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<concept id="GUID-644810EC-7D5E-4569-834B-C207447B88A3" xml:lang="en"><title>Multitasking</title><prolog><metadata><keywords/></metadata></prolog><conbody>

<p>The Symbian UI style allows multitasking; that is, working with more than

one application simultaneously. Mobile device users can leave an application

running when they start another application, swap between running applications,

and interact with them.</p>

<p>To open a new application without closing the one that is presently being

used, users can press the Home / Menu key to go to the <xref href="GUID-86AADA3E-B77C-45CC-B523-785B75BAA5AA.dita">Menu</xref> and

select application suites and applications.</p>

<p>The first application process remains running in the background while the

user interacts with the second application.</p>

<p>The number of simultaneously running (different) applications is limited

only by the available memory in the device. When a new application process

cannot be created because of limited memory, the system can automatically

shut down applications to increase the amount of free memory.</p>

<p>To swap active applications, users can:</p>

<ul>

<li><p>Long-press the Home / Menu key to open the task swapping window.</p></li>

<li><p>Alternatively, select <uicontrol>Options</uicontrol> &gt; <uicontrol>Show

open applications</uicontrol> to open the task swapping window.</p></li>

</ul>

<fig id="GUID-9855DE8A-5103-4172-9884-C5266ADB8F16">

<title>Visualized multitasking: task swapping window</title>

<image href="GUID-182326EB-E818-4146-82D9-494D59E430B8_d0e81983_href.png" placement="inline"/>

</fig>

<p>The task swapping window displays the applications that are currently running

in the order of their most recent use. By default, the focus is on the first

item in the grid. The task swapping window is a pop-up with a heading (<uicontrol>Open

applications</uicontrol>). The names of the open applications are displayed

in an Information pop-up. The Information pop-up is launched with a 0.5 second

delay after the focus is moved onto each item, and it remains visible for

1.5 seconds (or until the focus is moved to another item). Menu and home screen

are always visible in the task swapping window. The configuration and visual

appearance of the task swapping window might depend on the product.</p>

<p>Users can use the task swapping window to close active applications. In

devices with a keypad, users move the focus onto the application to be closed,

and press the <uicontrol>Clear</uicontrol> (delete) key.  In touch devices,

users tap and hold the item to open a pop-up menu where they can select the <uicontrol>Exit</uicontrol> option.</p>

<p>For implementation information on

using the <xref href="GUID-29486886-CB54-4A83-AD6D-70F971A86DFC.dita">application

and UI frameworks</xref>, see <xref href="GUID-EF7FF39E-929F-4767-B475-5D582D37BB32.dita">Window

server events</xref>.</p>

</conbody><related-links>

<linklist>

<link href="GUID-0F8D0399-58CD-4EB6-82DF-75D6BE5B0A84.dita"><linktext>Application

framework concepts</linktext></link>

<link href="GUID-BDDDF68F-F7C3-43AF-8B6C-C77C701FD2A9.dita"><linktext>Framework

requirements for GUI applications</linktext></link>

</linklist>

</related-links></concept>