IOS devices, especially iPads, are very successful machines. In particular thanks to a very sophisticated operating system. Yet, for all these years, an important feature has been missing …
The operating systems that we find on our computers have for a very long time offered to manage different users, different sessions, each with its own configuration, with different accounts on a particular service. The thing is however not possible on iOS. More that could change shortly…
Apple patent mentions multi-user session system for iOS
Currently, Apple iOS devices are limited to one user per device. This is unlike a computer on which several users can authenticate via their own account to use their preferences and their files in a more or less isolated manner. However, it would seem that, in the more or less near future, iOS devices may allow this multi-user management.
At least that’s what a patent filed by Apple some time ago suggests. The Cupertino company is reportedly considering the idea of introducing this long-awaited multi-user support on its iOS devices. According to the document accompanying the patent, “a device could manage multiple passwords and associated encryption keys, with those different passwords and encryption keys that would be associated with different user accounts on the system.”
A long-awaited feature
At the moment, Apple offers some sharing functions. The Apple brand offers a family offer for its services offering members of the same household to share in-app purchases, cloud storage, music streaming, etc. That being said, it is still impossible to use different user sessions on the same device. This patent could change all that.
It will be interesting to see whether Apple makes this patent a reality or not. Devices like the iPad are often used in schools for education. Being able to use different accounts would be very useful if the tablet is to be shared between students and teachers. This could also allow parents to create restricted accounts for their children and no longer see with dismay that their dear little blond head has spent $ 16,000 on in-app purchases …
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