Apple is clearly cracking the productivity whip in their iOS team offices and have wasted no time at all in producing and pushing out an update to their mobile operating system, taking the latest version to 5.1.1. While the latest release might offer some additional features, standard bug fixes and security patches, it also serves to keep the jailbreak development teams on their toes by forcing them to push an update where appropriate for their tools.
In March, Apple introduce the gadget loving world to the new and improved, next-generation iPad complete with a high-resolution Retina display and pre-installed with iOS 5.1. Straight after the media event, compatible devices all over the world started receiving notifications that an OTA iOS update was available, allowing iPhone, iPod touch and iPad owners to update their software and benefit from the minimal enhancements that iOS 5.1 brought.
With its thick veil of secrecy and unique approach to every product it creates, the fascination surrounding Apple is unmatched in the consumer electronics industry, and whether it's the latest iPhone or the memoirs of the late Steve Jobs, a large amount of interest always encircles the Cupertino company.
iOS isn't short of a decent task-managing app, and as an individual with something of an affinity to a good time-saving, organizational offering, I found myself drawn somewhat to Due, a relatively well-established app which - along with a long list of testimonials, prides itself on simplicity.
The endless possibilities created when that Cydia icon first appears on the iOS home screen should never be underestimated, and it's thanks to the likes of Redsn0w - the popular jailbreak tool released by the iPhone-Dev Team - that users can truly test the resolve of their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch devices.
The innovation, dedication and commitment to user experience of the jailbreak development community never ceases to amaze us. It was only yesterday when a concept video did the rounds which showed a more user friendly method of highlighting, selecting and editing text on the iPad. In a community where time seems to stand still when developers are pushing out tweaks, a quick thinking coder has pushed out his SwipeSelection tweak to Cydia that mimics the exact functionality that was shown in the concept video.
There's definitely a perverse pleasure in seeing expensive, pristine gadgets being blown up, shot at, and generally defaced for no reason other than pure entertainment.
Often, if you try and bring up the subject of jailbreaking to the uninitiated, you'll find yourself abruptly rebuffed, usually accompanied by predictable comments such as "it can mess up your device," "it voids your warranty," or, my personal favorite, "it's not legal."
With the Worldwide Developers Conference set to be held in San Francisco next month, the attending developers along with Apple device loving consumers will be keeping their eyes and ears firmly fixed on Moscone Center to see what innovations and updates the company will showcase.
According to one analyst, a mobile payment service - likely incorporating NFC technology - is in the offing from Apple, and will be implemented into both the iPad and iPhone in the not-so-distant future.
