macnn
06/09/2008, 3:20pm, EDT
Monday, June 9th
iPhone apps to use push notification
Speaking at the WWDC keynote, Apple's senior VP of iPhone software -- Scott Forstall -- today claimed that the company was addressing a major concern of developers, background processes. Forstall noted that using true background processes would be "wrong," as it often hurts battery life, as well as the performance of foreground applications, which must split CPU cycles. Forstall cited the example of Windows Mobile's task manager, calling it clunky to use.
Apple is instead turning to the concept of push notification, which will allow applications to maintain an Internet connection, and receive both foreground and background updates. Few technical details have been mentioned to the public, but the technology will be seeded to developers in July, and available in widespread fashion in September.
Filed under: iPhone, software, developer, networking
Other story tags: Windows Mobile, WWDC, WWDC08
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AWESOME! It's also probably the reason why they don't have iChat ready. I WANT MY iChat GOODNESS!
brilliant...
there is something really smart about this that we haven't quite gotten to see yet, but it makes a lot of sense. the idea of 16 apps running in the background sucking battery is a very valid reason to drop background processes, and the approach of using a push notification service to make up for this lack of background processing is really a great idea.
it's almost like they're taking some cues from the offline development that is happening around Gears, Air, Silverlight and applying it to the mobile app space to increase battery life and enhance usability.
like i said...brilliant!