Yeah, it could be better.

There are certain types of apps that are really hamstrung by the lack of backgrounding for third-party apps. For me, the biggest example would be music apps: Pandora, Last.fm, etc. The hardest thing I had to get used to was the removal of Last.fm scrobbling for tracks played by iPod.app. Before the advent of AppStore, the Last.fm iPhone app was known as MobileScrobbler, and worked beautifully on jailbroken iPhones. Having never paid much mind to Last.fm, I found myself suddenly hooked. Then, when AppStore put my MobileScrobbler in a walled garden, I lost all interest in Last.fm. It just wasn’t passive enough to be useful to me anymore, and that’s really a shame.

But y’know, ok, we get it. There’s no backgrounding. Many app developers have come up with some pretty inventive ways to get around the limitation, or at least mitigate it to some extent. The problem with the music apps is this: I can’t do anything else without quitting the app and losing the music.

Now, I know this is gonna fly in the face of our usual high standards, but why can’t we (they) incorporate a basic web browser into these apps? That way, at least, we users can post to Twitter or Tumblr, or maybe catch up on our RSS feeds while we’re listening to streaming music. Hell, they can even keep their ads at the bottom of the browser, I don’t care. it’d be better than the lack of integration we have now. Again, I’m not usually a fan of tacking on features to an app that should stay lean and mean. But Apple has kinda tied everyone’s hands. And if Atebits cam put their “popularity enhancer” option into their prefpane, why can’t the same thing be done for a tack-on UIWebView in apps where it would help greatly?

I don’t know, I guess I’m just getting the feeling that a lot of app developers are still just in denial about the current state of affairs vis-a-vis backgrounding (thanks, Merlin). Sure, there are rumblings about (possibly, maybe) Apple allowing one or two “blessed” third-party apps to run background processes. But I don’t see why anyone should hold their breath and allow their app’s user experience languish due to the current limitations.

Apple and Starbucks have this nice joint feature/service: if you like the music that’s playing while you daintily sip your grandé double half-caf mocha Frappuccino™, you just open up iTunes.app on your iPhone. You’re automatically logged into the Starbucks WiFi network (just for this narrow purpose, natch), and you get a handy-dandy icon to click and see what’s playing right now, and buy the music if you so desire.

So, I’m thinking. iTunes, Airport Express, and AirTunes. I’m working in an office with several other people who have access to the AirTunes setup. Music’s playing and, ok sure, I could get up and go ask what’s playing…but more often than not, we’re all kinda intent on maintaining focus until lunchtime or after work. Wouldn’t it just be great if iPhone could poll the Airport Express to find out what’s playing?

Make it a “conditional button” in iTunes.app (just like Starbucks) and only appear when:

• You’re connected to the same network as the Airport Express
• AirTunes is playing
• You’re not the one streaming the music (this condition could be omitted, if it’s handled right)

Seems like a pretty good opportunity to further improve the integrated Apple experience.

So, if I can trim/edit video clips on iPhone, why can’t I perform a simple photo rotation? It’s not as if the accelerometer is fool-proof.