Is it possible to opt your iPad app out of multitasking on iOS 9
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Apple's introduction of iOS 9 brought several exciting features to enhance the multitasking capabilities of the iPad. These features, including Split View, Slide Over, and Picture in Picture, were designed to empower users with more functionality and improved productivity. However, for some developers, these multitasking features might not align with their app's intended user experience or technical structure. This article delves into whether it is possible to opt an app out of these multitasking features in iOS 9, alongside a technical explanation, examples, and a summarizing table.
Understanding iOS 9 Multitasking
Key Features
- Split View: Allows users to use two apps simultaneously, side by side.
- Slide Over: Lets users temporarily overlay a second app on the right of the screen without leaving the primary app.
- Picture in Picture (PiP): Enables users to watch a video in a small window while interacting with other apps.
These features greatly enhance user productivity, but depending on the app's design, some developers might seek to disable them.
Technical Approach to Opting Out
App Manifest Declarations
The primary way to opt your app out of specific features, or declare support for certain capabilities, is through modifying your app's Info.plist file. For iOS 9 multitasking features, you can adjust the following properties:
- UISupportedInterfaceOrientations (iPad specific): By not supporting certain orientations, an app can inherently not support Split View or Slide Over. For example, if an app supports only portrait mode, it cannot effectively participate in Split View, which requires landscape mode.
- UIRequiresFullScreen: This key is used to declare that an app requires full screen and should not engage in any multitasking features like Split View or Slide Over.
Configuring UIRequiresFullScreen
To opt out of multitasking, developers should set the `UIRequiresFullScreen` key in the Info.plist file to `YES`. This informs iOS that the app must run full screen.
Example
- Consider the performance implications of multitasking. Some apps, due to their high resource needs, may simply perform better without sharing resources in a multitasking environment.
