FastAppSwitching
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MobileMe Gallery app goes universal in version 1.2
Apple's free MobileMe Gallery app was just updated, and the new version finally supports the iPad. Other changes have been made to finally bring the app up to speed with iOS 4 and the iPhone 4 -- there's now support for fast app switching, and the app is now optimized for the Retina Display on the iPhone 4. Previously, users needed a MobileMe subscription to view friends' galleries; now that restriction has been taken away for iPhone and iPad users. The app looks great on an iPad, and if you have any photos stored in MobileMe galleries, you'll want to get this update as soon as possible. Thanks to Michael K. for the tip!
Facebook for iPhone / iPod touch now iOS 4 compatible
We'll get right to the point: the Facebook app for your iPhone / iPod touch is now drinking the iOS 4 Kool-Aid. Fast app switching, high resolution icons (better than the one seen above, since that's pre-update), Korean / Russian localizations, and... that's about it for now. Maybe background image / video uploading is on the list of to-do's, but at least it won't look quite as pixel-deficient on the home screen next to Twitter. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Jobs: Use multitasking "as designed" and be happy
Old school Mac users like me were trained to quit apps that aren't in use. Finished with Explorer? Quit it. All done using Photoshop? Command-Q. This habit came from a time when computers shipped with less RAM than the iPhone 4, and is very hard to break. Of course, your iPhone isn't running all those apps at once. When you double-click the Home button, you get a list of recently-used apps; they aren't all "running" in the Mac OS X sense. As MacDailyNews explains, some are in "suspended animation," much like Han Solo encased in carbonite. He's not dead, but he's not doing a whole heck of a lot, either. You'll find an excellent explanation of what's going on at TidBITS. Conversely, Steve Jobs offered a customer a very brief explanation via email. "People shouldn't have to understand multitasking. Just use is [sic] as designed, and you'll be happy. No need to ever quit apps." In other words, the best option is not to think about it at all. iOS 4 knows what's its doing, so just leave it to its business.
