Wednesday, June 23, 2010

How to Do Multitasking on an iPhone or iPod Touch

How to Do Multitasking on an iPhone or iPod Touch


How to Do Multitasking on an iPhone or iPod Touch

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iOS 4.0 (formerly known as iPhone OS) has a number of changes that enable you to do multitasking with certain features of your apps. The idea is to make your use of apps more intuitive and to allow you to pick up where you last left off, rather than having apps close down on you when you switch to another one. For example, you should be able to answer an SMS or call, keep a chat with a friend going and switch back to a suspended game when you're done. Or, you can click on an internet link in a mail you're reading and instead of closing your mail, it will simply take you to the internet link while leaving your mail open for switching back to once you're finished with the internet.

Apps are now viewed as "running" or "suspended", dependent on how much the memory of the iPhone can hold. While not "true" multitasking (as that would chew up the batteries), the applications are paused while some items such as music and ability to receive calls continue "running in the background".[1] Here is how to do multitasking using the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Steps

  1. Before double tapping home button
    Before double tapping home button
    Familiarize yourself with switching between recently used apps quickly, without having to wait for reloading time.
    • Double tapping home brings up app icons on bottom
      Double tapping home brings up app icons on bottom
      Double-tap the Home button. This will bring up the multitasking display, showing your "recently used" apps. The Home button works in a similar manner to the taskbar in Windows or the dock in Mac OS X.
    • Scroll or flick right (horizontally) if you need to see more apps.
    • Tap any app to reopen it. It will open instantly, and be exactly the same as when you left it if the app supports multitasking. This means your last game, search, news item, etc., will still be waiting for you to finish it (it is simply "suspended" or "frozen" until you reawaken it).
  2. Tap the red circle to close an app
    Close out of an app. If you don't want an app sitting around in its suspended state, you can close it. This is useful if you're concerned that the iPhone might be about to run out of memory and close down apps for you. Simply:
    • Double-tap the Home button
    • Scroll right across the icons to find the one you want to close
    • Press and hold the icon
    • Tap the red circle with a dash (the delete symbol). The app will close rather than remaining suspended.

Multitasking Activities to Try

  1. Listen to audio while you continue to use another app. Audio can continue to stream while you are checking for emails, playing a game, surfing online, etc.
  2. Answer your Voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls and keep doing whatever else you need to on other apps. A VoIP app ready for iOS 4 would no longer needs to be left open to receive calls; it can be left running in the background while you do other activities on the iPhone.[2]
    • Take the call, while continuing to use other apps. You can check your email, surf the internet, etc., while you continue to talk.
  3. Use GPS with other apps running. Use the GPS app as usual, but leave your other desired apps running. For example, if you want to listen to music, you can leave the music app open at the same time as the GPS app. When the GPS app needs to tell you what to do next, the iPhone 4 will lower the music so that you can hear the GPS directions.
  4. Allow uploads or downloads to complete in the background while you continue using other apps. Start the uploading or downloading process and check it's happening fine. Once you're reassured it's working, switch to another app, such as your email or playing a game, while the background task completes.

Tips

  • Apps must be compatible with the iPhone for the multitasking to work. This means that the apps must be updated with the proper code. You'll know if your app is configured by whether or not it picks up from where you left off.
  • You will be able to receive alerts without having to open the app providing the alerts. This will work for third party apps that provide you with alerts such as news, sports wins, weather, alarms, etc.
  • A number of iOS 4 ready apps have already been submitted and approved for use, and the list will continue to grow.[3]
  • iOS 4 is not available as an update for the original iPhone or iPod Touch and multitasking is disabled on the iPhone 3G and the second generation iPod Touch due to speed issues.

Warnings

  • Not all apps will be permitted to run in the background; this is a precaution to prevent draining of the battery. Music, VoIP and location-tracking devices will continue running while using another app such as listening to Pandora tunes or answering a Skype call. The other apps, however, will be "suspended" mode, easily resurrected using the double-tap on the Home key as outlined above.
  • Apps are purged from the suspended state if the iPhone runs out of memory. Keep this in mind if there's something unfinished!
  • Note that multitasking is still very new and there is no guarantee that your particular app will be running where you last left off.[4]

Things You'll Need

  • iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, or the third generation iPod Touch with iOS 4
  • Compatible iOS 4 ready apps

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How to Make Rhubarb, Apple, and Pear Crisp

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Rhubarb, apple, and pear crisp with a garnish of cranberries
Rhubarb, apple, and pear crisp with a garnish of cranberries
Many people, even professional cooks, aren't sure about rhubarb even though it is wonderful when prepared well. This great recipe will help to convince you rhubarb is delicious. If you like apple-berry crisp, you should love this!

Ingredients

  • 4 stalks rhubarb, diced into 1-2 inch cubes
  • 1 medium apple, sliced very thinly and diced
  • 1 medium pear, sliced very thinly and diced
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp light butter
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup whole grain rolled oats

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF/180ºC.
  2. Diced and chopped rhubarb, apple, and pear
    Diced and chopped rhubarb, apple, and pear
    Make the fruit layer. Into a medium-sized glass baking dish, toss the sliced and diced rhubarb, apple, and pear.
    • To prevent the browning of the fruits and rhubarb, squirt with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
    • Sprinkle over 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar/cane sugar to taste.
  3. Combined brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and oats
    Combined brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and oats
    Make the topping. Mix the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and oats in a bowl. Use your fingers to mash and combine the ingredients. Create a uniform, crumbly mixture (see the photo).
  4. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the fruit and rhubarb evenly.
  5. Place the crisp in the oven. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until the topping has browned.
  6. Serve and enjoy!
    Serve and enjoy!
    Remove from the oven and serve in small dishes while still hot. Add cream or ice cream. Enjoy!

Video

Tips

  • After baking it, you could top it with cranberries and garnish it with some simple apple slices.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass baking dish
  • Mixing bowl
  • Tablespoon

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