Most of the people I have met who are new to iPhone always assume that the iPhone can only run a single app each time. Well, that is not entirely true, you are able to do certain multitasking on your iPhone. It is true that third party apps are not allow to run simultaneously, so I can tell you that the multitasking I found is always either a pair of the built-in iPhone app or between a built-in iPhone app and a third party app.
Here is the list that I know of:
Listening to music/podcast (using the iPod app) in the background while doing other things (except phone calls and certain apps/games that override this functionality). First you run the iPod app, select your music/audio podcast then exit the app (there is a trick to play video podcast in the background but of course you will only hear the audio version). You will notice there is a play icon beside the battery on the top. Afterwards, you can run whichever app you want while listening to your favorite music.
While on a call, not only you can access your contacts or add a conference call, but you can run other apps too. To do that you only need to press the “Home” button during the call and choose whatever app you want (not advisable for running games). You will then see a single green line underneath the time where it says “touch to return to call” which exactly what it means, bring you back to the call screen. You need to use bluetooth headset or speakerphone to be convenient.- If you get a stable 3G signal, you can do point number 2 but with an “online app” (same apply if you are WiFi connected). If you get a call while getting a 3G signal, you will notice that even in that call, the 3G is active (as in still displayed) whereas a GPRS or EDGE signal is not (as in missing during the call). Guess what, in 3G mode (as well as in WiFi), you can press the “Home” button and run “online” apps like check the currency, retrieve the latest news, read latest tweets, browse your facebook news feed, browse the web with the mobile safari and even chat with your friends on IM. Again, it is better when you use a bluetooth headset or speakerphone.
iTunes app, I can say it’s probably the least popular app among iPhone users. If you like listening to podcasts and subscribe to a lot of them, you may already synchronize a couple or even a few of the latest episodes of your favorite podcasts, but once in a while, you might want to hear a podcast that you are not subscribed to. This is where the iTunes app is handy. You can browse podcasts directory on iTunes, stream the selected episode, then exit the app and able to run other apps. The difference that I noticed is that I do not see the “Play” button beside the battery while exited to the home screen.
Sending email does not need to stay on the app. You can exit while the Mail app is in the process of sending it. If you are not in silent mode, you will hear the woosh sound if it is successful.
If you know any other form of multitasking on iPhone, please do let us know in the comments.
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What a great resource!