New iOS keeps iPad fresh and new

MORE APPS IN ONE SCREEN: iOS 4.2.1 brings with it the ability to create folders on the iPad, and store up to twenty apps per folder.

The iPad gets its biggest update yet with more than 100 features introduced. We highlight the major ones.

Apple has finally released iOS 4.2.1 for the iPad, bringing the operating system in line with the OS on the iPhone 4.

While the iPhone users have already had iOS 4.1 on their devices for some time, which comes with multitasking and Game Centre, iPad owners have had to live with iOS 3.2 which has none of these features.

So, while iPhone users probably won't see many new features by updating their phones to the latest operating system, iPad users will have a lot to enjoy.

We take a look at some of the more interesting features from the more than 100 new ones and bug fixes that Apple has added into the new operating system.

Multitasking

The most major change for iPad users has got to be mulittasking and now iPad users can run certain application services in the background.

MULTITASKING: Double-click the Home button on the iPad to bring up a list of applications that you can switch between. Some applications will be able to run certain services in the background, such as downloads, or game save states or audio streaming

For example, a clock radio application will still stream audio when you're browsing the Net withSafari, an in-app download will continue even when you're not in the application and games will start exactly where you left off.

Switching between applications on the iPad is done the same way as on the iPhone - a double-click of the Home button opens up a small side-scrolling menu showing your open applications.

Quick settings menu

Accessing the multitasking menu and scrolling all the way to the left also allows quick access to a number of often-used settings, namely brightness, volume and iPod playback controls.

QUICK SETTINGS: Scroll all the way to the left in the multitasking menu and you'll have access to brightness, volume, playback and rotation lock settings

Also housed in this menu is a rotation lock control to lock your screen orientation in either landscape or portrait.

In fact, by moving the screen rotation control to the multitasking menu, Apple has also changed the hardware slider switch on the side of the iPad which was used to lock orientation to a volume mute switch. There is no option in the settings to change the slider switch back to an orientation lock, so like it or not, users will just have to get used to locking orientation by going into the multitasking menu.

Folders

Another major feature which iOS 4.2.1 brings to the iPad is folders. Like on the iPhone, you can now group applications together into a single folder and are not limited to the twenty-applications-per-screen limit.

To create a folder, simply touch and hold on an app for about two seconds until the icon wobbles, then drag the app on top of another app to put them together in a folder.

You can store as many as 20 apps in a single folder and can name each folder anything you want, although the iPad intelligently names the folder according to the types of apps you put in.

Unified, threaded e-mail box

Users who manage multiple e-mail accounts (like this writer) will be happy to know that iOS 4.2.1 brings with it a unified inbox in which you can see e-mail messages from all your accounts.

UNIFIED INBOX: Users can now check out e-mail messages from various accounts in one single inbox. Messages are also threaded, with e-mail messages having the same heading grouped together.

With the unified inbox, users no longer have to switch between e-mail accounts to check their incoming messages.

If you like to see a separate view of your various e-mail accounts, you can still organise it that way.

Along with the unified inbox, iOS 4.2.1 introduces threaded e-mail, where e-mail messages with the same subject line are grouped together for a cleaner inbox and easier reading.

Game Center

Game Center is a new application that comes with the operating system and is meant to bring gamers on the system together.

GET YOUR GAME ON: Game Center comes to the iPad, a central location to see apps you're playing and your friends are playing.

Much like Xbox Live on the Xbox 360 console, Game Center is meant as a central location where you can connect with other gamers, see what games they are playing and compete by earning achievements.

Game Center is a nice idea, although the number of supported games are not as extensive as one would like.

AirPrint

New in iOS 4.2.1 is AirPrint, which ostensibly allows a user to wirelessly print documents, webpages and photos directly from the iPad.

WIRELESS PRINTING: The AirPrint icon can be accessed in most applications that you would print from. However, limited printer support means that this feature isn't as useful as it could be.

In use, however, AirPrint isn't so useful because the feature only works on printers connected to your local network and supported by AirPrint, which isn't that extensive at the moment.

We tried to print from the iPad to the network printer at the office but did not manage to find the non-supported printer at all.

AirPlay

On paper, AirPlay promises seamless streaming from the iPad to other entertainment devices, like a HDTV connected to your home network.

This means that you can watch movies and listen to music resident on the iPad, and then, when you're in front of your HDTV, to switch from the iPad to the HDTV and seamlessly watch or listen exactly where you left off.

In practice, however, the feature is a bit more limited than that. AirPlay only allows streaming of video from the iPad to devices connected to the Apple TV or music to a sound system connected to the AirPort Express.

So unless you own the Apple TV or an AirPort Express, you won't be able to enjoy this feature.

Safari tweaks

There are a number of tweaks that have been added to Safari, from small ones to a few major ones.

FIND ON PAGE: Entering a search term in Safari's Search bar now allows you to search for words within a currently open Web page.

