Apple Watch

This results in lower battery requirements

Well I always wondered if the lack of multi-tasking and tiny screen was to deal with the inadequacies of the battery.

Integration almost feels likes it is becoming the a buzz word for 'cant do very much'.

kidspud · 23-02-2013, 16:09

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Well I always wondered if the lack of multi-tasking was to deal with the inadequacies of the battery.

I didn't think it lacked multitasking, it is just restricted to certain apps. Although I don't know who decides these restrictions.

clonmult · 24-02-2013, 09:14

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Their integration enables them to achieve the same with less horsepower. This results in lower battery requirements giving (typically) slimmer and lighter products.

Slimmer lighter devices from Apple are a result of a mildly anal attention to detail on hardware. Software/hardware integration is nothing to do with it.

psionic · 24-02-2013, 11:22

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I didn't think it lacked multitasking, it is just restricted to certain apps. Although I don't know who decides these restrictions.

It doesn't lack multitasking, but apps have to be specifically designed to multitask and respond to requests using Apple's methods. However it's slightly less flexible then Android's multitasking. But even on Android, apps still have to designed to cooperate with the OS to get appropriate priorities and respond to requests/calls or they get suspended after a few minutes and their memory relinquished. This is essential on all tablets/phones and other battery powered devices, or battery life would suffer greatly and RAM requirements would be much higher.

Anyway on something like a watch, battery life is going to be a significant issue. People are just not accustomed to having to charge them regularly, unlike phones. So trade-offs may have to be made on screen quality and functionality etc.

alanwarwic · 24-02-2013, 11:28

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I didn't think it lacked multitasking, it is just restricted to certain apps. Although I don't know who decides these restrictions.

I'm sure most of us know who decides those restrictions.

All devices multi task to an extent otherwise the phone would never ring when we are checking email etc.
Designated essential background apps do not make for true multi-tasking.

I read somewhere that Apple is working on making IOS cope with 4 processors so maybe things will evolve when they achieve the fundamental change in 'own SOC design'.

I'm think they choose that simpler variation of the older Cortex A9 with the optional add-on divide added due to design delays, maybe even from Samsung. The Nexus 10 is first to have those next gen ARM chips using the Cortex A15.

Maybe the watch will use an A5 or even a proprietary design by a contractor.

kidspud · 24-02-2013, 13:56

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I'm sure most of us know who decides those restrictions.

All devices multi task to an extent otherwise the phone would never ring when we are checking email etc.
Designated essential background apps do not make for true multi-tasking.

I read somewhere that Apple is working on making IOS cope with 4 processors so maybe things will evolve when they achieve the fundamental change in 'own SOC design'.

I'm think they choose that simpler variation of the older Cortex A9 with the optional add-on divide added due to design delays, maybe even from Samsung. The Nexus 10 is first to have those next gen ARM chips using the Cortex A15.

Maybe the watch will use an A5 or even a proprietary design by a contractor.

So who makes these restrictions then? There are third party apps that multitask so it cannot just be apple. Maybe one of the app developers on here can shed some light.

alanwarwic · 24-02-2013, 14:18

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...Maybe one of the app developers on here can shed some light.

and Apple also tell you how their own definition.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4211
"Multitasking doesn't slow down the performance of the foreground app"

No slowdown, how does that work then?

?

kidspud · 24-02-2013, 14:27

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and Apple also tell you how their own definition.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4211
"Multitasking doesn't slow down the performance of the foreground app"

No slowdown, how does that work then?

?

I don't know, but it wasn't really relevant to my question. You implied that iOS doesn't do multitasking, but I know (for example) that BBC iplayer continues to download even when you are not in the app so that would mean it is being allowed to multitask. I don't know the rules iOS apply but some apps are obviously being allowed to run.

IslandNiles · 24-02-2013, 14:28

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Originally Posted by clonmult

I don't know, but it wasn't really relevant to my question. You implied that iOS doesn't do multitasking, but I know (for example) that BBC iplayer continues to download even when you are not in the app so that would mean it is being allowed to multitask. I don't know the rules iOS apply but some apps are obviously being allowed to run.

