To Multitask or Not To Multitask?

With the release of the iPhone 4 last summer came the ability to multitask between applications in iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system. In the following months it would also make its way to the iPod Touch and the iPad. The ability to quickly switch between apps, pause and continue a game, finish downloads and keep GPS/music running on third party apps became a reality. A simple double-click of the home button on any device brings up a new “dock” or “tray” that shows all currently running apps.

“So every app that I open stays open? Doesn’t this affect my phone’s performance and battery life?” The simple answer to this is no. Like we’ve seen with some other Apple releases, they aren’t always the first to do it, but they’re the best. The reason Apple hesitated on multitasking is because it can be a resource hog with the processor, RAM and battery. Part of Apple’s strategy is to suspend apps in the background so they aren’t necessarily running, but they pick up right where you left off as if they were.

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t remove them from the tray. If you’re like me and use 1,000 different apps every day (ok, that may be a bit exaggerated) you wouldn’t want the extras getting in the way of the commonly used ones. Simply tap and hold an app icon just like you would to rearrange your home screen. They’ll jiggle and each will have a red minus symbol on the top left. Just tap the symbol and it is gone until the next time you open it. Just make sure you finish the level of Angry Birds you’re on first!