4 ms·

In reality, they may not be dead/suspended, and due to poor programming by the developer it could be sitting there wasting resources (read: battery). This is no

In reality, they may not be dead/suspended, and due to poor programming by the developer it could be sitting there wasting resources (read: battery). This is not acceptable. Now, I know Apples current method of working with background apps is correct (easiest for everyone). Apple does need to do something about it though. Google Latitude for example can 'run' (I'm not actually sure what code is executed, if any) even after being removed from the 'tray'. This all adds up to a pretty shitty experience for those who have no idea on how all this actually works, be it Apples fault or not.

glhaynes 15y ago
Can you say more about the Google Latitude "continuing to run" thing? Are you maybe just getting Push Notifications for Latitude? If so, they're entirely handled by the system - the process doesn't need to be running.
- CraigRood 15y ago
  I'm not an iOS developer (at least for now) so I'm not sure on the details behind it all. All I know is Latitude (and other applications such as OkCupid) can use the GPS and push data periodically - making a noticeable difference in the battery life with no real indication besides the location settings details beyond the setting menu. It's fine for me, I can working it all out. But the average iPhone owner can't. You would be surprised at how many dont even know about removing the 'tasks'. All usage adds up especially with the limited resources on a phone.
  - kokey 15y ago
    As I understand it, the iOS API for background tasks allows certain routines to run in the background, in this case the regular sending out of location data to Google. It doesn't let the Latitude app as a whole run in the background.
masklinn 15y ago
> In reality, they may not be dead/suspended Hence "likely". > Google Latitude for example can 'run' (I'm not actually sure what code is executed, if any) even after being removed from the 'tray'. That simply is not possible, once it's been removed from the switcher it can not be running unless it's the currently active application. Furthermore location-aware applications are actually the easiest possible offenders to manage: they'll keep the location marker enabled in the status bar (although that can conflict with genuine users of the API such as Reminders) and they will appear with a purple arrow in Settings > Location Services.

glhaynes 15y ago

Can you say more about the Google Latitude "continuing to run" thing? Are you maybe just getting Push Notifications for Latitude? If so, they're entirely handled by the system - the process doesn't need to be running.

CraigRood 15y ago
I'm not an iOS developer (at least for now) so I'm not sure on the details behind it all. All I know is Latitude (and other applications such as OkCupid) can use the GPS and push data periodically - making a noticeable difference in the battery life with no real indication besides the location settings details beyond the setting menu. It's fine for me, I can working it all out. But the average iPhone owner can't. You would be surprised at how many dont even know about removing the 'tasks'. All usage adds up especially with the limited resources on a phone.
- kokey 15y ago
  As I understand it, the iOS API for background tasks allows certain routines to run in the background, in this case the regular sending out of location data to Google. It doesn't let the Latitude app as a whole run in the background.

masklinn 15y ago

> In reality, they may not be dead/suspended Hence "likely". > Google Latitude for example can 'run' (I'm not actually sure what code is executed, if any) even after being removed from the 'tray'. That simply is not possible, once it's been removed from the switcher it can not be running unless it's the currently active application. Furthermore location-aware applications are actually the easiest possible offenders to manage: they'll keep the location marker enabled in the status bar (although that can conflict with genuine users of the API such as Reminders) and they will appear with a purple arrow in Settings > Location Services.