: Nov 02, 2011

Android already does that. Not new

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 12:34 AM 13

11. Lift_Off

Posts: 152; Member since: Apr 04, 2012

iOS does it better :)

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:01 AM 3

13. whysoserious

Posts: 318; Member since: Jul 20, 2012

By what, faking multitasking?

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:12 AM 10

17. renegade626

Posts: 54; Member since: Dec 12, 2008

By multitasking, no... By being able to conveniently be abe to switch between apps and not have to constantly kill tasks snd clear ram like im the freaking rainman of cellphones just so my battery doesnt die half way through the day.. Yes

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:26 AM 4

34. whysoserious

Posts: 318; Member since: Jul 20, 2012

What kind of Android are you reffering to, my friend, the Alpha version? I don't even have any task killer on my Android phone, nor kill any tasks manually cuz Android does the job.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 2:14 AM 5

47. Non_Sequitur

Posts: 1111; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

Lol, you don't have to do that. All you do is just swipe away your apps when you're done. It's all in the recent apps menu and is probably the easiest thing to get to on your Android phone running 4.0 onwards. It's a great multitasking system.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 4:46 AM 2

22. shamatuu

Posts: 159; Member since: Nov 02, 2011

so what still not new. doesn't matter if it does it better, besides why would you want to do anything else when driving to navigate. That will be a distraction if you are doing 2 things at one time.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:41 AM 0

28. E.N.

Posts: 2610; Member since: Jan 25, 2009

lol, you guys are so ridiculous. I find it interesting that you don't care if it does it better, but who does it first. As for distractions, obviously you shouldn't be driving and texting/web browsing,etc. but you could be using the music player while driving. People also walk to their destinations. And I have both given directions as a passenger and received directions as a driver. Use your imagination.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:57 AM 3

29. renegade626

Posts: 54; Member since: Dec 12, 2008

Um.. My last post has nothing to do with doing 2 things at once. And it completely matters if they do it better (why else is apple the most valuable company in history?). The article does not say they claim to be doing something completely new. What if this ends up being a way to make people less distracted when using gps because people are going to use it anyway?

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 2:01 AM 0

42. Mittal

Posts: 494; Member since: Dec 14, 2011

mayb the passenger with the driver will be using the phone

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 3:18 AM 0

14. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

Does this release fix the "Orientation Change Zoom Bug"? On iOS4/5 userrs were told to hold the device correctly. For those who want to know what this BUG is all about pl refer: http://filamentgroup.com/lab/a_fix_for_the_ios_orientationchange_zoom_bug/ Not known if Apple considers this as a Feature so kept refusing to fix it. So is this fixed in iOS6?

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:13 AM 0

15. renegade626

Posts: 54; Member since: Dec 12, 2008

I typically am agnostic when it comes to android vs ios stuff (heck i own an iphone 4s and a galaxy s3). My take is that android many times does things first, but apple is the first to do things correctly and make it user friendly. Maybe im preaching to the wrong choir on this site but from my experience, it is cool to be able to multitask gps with other things on android but its more often annoying. I bet everyone here has had the experience when you leave the car and walk into an establishment the gps is still blabbing away or i get overly distracted trying the exit a gps session in the car i almost get in a crash. I would bet money Apple will remedy these issues.

posted on Sep 12, 2012, 1:21 AM 3

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