Multitasking

Upcoming jailbreak tweak ‘OS Experience’ promises to bring true multitasking to iPad

Cody Lee ∙ April 9, 2014

We noted on the most recent episode of our podcast Let's Talk Jailbreak that it's an exciting time for jailbreakers right now. It seems like every few weeks we have a major new tweak coming out—Auxo 2, ProWidgets, IntelliScreenX 7—and today we have a another one to add to the list.

It's called 'OS Experience,' and it's described as a "revolutionary iOS tweak that brings true multitasking to your iPad." Built by developer Evan Swick, the tweak reminds me a lot of the 'Spaces' feature in OS X, with a full-featured window manager, live application previews, and more...

ProWidgets: a groundbreaking widget suite with multitasking features

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Cydia has been the originating point for lots of groundbreaking ideas over the years. Copy and paste originated here, card-based app switchers began here as well. And let's not forget Notification Center and Control Center — each had its roots firmly planted in Cydia before debuting in stock iOS.

It goes without saying that Apple has been keen on seeing many of the developments unfold by some of the brilliant minds that make up the jailbreak community. It's even hired ones because of the work they've done with jailbreak apps and tweaks, and iOS hacking in general.

Today, we're happy to reveal the next big blockbuster tweak for jailbroken iPhones and iPads. Hopefully, it will help generate ideas for Apple's next big feature in iOS. Today, we'd like to introduce to you a brand new upcoming tweak called ProWidgets. We've got the very first exclusive hands-on coverage of ProWidgets, and we think you'll agree with us when we say it's one of the best looking jailbreak tweaks we've seen in some time...

Vertex: hands-on walkthrough

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 3, 2014

It seems like we've started to hit the point in the jailbreak cycle where developers are starting to pull out the big guns. For instance, we had IntelliScreenX 7 released last night, Sentry teased a work-in-progress Auxo 2, and today, we're bringing you the first hands-on review of the highly anticipated Vertex—a new jailbreak release that brings Bill Labus' popular Mission Control concept to reality.

I've spent some considerable hands-on time with Vertex—putting it through its paces on my daily driver, bugging Timon Olsthoorn, its humble 16 year-old project manager from the Netherlands—and I have to say, I really like this tweak.

Timon, of course, is just one half of the team that responsible for taking Labus' concept and making it into something tangible. Memphis Tennessee native Ian Burns puts his stamp on the Vertex project by serving as the tweak's lead engineer. As you'll see from our hands-on video walkthrough that follows, Ian is pretty good at what he does.

iOS 7: Multitasking

Jeff Benjamin ∙ June 10, 2013

Rejoice, Apple has brought Multitasking to all apps in iOS7. The new multitasking features included new intelligent scheduling, opportunistic updates, adaption to network conditions, coalesced updates, and push triggers.

The new multitasking includes a completely redesigned app switcher with full screen app previews, which will make it much easier to identify running apps. Needless to say, it's a pretty radical change from the current concept of multitasking in iOS...

OS X 10.9 said to feature tabbed Finder with tags, iOS style multitasking and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 29, 2013

OS X 10.9, the next major revision to Apple's operating system for Macs internally codenamed 'Cabernet', is up for introduction later this year, according to a well-informed writer. Specifically, Apple is apparently bringing more of core iOS features to its desktop operating system.

This entails stuff like iOS style multitasking that should prove functional by allowing background tasks to pause like on the iPhone and iPad. Finder, the Mac's long-standing default file manager, is understood to gain power features such as tabbed browsing modes and tags.

An enhanced Safari browser is thought to include a redesigned backend for improved page loading, speed and efficiency, which reminds us a lot of Turbo browsing mode from the Opera mini browser...

Sentry’s new App Switching concept makes it easier to move between apps

Cody Lee ∙ March 27, 2013

We're always in search of ways that iOS can be improved, which is why you'll see a number of iOS concepts and ideas on iDB that are aimed at making Apple's mobile operating system better. Take this recent one on multitasking, for example. It's beautiful.

