Apple – Let the notifications begin
Apple had started the ball rolling on notifications, asking developers to help them test the system by exercising the first new app to use the push system that is built into iPhone OS 3.0.
The Cupertino maker of the iPhone sent an email to all iPhone developers, a sizable group, to exercise the latest AP news app, which is the first third-party application to utilize the company’s new “push†technology, according to a CNET story. The iPhone notification system, a special implementation of push technology, will make its debut as part of iPhone OS 3.0, due for release in June.
Push technology describes a style of Internet-based communication where the request for a given transaction is initiated by the publisher or central server. Push services are often based on information preferences expressed in advance. This is called a publish/subscribe model. A client might “subscribe” to various information “channels”. Whenever new content is available on one of those channels, the server would push that information out to the user.
Prior to the release of 3.0, the iPhone was unable to accommodate such requests because only one program could be running on the phone at a time. The new notifications system changes that, and opens the way for any number of better business and pleasure applications on the iPhone. Apple had left the feature out of previous OS’s because of concerns over battery life. The new system has been in developer testing for just over a month.
Apple’s system is an improvement over normal “push.†Instead of requiring that iPhone applications be kept running to listen for messages, their new service allows apps to quit running, but still retain the ability to listen for incoming alerts for applications on what is called a universal network channel. This service listens for incoming alerts on a single channel and then distributes alerts and messages to the proper applications for processing, thus saving battery life.
The notifications system is very important for the Apple in a number of ways. It will allow the iPhone to add such apps as instant messaging, app user alerts, social media connections, news updates, stock updates, and so much more. The lack of such a system has always been seen as a failing of the iPhone. The new system will put a stop to those complaints and bring the iPhone one step closer to being the “professional†mobile device. This is one of the features that will allow Apple to bring the iPhone a giant step closer to being the business smart phone of choice.
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