mutli-tasking causing issues with my apps

jamesmunro2

Although most people won't have a problem with this, I wanted to throw it out there to discourage people from being too creative with some app designs.

One of my apps was created for babies and toddlers. I had what I thought was a great idea. I removed any "return to main menu" buttons from the child's game screen. Babies couldn't accidentally leave the game, return to a main menu, and cry for mom/dad to fix it. What a cool design!

However, with the multi-tasking option (as well as ipad users not knowing how to use it) the app never returns to the main menu choices because it can continue to run in the multi-tasking mode on whatever choice was made from the main menu.

Now I am going back and adding a small "quit" button on the child's game screen, but I really didn't want to have anything that the child could do to accidentally leave the screen.

tenrdrmer

I must say as I parent I absolutely hate when I cannot get my sons game back to the the menu to turn the sounds off since the iTouch has no silent switch. So adding something would actually be a good thing. also sound options are a must. I have seen some apps that take like a triple tap in a certain area like a button to go back to the menu. that may be an option for you.

Sparkyidr

We have a child's nightlight/lullaby app and this is what we have done

If there is a touch to the screen, after a second or 2, the logo slides onscreen, and a small menu button at the bottom also slides onscreen.

If no touch is received after 3 seconds, the logo and the menu button slide offscreen again.

I'd suggest, like tendrmer, to have maybe a double or tripple tap combo to get the menu up.

jamesmunro2

Thanks for the ideas. I will be putting some thought into this for sure.