The Myth Behind The iOS Multitasking Bar

Perhaps I was the last guy to figure this out, but my eyes were opened when I discovered that having to close out all of my recently used apps in the multitasking bar would greatly increase my iPad battery life was completely bogus.

For all of the faculty and staff that I, as well, proclaimed that it was necessary to close the multitasking bar apps, this is my apology and follow up.

In fact, the way iOS uses its multitasking bar is to display your "recently used apps" ONLY.  Not a "what is currently running in the background and taking up CPU and battery life" multitasking bar.  For most occasions, any of the apps you use get "suspended" when you hit your home button or go to another app.  Meaning, iOS will only allow them about 5 seconds to stay running, then shuts them down; still remembering where you left off.  iOS does the work for you.

Here are three articles that justly explain this misconception of the multitasking bar:

academiPad offers some great suggestions on how to improve speed on slow iPads.