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Apple to Allow Background Tasks on iPhone?

With the release of iPhone Firmware 2.2.1, many were left wondering what had become of the Push notification system that Apple had announced at the Worldwide Developer's Conference back in June.

While Apple had originally set a September 2008 deadline for the service, Apple removed the feature from beta versions in August and has made no other mention of the service. Steve Jobs is reported to have told one customer that the feature was "running a bit late" and that they wanted to get it 100% right the first time.

Apple does not currently allow 3rd party iPhone applications to run as background processes. Instead, apps must shut down completely after use. Push notifications was Apple's solution to allow applications to receive notices while they are not the active application. Certain services, such as Instant Messaging, would benefit greatly from this feature.

By now, it's clear that something is holding up the Push notification service. While we aren't sure what the specific issues are, we've heard that as an alternative Apple is considering allowing apps to run as user selectable background processes. If so, this feature would likely come in the rumored iPhone 3.0 software update but would be limited to only one or two processes on current hardware. The next generation iPhone, however, would likely see less restricted background process support due to its improved hardware.

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40 months ago
I'd love that for Pandora Radio.
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40 months ago
gah! hopefully it would be a combination of both. I'd love to have twitteriffic and tweetie off, but have updates pushed; and I'd love to have Things running in the background.
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40 months ago

I'd love that for Pandora Radio.


no doubt!!

and for AOL IM (like every blackberry out there can do):p
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40 months ago

I'd love that for Pandora Radio.


Yes exactly what I was thinking too.

It would be cool, if it worked with the AOL radio too I love the Daft Punk Station.
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40 months ago
All good things in good time.

Apple likes to do things right. Even if it takes time.

Good to see this instead them throwing up some PRE-COOKed, PRE-Historic PRE 1999 html / javascript solution..
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40 months ago
I really hope they aren't dropping push notifications altogether. Some applications simply don't make sense to be running all the time. For Tweetie push notifications make much more sense while for AOL Radio, Pandora or even AIM running in the background would make more sense.

I fear that Apple thinks now push notifications is too hard and to make up for the lack thereof they are instead implementing background running processes. :(
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
40 months ago

All good things in good time.

Apple likes to do things right. Even if it takes time.

Good to see this instead them throwing up some PRE-COOKed, PRE-Historic PRE 1999 html / javascript solution..


Yeah, because we all know that Apple likes to get things perfect before putting them out, just like 1.0.0 and 2.0, and the new unibodies with battery issues and OS 10.5 with a slew of networking issues, and :apple:TV that was next to useless since it crashed so much, and the iPod touch that had iPhone errors constantly.

They like to get things perfect before releasing them, so I'm sure push notifications will work without a hitch when it comes...
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40 months ago

I really hope they aren't dropping push notifications altogether. Some applications simply don't make sense to be running all the time. For Tweetie push notifications make much more sense while for AOL Radio, Pandora or even AIM running in the background would make more sense.

I fear that Apple thinks now push notifications is too hard and to make up for the lack thereof they are instead implementing background running processes. :(


But one thing that could come along with it would be a Push background app. This would allow multiple apps to poll it and get push from it. Kinda like a background printer app on OS X. Who knows. Interesting news / rumor none the less.

Yeah, because we all know that Apple likes to get things perfect before putting them out, just like 1.0.0 and 2.0, and the new unibodies with battery issues and OS 10.5 with a slew of networking issues, and TV that was next to useless since it crashed so much, and the iPod touch that had iPhone errors constantly.


I was wondering if anyone would take my comment so literally that they would dredge up some issue that they had with a 1.0 product.

New flash:

Nothing is perfect. But apple more then anyone out there consistently strives for it with each and every hardware and software release. Forgive them for being human.
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40 months ago
mmm...Android
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40 months ago

no doubt!!

and for AOL IM (like every blackberry out there can do):p


+1 Pandora and AOL IM are the only two I need, can't even think about anything else I would care to have push for.

It would be nice if they could add in the iPhone settings a "Which programs may run in the background" and limit it to one or two that you can have running, and you just select from the "approved" list.
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