I would like to know what folks mean by background processes, with an example. Today we have this ability with the iPod app to play music while we are in other apps, and also with the Phone app. I can stay on phone calls and hop to Mail or Notes and type along at the same time. These are very handy, but curious how other apps could use this or what you would like to see.
scottadiener1972 - The 2.0 update was supported on the iPhone 1G and 3G, not sure why you don't think 3.0 will work on iPhone 1G and 3G. It will.
macfan406 - heard of XRoad? turn by turn app available. don't think it requires jailbreak, not 100%
1) copy and paste 2) tethering 3) Flash 4) Silence the phone when in meetings based on Calendar data 5) faster speeds beyond 3.6Mbps in the 3G implmentation of the iPhone 3G. Currently only supports up to this speed, newer phones support up to 7.2 Mbps. Might need a new 3G chip though. 6) A2DP - come on Apple, I can manage my battery. 7) ActiveSync improvements a) turn off AS sync during off-hours to save some battery when I configure via schedule and not Push b) filter ability in Mail. Type something in Mail, and the list of items is filter to what matches. make things easier to find c) better calendar features - integrate more with AS 8) arrow keys for the keyboard. the magnifying glass is too hard to put the cursor where I want it, especially in Safari
All I can think of off the top of my head. I am sure there are others.
Well what I'd like to do which I can't on my iPod Touch, but can on my Nokia is listen to something OTHER than the iPod music, like Last.fm, or Pandora for those in the US, while still being able to sleep the screen, surf the web etc...
Right now if I hit a "buy from iTunes" link from inside Last.fm the music stops and I'm whisked to iTunes. Not good. Also, for an app like Shovel or any of the Twitter clients, when you choose to go to a web page in Safari that effectively ends your session there and you have to load up and start again, not from where you left. At least in that case the app can choose to use a built in Safari window...but not the case if they link to a Youtube video.
The biggest place this would be useful is with Safari. Having to reload a page because you clicked a link that opened another app is annoying as hell. Imagine that same behaviour on your desktop!
Another place I see this being useful is where Apple seem to be having trouble implementing their push notification system. If Fring, Palringo, Nimbuzz, IM+ etc could all run in the background and poll their servers in intervals you set yourself then it's upt to the user how much battery power they are willing to spare. Apple takes away the option in some nanny attempt at protecting your battery. The battery in my N95 is the poorest piece of crap ever and I still get a days use out of it with Palringo running and vibrating when I get a message.
For those looking for a device strictly for reading, the new Kobo is a nice little option. It's small enough to slip into a pocket, can do more with a PDF than the competition, and at $129, it's $10 cheaper than both the Nook and Kindle WiFi.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
I would like to know what folks mean by background processes, with an example. Today we have this ability with the iPod app to play music while we are in other apps, and also with the Phone app. I can stay on phone calls and hop to Mail or Notes and type along at the same time. These are very handy, but curious how other apps could use this or what you would like to see.
scottadiener1972 - The 2.0 update was supported on the iPhone 1G and 3G, not sure why you don't think 3.0 will work on iPhone 1G and 3G. It will.
macfan406 - heard of XRoad? turn by turn app available. don't think it requires jailbreak, not 100%
1) copy and paste
2) tethering
3) Flash
4) Silence the phone when in meetings based on Calendar data
5) faster speeds beyond 3.6Mbps in the 3G implmentation of the iPhone 3G. Currently only supports up to this speed, newer phones support up to 7.2 Mbps. Might need a new 3G chip though.
6) A2DP - come on Apple, I can manage my battery.
7) ActiveSync improvements
a) turn off AS sync during off-hours to save some battery when I configure via schedule and not Push
b) filter ability in Mail. Type something in Mail, and the list of items is filter to what matches. make things easier to find
c) better calendar features - integrate more with AS
8) arrow keys for the keyboard. the magnifying glass is too hard to put the cursor where I want it, especially in Safari
All I can think of off the top of my head. I am sure there are others.
Well what I'd like to do which I can't on my iPod Touch, but can on my Nokia is listen to something OTHER than the iPod music, like Last.fm, or Pandora for those in the US, while still being able to sleep the screen, surf the web etc...
Right now if I hit a "buy from iTunes" link from inside Last.fm the music stops and I'm whisked to iTunes. Not good. Also, for an app like Shovel or any of the Twitter clients, when you choose to go to a web page in Safari that effectively ends your session there and you have to load up and start again, not from where you left. At least in that case the app can choose to use a built in Safari window...but not the case if they link to a Youtube video.
The biggest place this would be useful is with Safari. Having to reload a page because you clicked a link that opened another app is annoying as hell. Imagine that same behaviour on your desktop!
Another place I see this being useful is where Apple seem to be having trouble implementing their push notification system. If Fring, Palringo, Nimbuzz, IM+ etc could all run in the background and poll their servers in intervals you set yourself then it's upt to the user how much battery power they are willing to spare. Apple takes away the option in some nanny attempt at protecting your battery. The battery in my N95 is the poorest piece of crap ever and I still get a days use out of it with Palringo running and vibrating when I get a message.