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.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2026

Popular Stories

Swift Student Challenge 2026

2026 Swift Student Challenge: Three Apps Created by Young Developers

Thursday April 9, 2026 7:59 am PDT by
In late March, Apple notified the winners of the 2026 Swift Student Challenge, who each received a complimentary one-year Apple Developer Program membership, AirPods Max 2, and a special certificate. A smaller group of Distinguished Winners were also invited to a three-day experience at Apple Park during WWDC 2026 in June. The annual Swift Student Challenge gives eligible student developers...
wwdc 2026 horizontal

WWDC 2026 Graphic Teases Major iOS 27 Feature

Sunday April 19, 2026 3:02 pm PDT by
Apple's WWDC 2026 graphic provides "a glimpse of the revamped Siri interface coming in iOS 27," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said iOS 27 will include a new Siri interface in the Dynamic Island. When you trigger Siri, he said the Dynamic Island will show a "Search or Ask" prompt, and this will apparently be accompanied by a "glowing cursor"...
M5 Vision Pro Thumb 2

Apple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop

Wednesday April 29, 2026 11:31 am PDT by
Apple has all but given up on the Vision Pro after the M5 model failed to revitalize interest in the device, MacRumors has learned. Apple updated the Vision Pro with a faster M5 chip and a more comfortable band in October 2025, but there were no other hardware changes, and consumers still weren't interested. The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable...

Top Rated Comments

brdeveloper Avatar
156 months ago
Split screen like that we saw in Samsung TouchWiz UI since 2012? #thinkdifferent
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spyguy10709 Avatar
156 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
156 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
156 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)
156 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
156 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)