Incomplete iPad Multitasking Feature Demoed in New Video

A rumored feature of iOS 8 that failed to materialize at WWDC was support for true side-by-side app multitasking on the iPad. Shortly after the iOS 8 beta landed in the hands of developers, however, indie developer Steven Troughton-Smith uncovered code suggesting that Apple was indeed planning some form of multitasking for its flagship tablet.

Now that he has had more time with the beta, Mr. Troughton-Smith has been able to get the multitasking code running in Apple’s iOS simulator app, and he has posted a video demonstrating the half-finished feature.

The video shows Safari running in the iPad’s landscape orientation, with the app able to be resized into 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75 percentage ratios via a two finger swipe. As the app shrinks, its layout is automatically readjusted to fit the smaller resolution. In its final 25 percent size, Safari looks just like it does on the iPhone, only with a taller overall resolution.

As an incomplete feature, iPad multitasking obviously has some bugs, with pop-up menus in Safari not recognizing the smaller sizes and running off screen. It’s also not certain that Apple will officially introduce the feature in iOS 8 or beyond, although the amount of code referenced in the iOS 8 beta, coupled with user demand, makes it more likely than not that side-by-side multitasking will eventually make its debut on the iPad.