How to Multitask in iOS 7

In iOS 7, Apple rolled out a totally new way to manage your apps. Here's how to make it work for you.

• By Max Eddy
• September 23, 2013

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.

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.

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.

BlackBerry Messenger for iOS and Android: Delayed

• By David Murphy
• September 22, 2013 01:50pm EST
• 
  

If you circled this weekend on your calendar and have been waiting with a Santa Claus-like interest for BlackBerry to release its BlackBerry Messenger app for Android and iOS, we have good and bad news for you.

First, the good news: Leaked versions of the Android and iOS apps have already made their way online, so a little sleuthing should allow you to grab and install the apps on your particular devices.

And now, the bad news: That leak prompted BlackBerry to officially disabled the Android version of the app for the time being, and has delayed the official release of both apps — in case you'd rather have them straight from the source — for an unspecified amount of time.

"The interest and enthusiasm we have seen already – more than 1.1 million active users in the first 8 hours without even launching the official Android app – is incredible. Consequently, this unreleased version caused issues, which we have attempted to address throughout the day," reads a blog post on BlackBerry's website.

BlackBerry goes on to suggest that interested Android users should sign up at bbm.com if they want to receive updates about the Android version of BlackBerry Messenger. As to when that might actually be, BlackBerry is a bit mum. The company indicates that it will ultimately launch the iOS and Android apps via a staggered, worldwide rollout, but it hasn't given any possible timeline, save for saying that it hopes to get to apps out "as soon as we are able."

Of course, it didn't help the situation at all that Google Play has seen a bombardment of fake "BBM" apps as of late. Clearly, spammers — or worse — have been attempting to use the app launch as a means for convincing people to download fake apps. In a number of cases, they aren't even bothering to write convincing text within the app's description. As Android Central reported yesterday, here's one example of what spammers might write about their fake apps:

"minion rush plants vs zombies Grand Theft Auto Vice City Marvel Avengers Alliance Minecraft Free and Full Papa Pear Saga Angry Birds Seasons Angry Birds Rio Fruit Ninja Free Angry Birds YouTube Adobe Flash Player 11 Gmail Street"

In other words, it's a blatant attempt to keyword stuff one's way to popularity. Google appears to have cleaned up its app store and kicked out most of the spammy apps, but a quick search for "BBM" highlights a few that remain. Spoiler: It's unlikely that the company "BBM for Android FREE" will be the one officially launching BlackBerry Messenger versus, say, BlackBerry itself.

How to Block Calls, Texts, and Messages in iOS7

If you've been longing for a way to block numbers and messages on your iPhone, your day has finally come.

• By Jeffrey L. Wilson
• September 19, 2013

Let's be honest with ourselves for a moment, shall we? There are people or companies in our lives whose calls or texts we'd never like to receive again. EVER. Unfortunately, the Apple iPhone has lacked basic blocking capabilities since its inception, which is quite perplexing when you think about it. If you're an Apple user who's ever wanted to ban someone from contacting you via your mobile device, this was undoubtedly a source of much frustration. Fortunately, iOS 7 now lets you block to your heart's content.

iOS 7 now ensures that spammers, exes, and bill collectors will never be in your hair again (unless they email or snail-mail you). Ever cooler, iOS 7's blocking abilities aren't limited to inbound calls and text messages. You can use it to block FaceTime and iMessage messages, too.

Are you ready to learn how to block calls, texts, and message in iOS 7? Excellent. Here's the short version: You simply go to Settings, select either "Phone," "Messages," or "FaceTime" and then select "Block." You then need to add people from Contacts who you'd like blocked. If you're a newbie iPhone user (if, say the iPhone 5c or 5s is going to be your first Apple handset) and you'd like a more detailed, step-by-step primer on blocking calls, texts, and messages, check out our slideshow. iOS 7 is chock full of harassment-avoiding goodness and has vital accompanying images that will help you block, block, and block some more.

Remember, applying blocks to calls, texts, and FaceTime, and iMessage messages requires iOS 7. If you're still running iOS 6 you can't take advantage of this wondrous new feature, but you can easily update your operating system to Apple iOS 7 using these simple steps. And, really, why wouldn't you? Besides having a fresh new design and excellent blocking features, iOS 7 may be the most secure mobile operating system available.

Let's get started.

Phone, Messages, and FaceTime

Tap the Settings icon on your iPhone's home screen and scroll down to the "Phone," "Messages," or "FaceTime" menu options. Tap the appropriate option to begin the blocking process.

The Block Button

After you tap "Phone," "Messages," or "FaceTime," you arrive at a second screen. Scroll down and tap "Blocked."

Add a Contact to Block

Now you engage in the most satisfying part of this process: adding a contact to block. It's simple. You begin by tapping "Add New."

