Recent rumors have suggested that iOS 8 will include several new features, like a fitness-centric Healthbook app and an improved version of Maps. Today we can add another rumored iOS feature to the list, and this one may be the biggest yet.
According to 9to5Mac, Apple is prepping a new split-screen multitasking feature for the iPad in iOS 8. Sources suggest that this will allow owners of iOS tablet hardware to use two apps side-by-side and also to enable those apps to more easily interact with one another. One example given is that the user may be able to highlight text in one app and then drag it over to the other running app.
It’s said that this split-screen multitasking feature will work when the iPad is in landscape mode, which makes sense because that gives the user more horizontal screen space. Today’s report also suggests that the feature is being created with the larger 9.7-inch iPad in mind and that it’s unclear if the split-screen multitasking functionality will make its way onto the iPad mini.
Apple revamped its multitasking user interface last year with the iOS 7 update. Originally, the multitasking menu simply showed the icons of running apps, but iOS 7 brought with it webOS-style cards that showed the screen of these recently-used apps. That’s certainly an improvement from the old style of iOS multitasking, but Apple could certainly take things a step further by taking advantage of the iPad’s large display and enabling this split-screen feature.
What do you think of this latest iOS 8 rumor? Would you use split-screen multitasking on the iPad if Apple does indeed launch the feature?
Via 9to5Mac
