multitasking

So you've got an original iPhone and you're hanging on to it for sentimentality's sake. I get that. But that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice all the cool, new goodies that accompany the latest versions of iOS.

If you're hanging on to your little piece of Apple history (whether because you have to or just want to) TechCrunch lets us know that you can now use a custom firmware called Whited00r to add some sweet features such as multitasking, app folders, and device syncing.

The best part about Whited00r? No jailbreaking.

Instead, Whited00r is … Read more

The majority of Americans who watch television take to their smartphones, tablets, and e-readers to maximize their productivity and entertainment while a show is on, a new study has found.

According to Nielsen, 42 percent of Americans who own tablets are using that device each day when watching television. On the smartphone side, 40 percent of folks turn on their handsets each day when watching a show. Just 14 percent of e-reader owners, however, use that device every day when they're watching a television show.

Given those figures, it might not be surprising to learn that just 12 percent … Read more

As with prior versions of OS X, the recovery option in Lion is a fairly stripped-down version of the OS that has a few tools for managing your system. This allows the recovery tools to load quickly and be available, but in its simplicity Apple's recovery system has been a bit cumbersome in that it will by default only run one recovery tool at a time.

For instance, if you boot to the Lion Recovery HD partition and then launch Disk Utility, the installer will quit and only Disk Utility will run. Additionally, Lion's recovery partition now contains … Read more

When Apple first released iOS 4.3 to developers, they were let in on a secret feature hidden in the OS, specifically designed for the iPad. Developers now had the capability to enable multitasking gestures, which all but eliminate the need for the home button on the iPad. Apple eventually released iOS 4.3 with the hidden feature still available to developers. The good news is you don't have to be a developer to enable this secret feature, we are going to show you how to enable this feature for yourself, for free!… Read more

I had been looking forward to multitasking on the iPad for a long, long time.

Back when iOS 4 was first detailed, the potential for iPad users was clear. However, while iPhone and iPod Touch owners got to flaunt multitasking, the delay until the final release of iOS 4.2 on the iPad was agonizing. Now the day has come and gone, and for an iPad owner such as myself, the rewards of the iOS update have been somewhat worth the wait.

Having folders to organize the endless grids of apps is a long overdue welcome addition. Background streaming of Internet radio on an iPad is a great add for anyone, and I've found it great for simultaneous radio news and newspaper browsing. AirPlay is intriguing, although you'd need an Apple TV to take advantage of its potential. Threaded, unified mail inboxes are, needless to say, time-saving.

And yet, there's a lot I wish the iPad version of iOS still had.

For one, the whole OS feels entirely too similar to the iPhone edition. The multitasking bar, folder system, and functionality are nearly identical. Most features translate well, but for anyone hoping an iPad can transform into something a little more like a computer, most of these features don't cut it.

My wish list from months ago has only been halfway met. Here's what I'd like to see...in iOS 5.… Read more

Apple is launching iOS 4.2 today.

The company announced that its latest operating system update for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users will be available today, though the software was not yet available for download at 7:00 a.m. PT on Apple's site or directly through iTunes. MacStories and MacWorld are reporting that iOS 4.2 will debut by 10:00 a.m. PT.

The eagerly awaited update will bring to the iPad new features that already hit the iPhone and iPod Touch through last summer's iOS 4.0 release.

iPad users will now be able … Read more

When Apple released the iOS 4 update, people noted significantly lower battery life on a number of iOS devices. In troubleshooting the problem, it became apparent that Wi-Fi usage was in large responsible for draining the battery, and initially the recommendations were to disable Wi-Fi features.

Recently we wrote another article outlining a possible issue with incompatible router firmware that could lead to similar Wi-Fi problems, but in addition you may find the device losing battery power if you have run multiple applications before putting the device to sleep.

MacFixIt reader R.T. Taylor wrote in to us about the … Read more

A longtime Silicon Valley company says it can turn Apple's iPad into an X terminal, allowing it to run Linux, do true multitasking, and even run Flash-based apps.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based StarNet Communications announced this week that it can transform the iPad into a an X terminal--generically referred to as a dumb terminal because the data processing is done on the server not the client--for Linux, Unix, mainframe, and supercomputers.

(See "Update" below for notes about the iPad's keyboard and initial browsing impressions.)

iLIVEx, available from the Apple App Store for $14.99, allows iPad users to connect to Unix and Linux desktops and applications hosted on remote Unix and Linux servers. StarNet makes bold speed claims too. "iLIVEx features an ultrathin data transfer protocol allowing for LAN-like performance, even over 3G connections," the company said.

And iLIVEx maintains a stable connection to the iPad, StarNet said. "Connections...run over securely encrypted SSH (Secure Shell) tunnels. Built-in session persistency allows users to reconnect to their remote desktops should the iPad get disconnected, turned off, or the user temporarily switches to another iPad app."

iLIVEx can also be used by non-Linux users, allowing them to run a remote desktop. When purchased, StarNet provides a free Linux desktop account on a StarNet-hosted Linux server. On their remote desktop users get "a number of capabilities not currently available on iPads,"… Read more

iPad owners: Are you feeling left out by all the iOS 4.1 love on the iPhone 4 and the new iPod Touch? Don't worry, you're being remembered. Unfortunately, you still won't get multitasking till November.

During Apple's music event, Steve Jobs gave a brief preview of iOS 4.2, the iOS update that will finally bring the iPad up to speed. In November, the update will finally bring the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad up to the same iOS version, and it will also bring Game Center to the iPad.

Other new features revealed were … Read more