An interesting and certainly welcome feature for the power user is a "search on this page" function which allows you to search for words on the current webpage.

This function is found in the search bar in the browser - typing a search query will now open a drop-down menu, giving you the option to search in Google or to search words within the webpage itself.

Another tweak to Safari is the "open new page" icon, which now has a number overlaid on top representing the number of pages you have open in the background.

New App Store Review Guidelines

Apple says it will publish the guidelines it uses to determine which programs can be sold in its App Store.

"We have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We don't need any more Fart apps," announced Apple in its newly implemented App Store Review Guidelines for developers.

Apple's vague and mostly undocumented mobile application review process for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad apps has been a subject of much controversy since the company opened up the store to outside developers more than two years ago.

The new (and much-needed) guidelines - the first publicly published documentation on Apple's App Store approval process - clearly explains why some applications don't make the cut.

The new guidelines will also help to appease the growing animosity felt by many iOS developers.

The guidelines became available to developers registered in Apple's iOS developer programme on Sept 9 and detail many significant changes.

"We are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps," said Apple in a Sept 9 statement.

"This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need."

"The existence of this document is a very welcome change," writes influential blogger John Gruber on his Daring Fireball blog, "and it goes a long way to answering much of the criticism regarding prior controversial App Store rejections, by putting in writing the rules that are actually used by the reviewers."

The changes are not just significant for app creators.

With a more open and defined app submission process, the developers who have previously scorned Apple's arbitrary app approval may return to the system, ultimately resulting in additional and (more importantly) higher quality apps for consumers.

IT security hole exposes iPad users' e-mail addresses

BREAK IN: AT&T Inc has acknowledged a security weakness that exposed the e-mail addresses of apparently more than 100,000 iPad users in the United States. - AP

SAN FRANCISCO: AT&T Inc has acknowledged a security weak spot that exposed the e-mail addresses of apparently more than 100,000 users of the Apple iPad in the United States.

The breach could make those people vulnerable to precision-targeted hacking attacks.

The vulnerability, which AT&T said it has fixed, affected only iPad users who signed up for AT&T's "3G" wireless Internet service.

It involved an insecure way that AT&T's website would prompt iPad users when they tried to log into their AT&T accounts.

The hacker group that claims to have discovered the weakness - the group calls itself Goatse Security - said it was able to trick AT&T's site into coughing up more than 114,000 e-mail addresses, including those apparently of famous media personalities and important government officials. - AP

non-apple die hard fans listed 8 suck things about iPad

Photo Taken From Gizmodo

Published from gizmodo blog, probably influenced by Microsoft fans, they've listed 8 suck things about apple iPad. They knew that, iPad will known as Mac Netbook and probably can win in the netbook battle.

Big, Ugly Bezel

Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It's huge! I know you don't want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.

No Multitasking

This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can't listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can't have my Twitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can't have AIM open at the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guarantees that I will not buy this product.

No Cameras

No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either? Why the hell not? I can't imagine what the downside was for including at least one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?

Touch Keyboard

So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs; this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we've seen on other tablets, and unless you're lying on the couch with your knees propping it up, it'll be awkward to use.

No HDMI Out

Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on your TV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you'd just buy an AppleTV already.

The Name iPad

Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of 'em!.... pad normally know for women pad.

No Flash

No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch. On something that's supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? It will leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don't care about streaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait, nevermind, they all do.

Adapters, Adapters, Adapters

So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god's sake.

It's Not Widescreen

Widescreen movies look lousy on this thing thanks to its 4:3 screen, according to Blam, who checked out some of Star Trek on one. It's like owning a 4:3 TV all over again!

Doesn't Support T-Mobile 3G

Sure, it's "unlocked." But it won't work on T-Mobile, and it uses microSIMs that literally no one else uses.

A Closed App Ecosystem

The iPad only runs apps from the App Store. The same App Store that is notorious for banning apps for no real reason, such as Google Voice. Sure, netbooks might not have touchscreens, but you can install whatever software you'd like on them. Want to run a different browser on your iPad? Too bad!

Apple iPad Review

Apple - iPad - The best way to experience the web, email, & photos

All of the built-in apps on iPad were designed from the ground up to take advantage of the large Multi-Touch screen. And they work in any orientation. So you can do things with these that apps you can’t do on any other device.

Price ? currently they set USD 499. I don’t know how much it will cost in RM. No price release yet by Low Yatt trader.

Double thumbs up ! i give to this gadget. Now… you can just ignore other brand from Samsung, HTC, LG, Blackberry… all windows mobile based gadget are rubish… symbian based too. Mac OS known as the mother of operating system. The most stable and the most powerful.

What I can conclude.. iPad is something like.. netbook in the pocket. Not a normal netbook… but a Mac Netbook in your pocket.

More info: apple.com