AppleInsider Staff
A new feature that would allow iPad users to display and interact with two applications simultaneously is said to still be headed for iOS 8, but Apple may not be ready to reveal it at next week's Worldwide Developers Conference, according to a new report.
"I've been told that the split-screen feature for iOS 8 isn't ready yet and won't be shown at WWDC," Brian X. Chen of The New York Times said in a tweet. Chen went on to call the feature "a work in progress."
Word that Apple was contemplating the split-screen capability, which is though to be similar to a feature which has garnered applause on Microsoft's Surface tablets, first appeared earlier this month. At the time, it was said that it would likely debut on the 9.7-inch iPad Air while potentially skipping the smaller iPad mini.
Apple has steadily added multitasking features to its mobile operating system over the years, but has largely restricted support to background processes. The one app, one screen paradigm has not changed since the iPhone's debut in 2007.
With or without the split-screen functions, Apple is expected to officially unveil the next-generation mobile operating system during a keynote address on Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. AppleInsider will bring live updates from the keynote and will continue to report on developments at the conference throughout the week.
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30 Comments
Another AppleInsider rumour squashed by the intrepid AppleInsider rumour killers at AppleInsider.
Not a big deal for most consumers
I wonder what Apple will be ready to announce on Monday. So far the only thing that's a good bet is redesigned OSX. Mark Gurman claims the reason Craig Federighi wasn't at the Code conference is because Apple is behind on 10.10 and iOS 8.
[quote name="TechProd1gy" url="/t/180220/rumor-split-screen-multitasking-on-ipad-not-on-tap-for-wwdc#post_2542559"]Not a big deal for most consumers[/quote] I agree. I can think of a few cases where it would've been nice if I had a split screen to speed up some editing tasks, but I think the screen would have to be a bit larger for it to be more functional.
Not a big deal for most consumers
According to who? You?
That'd be a huge improvement for things I do on it- and I don't even use it for "real" work.
I would use it when copying and pasting things all the time. Additionally, I'd love to be reading in safari about something I'm texting my brother about- or facetiming while I'm looking up something instead of giving them a black "hold" screen, etc
Its one of those features you wouldn't think you'd use and think you wouldn't really need it until you realize you use it all the time (like gestures).