Select a Contact

Tap a contact's name and, boom! That person is blocked. No more annoying calls or messages.

Apple promises to fix iOS 7 lock screen hack

A lock screen vulnerability in the new iOS 7 leaves users' e-mail, photos, Twitter, and other apps open to being used without permission.

by Seth Rosenblatt

 September 19, 2013 4:23 PM PDT

The passcode lock screen on iOS 7 suffers from a bug that allows anyone with direct access to the iPhone or iPad to bypass the lock screen and open apps.

The bug, discovered by 36-year-old soldier Jose Rodriguez, who lives on the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain, is remarkably simple to exploit, reports Forbes. Swipe up from the lock screen to access the new Control Center, then open the alarm clock app.

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Hold the phone's sleep button, but instead of swiping to power down the phone, tap cancel and double-tap the home button to access the multitasking screen. From there, you can jump to the camera and share stored photos, which gives you access to the user's communication accounts such as e-mail, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and others.

The exploit has been tested successfully on iOS 7 when running on the iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, and 5S, and the most recent iPad model.

Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment. However, an Apple spokesperson told Forbes and others that the company "takes security very seriously" and that it's "aware of this issue. We'll deliver a fix in a future software update."

Rodriguez has a knack for finding iOS lock screen hacks. Earlier this year he found vulnerabilities in the iOS 6.1.3 lock screen and a lock screen in a beta version of iOS 7. Apple fixed both, but this is a new one that he found "within an hour" of installing iOS 7 yesterday, Forbes wrote.

While many people probably appreciate Rodriguez's efforts because he discloses the hacks in a responsible manner, those who don't can breathe a sigh of relief: the soldier's new responsibilities, he tells Forbes, will keep him too busy to figure out ways to break the new version of iOS.

Apple iOS 7

MSRP
$0.00

• PROS
  Heightened security. Fresh design. Wonderful improvements to Control Center, Notification Center, and multitasking bar. Can download over Wi-Fi. Free.
• CONSMissing photo management and organization capabilities.
• BOTTOM LINE
  iOS 7 marks a major turn for Apple's mobile operating system, both visually and in all it has to offer. Users will embrace the long list of new features with open arms, and the design is a breath of fresh air. There's still room for improvement, to be sure, but iOS has truly blossomed in this release.

BY JILL DUFFY

Launching iOS 7 (free) for the first time feels like stepping into some far-away land. It reminds me of the moment Dorothy first finds herself in Oz. She feels uncomfortable in this foreign world. Yet it's mysterious and fantastical. There's a moment of hesitation, of maybe wanting to go back home where everything will be safe and predictable, before she finds her footing. The draw is too great to turn back. Apple's iOS 7 shimmers and glides. The so-called flat design looks cold initially, but soon seems cutting edge. Dive into the settings, and you'll uncover wonderful improvements in security. A new "share sheet" comes off as much more intuitive than the buttons we've come to know so well. Everything's different, but this is a time for closing your eyes, making the leap, and embracing change.

VIEW ALL 7 PHOTOS IN GALLERY

Yes, several of the changes mimic Android. Why deny iPhone and iPad owners of features that set the bar? I don't mind seeing best practices implemented wherever they make sense, and in iOS 7, they do. This is one mobile operating system that has blossomed into adulthood, and everyone with a compatible device should be excited to install it and explore it.

iOS 7: The Basics iOS 7 is available to install on compatible Apple devices, which covers iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, and fifth-generation iPod touch. For a model-by-model list, see thecomplete list of devices that will run iOS 7. iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s will come with iOS 7 already installed on them.

Not all iPhones will get every single new feature, because some older phones aren't capable of them. For example, iPhone 4 does not include Siri, and thus won't see any of the improvements made to Siri. The most exciting changes, however, are universally applicable across all devices, and I honestly don't think iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, and iPhone 5 owners are missing out on anything massive.

Apple released the final code for iOS 7 on September 18, and it's free to download to any compatible device. There are a few ways to download it, and you'll want to backup your device before you do! We have a complete set of instructions in the article "How to Download iOS 7." If you're ready to roll now, just go to Settings > General > Software Update to install the new OS.

Design iOS 7 looks stunningly different. The  stark differences between iOS 6 and iOS 7 are most apparent when you look at before and after images back-to-back. You'll notice a lack of 3D. Icons sit in a flat layer that seems to hover just above the screen's background—and changing the wallpaper to suit the new design is a must in my book. (Experiment: Set that old water droplet wallpaper behind the new app icons, and watch the horror of the two worlds colliding.) 