But not all concepts attempt to make iOS better-looking—some try to make it more functional. And that's the idea behind today's concept. It takes the current app switcher, and makes it more efficient by allowing faster access to more of your suspended apps...

webOS-inspired iOS 7 multitasking concept

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 25, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRt5qagkGBU

Remember webOS? Say what you will about Palm, but the HP-acquired firm has pioneered what's arguably the most efficient implementation of multitasking on a mobile device to this date (no jailbreak required, of course). For those not in the know, the webOS multitasking metaphor is a stack of cards which represents your running tasks.

Each card can be moved around, dismissed and manipulated with a flick of your finger. It's a remarkably fun and engaging solution to efficiently interact with your apps, one which gets the job done while moving out of the way. Designer Jesse Head took that idea and applied it to the problematic iOS multitasking tray, replacing the boring grid of icons with app tiles sporting nearly full-screen live previews. It appears as useful as it's gorgeous to look at, no?

Use iFunBox’s ‘Power Saving Mode’ to prevent select apps from running in the background

Mike Schnier ∙ Updated December 25, 2017

Want to take a load off your iOS device's CPU, battery life, and cellular bandwidth by preventing certain apps from running in the background? Sure, you could install a tweak like WeeCloseApps, but it doesn't set automatic profiles for app behavior, and it doesn't work on non-jailbroken devices.

Luckily, there's a powerful iOS file browser for Mac and PC called iFunBox, which works on both jailbroken and non-jailbroken devices. Among its features, iFunBox allows users to edit 'Power Saving Mode' profiles. Right click on an installed app and you can set one of three multitasking states: allow background, always background, and kill switch. 'Allow background' is the default state of most apps, while 'always background' is normally applied to music and podcasting apps that you'd want active in the background, and 'kill switch' is applied to power-hungry games...

iOS concept video shows off Quick Settings, App Flow multitasking and more

Mike Schnier ∙ Updated December 20, 2017

André Luis Moreira, an animator who shares a name with a football player from Brazil, posted a video of a concept for an iOS overhaul back in September, which contains a few surprising features. Keep in mind this isn't a tweak, just a video concept produced with Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere.

The animation focuses on three main concepts for improving iOS. Quick Settings, a pane that collects the most used options from the settings page; App Flow Multitask, which adds a full screen preview to the app switcher panel; and Dynamic Settings, which provides shortcuts that allows users to quickly jump to a specific app's settings...

Check out this concept for a more useful iOS app switcher

Cody Lee ∙ October 9, 2012

Since Apple introduced multitasking in iOS 4, the app switcher has remained relatively the same. The jailbreak community, of course, has found dozens of uses for the pop-up app menu, but Apple, for the most part, has left it untouched.

With that in mind, you can understand why mockups that offer a new take on the app switcher create so much commotion. And such is the case with a concept that recently surfaced called "Rethinking the App Switcher for the iPhone 5..."

This upcoming tweak adds a full screen app switcher to the iPhone and iPad

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 25, 2013

When it comes to jailbreak tweaks and apps, there are a few names, that when mentioned, instantly make you think of quality. IntelliBorn may come to mind, Ryan Petrich certainly deserves a nod, and of course you can't forget about folks like chpwn and Aaron Ash.

Obviously, there are a few others who are worthy of being included in the same conversation, including SBCoders — a developer that has recently created a significant amount of high quality tweaks.

Hot off the heels of Aero, Deck, and Color Banner, comes Dash — a new take on the app switcher, and one that is sure to turn a few heads. Take a look at our full video walkthrough for a hands-on preview...

New iPad jailbreak tweak ‘Quasar’ allows for true iPad window based multitasking [Video]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 28, 2012

A new $9.99 jailbreak tweak was released for the iPad today on Cydia, and it goes by the name of Quasar.

Quasar is a tweak that's exclusive to jailbroken iPad's, and it allows you to have a true window based multitasking session with your iPad.

As you know we've been fairly adamant about a true multitasking solution for the iPad for quite some time now, so we're excited to see what Quasar can do for iPad users.

Full story and video walkthrough inside...