iPhone OS 4.0: Multitasking support hidden away for pre-3GS devices

So multi-tasking on the 3G is done by editing the plist.
Can we enable home screen wallpaper this way too?

I would have to categorically state that multitasking not being available on the iPhone 2G and 3G is not because of any hardware limitations but because of Apple's design tenets.

That tenet being design a great product with a 2-3 year lifespan that will encourage upgrades every 1-2 product cycle.

This is played out in many places:
- Removable batteries (ipod, iphone, and macbook lines): Because if you make it hard to change then eventually you'll get tired of no battery life in 3-5 years when the rest of the hardware is still working fine. Want battery life? Answer: buy the new one
- Video recording - remember how you can't get that on the iPhone 2G but need a 3G+. Jailbreak a 2G though and video recording works fine. Want video recording? Answer: buy the newest one
- why the iPad has no camera for it's first version. A future version will absolutely have a camera. Want an iPad with a camera? Answer: buy the new one

From a programmer's standpoint:

How do you think Apple created the OS profile to test the beta multitasking performance on the 3G and below phones? It is switch allows them to turn it off and on and test performance of test apps. Likely, that will disappear in the GA release or just remain inaccessible.

Because the switch is there doesn't mean using it make the hardware capable of the performance needed.

This ::sigh:: is just one more straw.

Apple and Mac Products have been known for their value, MOSTLY because of the lifespan of their products.

A mac running Finder 1 or 2, had no problem upgrading as high as system 7
an original imac 233(os8.5), Chugs along with 10.4 no Problem
and even Old g4s will run leopard NO problem if you sidestep the processor speed reqs.

thats almost 10 YEARS of compatibility on ANY apple product up to snowleopard, and the iphone, therefore 10 YEARS of USEFULNESS that we got out of those products, Apple IS artificially shortening the useful lifespan of the iPhone this way, therefore reducing the value in said products. Thereby reducing the value of any IphoneOS device in my opinion.

This just made a $500 ipad look like a big joke to me, it isnt worth it if it only lasts 2-3 years, not by a long long long shot. and paying $600 for an iphone .. ludicrous.

I was an early adopter, i have a 1st gen iPhone, I RAGED when the MMS "limitations" were the big news, and re-jailbroke (i went back to vanilla in 2.2) and promptly installed the MMS app (works really well contrary to what apple said ... Hmmmmm)

I Paid $550, Apple just made me feel stupid, and purposely are trying to force the obsolescence, I wont buy products that do that, Heck WAS a big reason WHY im a Mac user, for the moment.

But i wont be buying an iphone 3Gs(or the super unicorn equipped iphone 4) OR an iPad unless it drops to under $200 no contract, its just not worth it having to upgrade every 15 months on a "premium" electronics device.

I'll stick to a hackintosh netbook for my portability needs, and go back to my old "dumbphone" when my iPhone kicks the bucket.


- disappointed -

Apple cares 0 about their customers. They engineer unnessesary obsolesense in to their profects or EOL support for them too quickly specifically to get you to buy new ones every 2 years and Apple followers are blind to this thinkng it's only to maintain the best user experience.
This is one example. Even if iPhone 3G can't do as many or as well, they could easily implement reasonable restrictions on that platform to allow the feature to work because we know it will work.
This is why I won't be buying the 1st gen iPad. I don't want to get stuck with a forgotten model and don't want to have to play the "sell it on EBay" game.

I've had a very different experience with Backgrounder on a 3g phone then what a lot of commenters are reporting. I tried to run Pandora and NetNewsWire at the same time and every time Pandora would crash within a minute of launching NetNewsWire. Safari worked a little better but still Pandora would still not stay up very long.

I am not sure why TUAW thinks that Apple is forcing you to upgrade for the OS 4.0. Apple is always about making things safe and smooth for user experience, they don't need to force people to buy new products. Its obvious why they are not allowing 2G users to multi-task.

Has anyone from TUAW tried "Backgrounder" on a 2G before? It is the multitasking hack from Cydia. I tried it. Basically opening up more than 2 apps at a time kills the iPhone 2G...freezing the home screen. Have you played music, checked your email and start moving icons around the screen? It basically stalls.

So when TUAW tries to be insightful and opinionated regards to Apple decisions I hope that TUAW does their homework rather than write commentary just to aggravate Apple users and TUAW readers here. Ironic to say the least given its an Apple related site.

In the header picture for this article (of Steve in front of two iPhones), is the longer, thinner design of iPhones due to distortion of the photo - or is it perhaps reflective of the next iPhone (4G) design (like that depicted at http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/29/is-this-the-iphone-4g-iv-next-gen-x-screen/)?

i think previous gen iPhone owners should be happy to get an update at all. there's no rule that says apple has to support older hardware. like any other piece of software offered, they have to set a min spec to ensure good performance. the same is done with their mac apps and i don't see people complaining. you cant support older hardware forever...

I'm sad that my 1st gen iPhone won't be getting 4.0, but its battery is not what it used to be anyway. To develop for it, I'll have to use the emulator.