Steve Jobs on Minerals and Multitasking

Busy as ever with the success of the iPhone 4 launch, Steve Jobs always takes the time to answer his customers’ questions. This time around, we’ve got a couple M&Ms on the plate. Minerals and multitasking to be specific.

Derick Rhodes, a reader of Wired, wrote in to ask Steve, “Are you currently making any effort to source conflict-free minerals? In particular, I’m concerned that Apple is getting tantalum, tungsten, tin, and gold from Eastern Congo through its suppliers.” In the seriousness of the moment, Jobs cooly replied, “Yes. We require all of our suppliers to certify in writing that they use conflict few materials. But honestly there is no way for them to be sure. Until someone invents a way to chemically trace minerals from the source mine, it’s a very difficult problem.”

But the newest reply to show up answers a concern about multitasking on iOS. On reader asked MacDailyNews whether multitasking is easy to understand for the average user. “People shouldn’t have to understand multitasking. Just use is [sic] as designed, and you’ll be happy. No need to ever quit apps.” Jobs replied. And he’s right – iOS 4 is capable of taking care of itself when it comes to managing applications. Don’t concern yourself with closing or managing applications: this isn’t an Android phone or Windows OS.

[via Wired & MacDailyNews]

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