Rumored Split-Screen Multitasking Feature for iOS 8 Not Ready for WWDC Preview - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Rumored Split-Screen Multitasking Feature for iOS 8 Not Ready for WWDC Preview

The rumored split-screen multitasking feature said to be coming with iOS 8 is still a work in progress and won't be previewed at Apple's upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, according to Brian Chen of the New York Times.

Designed for the iPad Air and possibly a larger-screened iPad to be released in the future, split-screen multitasking would allow two apps to be displayed at the same time on a single screen while in landscape mode. It might also include a feature that allows users to share information like links, images, and text between two apps.

Split-screen multitasking concept, not rumor-based

The iPad's inability to display two apps at once is a lack that Microsoft has used to heavily advertise its Surface tablet, which does have the ability to display multiple apps on the screen at one time.

While the multitasking feature will reportedly not make its debut at WWDC, it is still slated for inclusion in iOS 8. It appears multitasking will be limited to the iPad Air at launch, and it is unclear whether the smaller Retina iPad mini and iPhone might also gain the functionality.

Popular Stories

Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Gurman: iPhone Ultra Wows Early Testers, Except for Its Camera

Sunday August 23, 2026 11:19 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra is winning over the few people who have had hands-on time with the device, though the camera setup may leave some users wanting, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says people who have used the device – which is reportedly referred to internally as the iPhone Ultra – like how it fits in your...
iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry Feature

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: When Will Apple Event Be Announced?

Monday August 24, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
It is now late August, meaning that Apple's annual iPhone event is just around the corner. Below, we take a look at when the event might be held this year. This September, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and an all-new foldable iPhone that will reportedly be named the iPhone Ultra. The regular iPhone 18, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 are not...
apple magic keyboard with glyphs 2026 refresh

Apple Quietly Refreshes Magic Keyboards

Tuesday August 25, 2026 7:22 am PDT by
Apple today quietly introduced updated Magic Keyboard models with revised U.S. English key labeling. On the new keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps are labeled with glyphs rather than edge text. On the full-size models with a numeric keypad, the change goes further, with the home, page up, page down, end, clear, and enter keys also swapping their text labels for...

Top Rated Comments

brdeveloper Avatar
160 months ago
Split screen like that we saw in Samsung TouchWiz UI since 2012? #thinkdifferent
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spyguy10709 Avatar
160 months ago
This is honestly something that wouldn't have happened under Steve. That's the only time I'll say it -- I promise. But honestly... :(:(:(
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eadfrith Avatar
160 months ago
At this rate there wont be anything to show at WWDC except some other companies headphones.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JoEw Avatar
160 months ago
This is honestly something that wouldn't have happened under Steve. That's the only time I'll say it -- I promise. But honestly... :(:(:(

He would wait, until he deemed it ready to be shown to the public.

If apple will do multitasking they will do it right.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
160 months ago
Why would it work only on the Air and not the Mini when they are essentially the same machine with different screen sizes? Hope this isn't a signal that Bigger and Biggest iPhones will have exclusive features.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ShiggyMiyamoto Avatar
160 months ago
Split screen like that we saw in Samsung TouchWiz UI since 2012? #thinkdifferent

If this hadn't been posted I would have done so. haha. Yeah that's what this screamed at me when I saw this article posted...
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)