Apple may advance the functionality of the iPad by adding a new split-screen multitasking feature to the tablet in iOS 8, reports . The option would allow iPad owners to use two apps simultaneously on a single screen in landscape mode, a function frequently touted by Microsoft as an advantage for its Surface tablets over the iPad. Besides allowing the operation of multiple apps at the same time, the feature also may allow users to share data such as links and images between apps. The integration of this sharing functionality suggests Apple may open up support for in iOS, making it easier for developers to share content between apps. The multitasking feature, which is said to work in landscape mode only, is likely to land in the 9.7-inch iPad, with its extension to the smaller iPad mini unclear at this time. It may also be a critical feature for , which may ship sometime in 2015 with a 12-inch display.
