iPhone software 2.1 beta drops push notification

Since the iPhone SDK announcement, developers have been clamoring for the ability to have their applications run even after being exited (currently, all apps quit upon returning to the home screen, with the exception of Apple’s Mail and iPod/Music apps). Knowing what a battery hog apps are, Apple didn’t provide such a solution, instead announcing at WWDC a push notification service that stays on instead of the applications. It waits for notifications from other applications, and then displays them on the home screen, thus saving the battery life by not having all apps open at once. Steve Jobs said this service would be available in September.

Apple made a surprising move by including this service in its iPhone 2.1 Betas. Some applications went as far as to include the feature in currently shipping products to prepare for 2.1′s release. Then, in the fourth beta of it’s upcoming iPhone software v2.1, Apple quietly removed the ability for push notification. Infinite Loop points out that this might not be such a bad thing. Apple may be tired of putting out “half-baked” products and is really making sure they get 2.1 right before releasing it to the masses.

iPhone 2.1 software is expected for mid-September.

Via Infinite Loop