The design of iOS 6, and really all versions of iOS prior to version 7, had icons that looked like buttons. As some design experts have pointed out, there's even an imaginary outside source of light that shines down on the app icons. It evokes the feeling of physicality, played up more by skeuomorphism. Buttons look like they are what they represent, rather than just images on a screen. In iOS 7 that external source of light casting shadows and so forth is gone. The new look evokes computers and a true digital experience that has little to do with real-world physicality.

The Calendar app icon is the perhaps the best example. Its background is solid white with no shading or shadows. Other icons, such as those for Settings, App Store, and iTunes Store, have some color change from top to bottom, but it's subtle and not meant to look like light is coming from outside. Rather, the color gradation seems to be coming from the apps themselves, almost like they are softly glowing.

Interaction and ControlsI love the new control center in iOS 7. iOS 6 didn't have much of a control center to speak of, but if you double-tapped the home button while the phone was locked, you could access a few buttons for your music or media: play/pause, skip forward or backward, and AirPlay. In iOS 7, a fully formed control center is just an up-swipe away at any time, whether the phone is locked or not. Here you'll find quick access to the media buttons, as well as a screen brightness slider; Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, flight mode, "do not disturb," and rotation lock on/off switches; a shortcut to the timer, world clock, alarm, and stopwatch; and a shortcut to the camera.

I'm not convinced that leaving the Bluetooth button accessible while the device is locked is a good thing, but the overall utility of having a true control center in the first place is definitely a huge step forward.

App folders look totally different when you open them and arrange icons in them. Tap one, and it spreads across the screen, much larger than before, to reveal multiple pages of apps within any folder. No more 12-app limit. I wanted to see if there was a limit, but when I got to 45 apps in one folder, I quit trying. These new folders are expansive.

One of the most Android-esque features is iOS 7's revamped multitasking bar, which now shows a preview of all your open apps, rather than just the icons for them. Swipe the multitasking bar left and right, and flows gracefully, rather than showing the next set of apps that fits on the screen and then coming to a halt as it did in iOS 6.

A new notification center in iOS 7 shows your daily summary: appointments and reminders for the current day, as well as a summary of what's happening tomorrow. That's only the first tab, though. The next two, called All and Missed, show custom notifications from whatever apps you want to include.

BBM Launching on Android, iOS This Weekend

• By Angela Moscaritolo
• September 18, 2013 04:05pm EST

Those eagerly awaiting the release of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for iOS and Android have just a few more days to wait.

BlackBerry on Wednesday announced that its so-called "mobile social network," previously only available for BlackBerry smartphones, will begin rolling out for Android and iPhone users around the world on Sept. 21. Once it launches, BBM will be available as a free download on Google Play and via the App Store.

"With more than a billion Android, iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones in the market, and no dominant mobile messaging platform, this is absolutely the right time to bring BBM to Android and iPhone customers," Andrew Bocking, executive vice president for BBM at BlackBerry, said in a statement.

The app will let users chat with friends on Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry. Users will be able to see that their message has been delivered, and also see when their friend is responding to a message. In addition, users will be able to share files, voice notes, and schedules right though the app. There's also support for up to 30-person group chats and a feature known as broadcast message for blasting all your BBM contacts at once.

Each BBM user is given a unique PIN, so they don't have to give out their phone number or email address to new contacts. The app also lets users post personal messages, a profile photo, and status updates.

"BBM will continue to evolve quickly," BlackBerry said in a statement. "Later this year, BBM Channels will provide a forum for active, real conversations between you and the people, brands, celebrities, artists, service providers, communities and more, that matter to you."

In addition, BlackBerry is also planning to add video and voice- calling features for Android and iPhone in future versions.

At this point, BBM has more than 60 million monthly active users on BlackBerry alone. Users collectively send and receive more than 10 billion BBM messages each day, and most spend an average of 90 minutes per day using the app.

The app will be available for Android devices running Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean on Sept. 21 and iPhones running iOS 6 and iOS 7 on Sept. 22. In addition to finding it in the App Store and Google Play, users will be able to download BBM by visiting BBM.com from their smartphone browser.

Meanwhile, word spread last month that BlackBerry is looking to spin off BBM into a separate business that would compete with the likes of Viber and WhatsApp. That rumor came about two weeks after BlackBerry announced the hiring of a special committee to explore "strategic alternatives" that range from partnerships to a complete sale of the company.

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the troubled phone maker is now gearing up to cut up to 40 percent of its employees. The layoffs will reportedly affect all departments, totaling several thousand employees.  

When asked about the WSJ report, a BlackBerry spokesperson said the company doesnt not comment on rumors or speculation.

"As previously stated, we are in the second phase of our transformation plan," the spokesperson said in an email. "Organizational moves will continue to occur to ensure we have the right people in the right roles to drive new opportunities in mobile computing."