Key Highlights:

• Battery Fix for iPhone 4s.
• You can delete photos from Photo Streams
• The Lock Screen has camera shortcuts
• Face Detection – camera face detection now highlights all detected faces.
• Fixes and issue that occasionally caused audio to drop for outgoing calls.

Before You Begin:
1. We suggest you back up your iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch through iTunes.
2. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes which at the time of this writing is version 10.5. Apple requires you to have the most recent iTunes version. You can update iTunes clicking “Check for Updates” or by downloading iTunes from Apple.com.

For Windows 32-bit users, the direct download link is here.
Windows 64-bit users can download 64-bit iTunes here.

3.  If you are having trouble downloading and installing the operating system on your iPad through iTunes, this may be caused by your computer’s anti-virus or firewall software. Disable your anti-virus and firewall software, and restart iTunes before trying to update your iPad again. You will have to download the update file again, or you can follow the Manual Update Instructions below.

Manual Update Instructions
1)      Download the iOS IPSW file for your iPad or iPhone version.  The download links from Apple.com are given below.
2)      Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPad/iPhone using the USB cable.
3)      Depending on whether you run Windows or have a MAC, follow

• Mac – Hold the Option key and then click on the “Check for Update/Update” button.

• Windows PC – Hold the Shift key and then click on the “Check for Update/Update” button.

4)      A Dialog screen will appear prompting you for the location of the IPSW file you downloaded. Find the file in the file browser and select the IPSW file.
5)      iTunes will now use the iPSW file and update your iPad/iPhone to the new iOS version. This will take approximately 10 minutes.

iOS 5.1 IPSW Direct Download Links from Apple.com:

iPad 3, WIFI Only.  Download Here.
iPad 3, GSM (AT&T). Download Here.
iPad 3, CDMA (Verizon). Download Here.
iPad 2, WIFI Only.  Download Here.
iPad 2, GSM (AT&T). Download Here.
iPad 2, CDMA (Verizon). Download Here.
iPad 1 (1st Generation). Download  Here.
iPhone 4S. Download Here.
iPhone 4, GSM (AT&T). Download Here.
iPhone 4, CDMA (Verizon) Download Here.
iPhone 3GS Download Here.
iPod Touch 3G.  Download Here.
iPod Touch 4G.  Download Here.

Apple TV 2: iOS 5.1 for Apple TV 2 is currently in beta testing. We will update links once the final release candidate is updated.

But enough about that, let’s talk about how great of a game it is. The Tap Zoo game by Pocket Gems, Inc. sets you on an island where you start out with one animal. Your goal is to make a unique and profitable zoo by collecting different types of animals each of which provide you with coins every couple minutes, hours, days depending on the animal. While you try increase you worth as a zoo, you are given missions and adventures which reward you with achievements, experience points and more coins. Tap Zoo allows you to gain experience points, level up, and buy many types of items including decorations, trees, shops, animals, land, rangers, etc.

You zoo can be organized in any way and hold many animals. Your island can increase by buying more land with coins you earn from the animals. Tap Zoo allows you to have up to 4 of the same animal meaning you can have 4 monkeys, 4 lions, 4 snakes, etc. While maintaining your zoo and taking care of your animals, you will eventually notice that the zoo can get dirty with food and trash on the ground. By tapping on them, you can clean it up and make some extra buck while you are at it.

The game allows you to buy more animals with coins, stars, or cross breed to make new ones.  Overall, you can see your rating by letter grades ranging all the way to A+. To increase and maintain your grade, you can look at a detailed breakdown of what areas contain low or high grades. Be sure to invite your friends because Tap Zoo has a social feature which allows you to visit other zoos and heal their sick animals for coins. We find it great for scoping out the competition and get inspiring ideas on how to decorate and organize your fam.

In-app purchasing in the game means that you can buy items to use in the game for real money. So keep that in mind if you want to advance through the game quickly, get certain animals or increase your land. Stars can only be obtained through in-app purchasing. There also seems to be hundreds of animals with more coming with every update and the one thing that is enjoyable with this game is that it can be played on any device whether iPad, iPhone, or Android. Since it is connected to the server, you need internet connected either wifi or 3G, 4G speeds to play, but you can switch between different devices to maintain your Zoo and play this game anywhere you go. You can even save, load, and transfer the game to a new device so the worry of losing data or starting over is no more.

