The new iPhone SDK is going to give developers another tool in their arsenal. The new iPhone SDK has a sort of semi background process support that has been discovered. It is important to note that this is not background process support, at least not in the true sense of the word. Also, the documentation that comes with the SDK still says only one application can run at a time. So what is all this you are hearing about background process support?
The whole discussion around this is because a certain method of allowing an application to gain or lose active status. This would suggest that applications could have the ability to run in the background. It is misleading though. In actuality, it will just allow an application to continue to run when the device is locked, or if a window opens over the current application. Just as now, if you hit the home button, or open a new application, the current one exits. The documentation of the SDK says it very well.
“When an application is inactive, it is executing but is not dispatching incoming events. This occurs when an overlay window pops up or when the device is locked.”
This is at least a step in the right direction. While we can only hope for true background process support, the iPhone developers have seemed to do very well without it. With it’s broad scope of applications and powerful interface, the iPhone already is a hot platform for developers, background process support or not.
[Via iPhone Atlas]
“the iPhone developers have seemed to do very well without it”
How do you know? Do you have access to apps from the upcoming iPhone store? Or are you talking about apps written for jailbroken iPhones, which can and do use background processes (e.g. Audioscrobbler)?
Please I do not want back ground processes. Why?? Well one reason is hackers
That is the one feature all hackers love to be able to run a app in the back ground that the user is unaware of.
I know maybe my opinion is not a popular one with developers but I feel just as more features and access out side of the browser in web apps increase security risks on PCs so will adding more features like back ground apps to smart phones Android look out your going to be the biggest target for Malware soon and one reason is your much touted feature that android os allows background apps.
So I for one consider the fact that my iPhone does not allow background processes as a good thing. Call me a Apple fan boy if you want I do not care but this is one area I will say Apple made the correct choice. And I feel to give in too developers (and users) that want background apps is a mistake unless it is really controlled well. I just do not want it.