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iOS 8 Split Screen Mockup by Sam Beckett
The Worldwide Developer Conference is just around the corner. In the weeks leading up to the big event, rumors are swirling as to what Apple will show off. Traditionally, the company demonstrates at least a few features of the next version of iOS. According to an unnamed source with 9to5Mac, one new feature in iOS 8 that we may get to see this June 2 is split screen multitasking.
Although Apple has made major improvements to its multitasking software, a split screen experience has never made its way to the official mobile operating system. You may be able to run two apps at the same time, but you can’t perform actions in both. Users need to switch between apps to use them.
According to 9to5Mac, unnamed sources familiar with the issue claim that iOS 8 will include split screen multitasking will allow users to run and interact with two iPad applications at once.
Supposedly, the feature will allow users to interact with multiple apps more efficiently. For example, a person could drag a picture or video clip from the Photos app into iMessages and send an SMS.
The split screen feature is said to be designed for the 9.7-inch screen, and for landscape mode exclusively. There is no information as to whether the feature would be available on the iPad mini.
Apple has been noticeably absent from the split-screen multitasking camp. The technology has already existed for a few years. Microsoft has a split screen feature on its Surface line of tablets.
There has to be a reason Apple has not yet made their tablets capable of split screen multitasking. It is hard to believe that the company suddenly decided to offer the feature. Either this rumor is going to fall flat in a few weeks’ time, or Apple’s version of split screen multitasking is going to be revolutionary.
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