How to Multitask in iOS 7
Let's get this out of the way first: Yes, multitasking is not new to iOS. It was introduced all the way back in 2010 with iOS 4, where double-tapping the home button opened a tray of currently running apps that you could jump into or shut down. And yes, Android pioneered using screenshots to navigate the app manager, and a flick-to-quit interface. But in iOS 7, Apple introduced a totally new way to interact with your apps—one that brings the best ideas from Android to Apple users in a unique and entirely iOS way.
New Features for New Arrivals
If you're coming to iOS 7 from Android, you'll notice that instead of long-pressing the home button as you do on a Galaxy S III$199.99 at Best Buy or tapping the physical app manager button on a Nexus 7$229.99 at Office Depot, you access the app manager by double-tapping the home button.
If you're coming to iOS 7 from Android, you'll notice that instead of long-pressing the home button as you do on a Galaxy S III$199.99 at Best Buy or tapping the physical app manager button on a Nexus 7$229.99 at Office Depot, you access the app manager by double-tapping the home button.
Newcomers from iOS 6 will notice that they are now treated to big previews of apps that are running. To shut down an app, simply swipe upward over one of these previews and the app shuts down—no more jiggling icons and awkward x-tapping. Also, the big previews let you quickly see information in an app without having to leave the app you're in.
In OS X, apps and desktops continue to run normally when you view them from Expose or Spaces, but Android uses completely static screenshots. iOS 7 splits the difference. Unlike OS X, it won't keep running video in the app manager but smaller animations—like spinning progress wheels or the scrolling text in the Podcasts app—will continue to run.
iOS 7 will even allow some apps to update or reload while in app manager view, but it balances this against rationing battery and CPU power. Factors like recent notifications, connection, and frequency of use apparently make a difference on how often iOS lets a background app update. You can control more of these features from the Background App Refresh section in the General settings menu. Remember, shutting down apps you're not using will help save battery life.
Exiting the app manager is different as well. Tapping the home button again will take you back to where you launched the app manager from—either another app or the home screen. Scrolling all the way to the left lets you quickly jump to your home screen, and you can jump into a different app just by tapping on it.
Not Perfect
I have a few complaints about the new app manager. For instance, my iPhone 4S seems to frequently interpret my attempts to quit an app with a thumb swipe as a left or right scroll. I suppose it's better than frequently closing apps accidentally, but it is annoying. Also, I'd like Apple to come up with a function for down-swiping an app from the app manager.
I have a few complaints about the new app manager. For instance, my iPhone 4S seems to frequently interpret my attempts to quit an app with a thumb swipe as a left or right scroll. I suppose it's better than frequently closing apps accidentally, but it is annoying. Also, I'd like Apple to come up with a function for down-swiping an app from the app manager.
These are minor quibbles because multitasking in iOS 7 is much better than either previous version of the operating system or even the most recent version of Android. It might take some getting used to, but, once it's a part of your work flow you'll wonder how you lived without it.
iOS Multitasking Main
Double tap the home button from the home screen or any app and you'll be taken to the new app manager in iOS. Note the large previews of each app, an idea taken from Android and a big improvement over iOS 6.
iOS Multitasking Orientation
iOS 7 will match the orientation of your phone in the app manager. Note that once you enter the app manager, the orientation will remain locked until you exit again.
iOS Multitasking Homescreen
To quickly jump to the home screen, simply scroll all the way to the left. If you entered the app manager from another app, taping the home button once will return to the app you just left.
iOS Multitasking Quit
To quit an app, simply swipe upward over the preview image. You cannot re-order apps in the app manager.
iOS Multitasking Video
Some preview images will continue to update while in the app manager view. Videos will not, but frequently used apps will.
iOS Multitasking Refresh
You can control the behaviors of background apps from the Background App Refresh menu. You can access it by tapping Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh.
iOS Multitasking Music.
While video and games will pause when you jump to the app manager, game audio will sometimes continue. Also, music and podcasts will continue playing until you open or enter an app with its own music.
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