Yeah, I was going to mention iPlayer as an example. There must be some restrictions though. For example, if you leave Dropbox to upload in the background, after a while it will notify you that the phone has paused the upload. You then have to go back into the app for it to resume.

tdenson · 24-02-2013, 14:47

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Slimmer lighter devices from Apple are a result of a mildly anal attention to detail on hardware. Software/hardware integration is nothing to do with it.

You obviously don\'t understand O/S development if you think that.
It stands to reason that being in control of both hardware and software enables the developers to 1. cut corners and 2. create corners, where necessary e.g. the existence of API calls in the SDK which are "Apple only".

Incidentally, this is why Apple are loathe to publish technical specs i.e. because they achieve more with less but get slated for their apparently underpowered hardware specs in the technical press and forums like this.

tdenson · 24-02-2013, 14:51

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Originally Posted by IslandNiles

and Apple also tell you how their own definition.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4211
"Multitasking doesn't slow down the performance of the foreground app"

No slowdown, how does that work then?

?

Background tasks only run when the foreground task is stalled and doesn't need the CPU - hence no slowdown of foreground task. This is how all multitasking schemes work (with a bit of variation of the algorithm on giving priorities to various tasks as required).

tdenson · 24-02-2013, 14:56

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Yeah, I was going to mention iPlayer as an example. There must be some restrictions though. For example, if you leave Dropbox to upload in the background, after a while it will notify you that the phone has paused the upload. You then have to go back into the app for it to resume.

Yes, the Apple philosophy is to try and reduce inadvertent draining of battery by controlling what you can and can't do under certain conditions. This tends to result in a more draconian imposition of multi tasking rules - you pays your money and takes your choice, personally I rather like the Apple approach.

alanwarwic · 24-02-2013, 15:07

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I don't know, but it wasn't really relevant to my question. You implied that iOS doesn't do multitasking

Yes it was.

It is made very difficult to discuss sensibly considering Apple is using the word quite differently.

Stiggles · 24-02-2013, 15:08

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Yes, the Apple philosophy is to try and reduce inadvertent draining of battery by controlling what you can and can't do under certain conditions. This tends to result in a more draconian imposition of multi tasking rules - you pays your money and takes your choice, personally I rather like the Apple approach.

I dont. My S3 and this N4 outlasted my 4S and my dads iphone 5. So cant be working well can it?

kidspud · 24-02-2013, 15:16

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Yes it was.

It is made very difficult to discuss sensibly considering Apple is using the word quite differently.

It isn't difficult to discuss if you move beyond the first page of a google search.

There are many more pages in the developers library which goes into detail of how the apps work, how they can run in the background and what they can do. It is an interesting read and confirms my observations that apps can indeed multitask. So I'm happy I have my answer now.

whoever,hey · 24-02-2013, 15:19

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Not sure about that.

Most of their software products like maps, latitude, now and gmail speak for themselves.
There is, as yet, little compelling as a general alternative

But you dont have to use any of them, and alternatives can all be setup as default actions.

alanwarwic · 24-02-2013, 15:39

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Originally Posted by Stiggles

confirms my observations that apps can indeed multitask. So I'm happy I have my answer now.

Good for you, though one would think you already had.

.

tdenson · 24-02-2013, 16:16

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I dont. My S3 and this N4 outlasted my 4S and my dads iphone 5. So cant be working well can it?

Depends who you speak to. Some people say their S3 lasts 5 minutes. You are probably more savvy when it comes to knowing how to manage battery life. The Apple philosophy is they'll do it for you - which I know is what you don't like about Apple, and sometimes nor do I. Also worth pointing out the 2100ma vs 1440ma, so hardly apples with apples.

Stiggles · 24-02-2013, 16:30

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Depends who you speak to. Some people say their S3 lasts 5 minutes. You are probably more savvy when it comes to knowing how to manage battery life. The Apple philosophy is they'll do it for you - which I know is what you don't like about Apple, and sometimes nor do I. Also worth pointing out the 2100ma vs 1440ma, so hardly apples with apples.

5 mins? lol

I don't ever manage my battery and I use it till it dies. It still lasts longer than my iphone did.

whoever,hey · 24-02-2013, 16:45

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