This app comes available for all iOS platforms (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) and all Android devices.

You can download the game in both app stores here: Android app store  and iTunes app store

Method 1: Searching for events in the iPad Home Screen:
1) Press the home button to get to the home screen
2) Swipe left to enter the search screen
3) Search for the event name or details to the event. The search bar in the home screen can search the iPad’s built-in apps including Calendar, Mail, Music, Video, Notes, Contacts, etc.

Method 2: Searching for events in the Calendars app on the iPad:
1) Locate the search bar in Calendar located at the top right.
2) Enter the event details or event name to search.
3) A drop down will appear.

These methods also work for iTouch, iPhone, and other iPads.

Other Text Message apps you can try:

Color Text Messages (99 Cents)

Color Texting

Pimp My Text

The Battery Boost Magic App is a useful app to help users diagnose and track their battery usage, helping you understand and enact better usage practices to extend your iOS device’s battery life. It is not a magical tool that will make your iPhone or iPad use less battery performing tasks, or make your screen miraculously more efficient. For conscientious users who already close down unwanted apps, watch background data syncing religiously, and reduce their screen brightness; this app will not help much, if at all. However, at 99 cents, users who previously did not systematically manage their iPad or iPhone, will find this app does help extend your iOS devices battery life.

Perhaps the most useful tool Battery Boost Magic App provides is the battery meter which gives readings at 1% increments and tracks the battery drain for your apps and hardware features. For example, you will know what percentage of the battery your screen or Wi-Fi receiver uses, and which app drains the most battery. Other measurements you fill useful in analyzing your battery drain is 3G talk time, 2G talk time, Wifi Internet web browsing, audio listening, and GPS consumption. This is not a comprehensive list as the app measures over 10 other device usage measurements. This is by far the most important tool to improve your battery life as you can now take steps to improve your device usage.
Other features you might find useful is the battery charge management system. Battery Boost Magic manages your charging cycle allowing you to charge to 100%, trickle charge, or top-off charge. However, if you want to extend your battery life cycle; that is, the number of times you can charge and discharge your battery before it degrading, we do not recommend using the top-off charge.  To extend your iPad’s battery life, and that of any device that uses lithium-polymer batteries, you should minimize how often your system is charged to 100%. This is why many other mobile systems such as Android, stop your battery from charging when its hits 90%, and rarely allows you to charge up to 100%.

One last feature we found helpful to novice battery managers is the collection of Battery tips with visual illustrations. Again, current battery wizards will find these tips common sense, but if you are new to the art of battery life extension it is well worth the 99 cent app cost.

You can download the app here or search for it in the app store:

Battery Boost Magic App

The benefits of Apple’s Remote app are you can choose any playlist, song, or album like you were sitting in front of iTunes or your Apple TV. Remote allows you to control every aspect of the Apple TV and iTunes interface including sound volume. The app provides a QWERTY keyboard to search for titles and has quick action finger controls to play, forward, rewind, etc.  Additionally you can manage and create playlists as well as update your Genius playlists. Remote also allows you to send music to AirPlay speakers through iTunes.

How to setup the Remote App

Before we begin, make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes. Remote requires at least iTunes version 10.1 to work. Download the remote app clicking here or search for it on your iOS device’s app store.

Pairing the Remote App with iTunes

1. Launch iTunes on your computer.
2. Turn on Home Sharing in iTunes by clicking “Advanced,” then click on “Turn on Home Sharing.”
3. Connect your iOS device such as your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network associated with the local network your computer is connected to.
4. Launch the remote app on your iOS Device.
5. On the Remote Setting screen, turn on “Home Sharing.” You must sign onto the same Home Sharing account you signed in from iTunes on your computer.

Pairing the Remote App with Apple TV (2^nd Generation or Later)

1. Connect your iOS device such as your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network associated with the local network your Apple TV is connected to.
2. On your Apple TV, choose “Settings” from the main menu.
3. Select “General”
4. Selected “Remote”
5. Select “Remote App”
6. Enable your Home Sharing account.
7. Open the Remote app on your iOS device.
8. Select Apple TV from the Remote app “Settings” screen.

You should now be paired with your Apple TV. You can now browse and play iTunes’s libraries that are listed in the Computers section of your Apple TV.

Pairing 1^st Generation Apple TV

If you have a 1^st generation Apple TV or running an earlier version of iTunes, pairing with the Remote app must be used with a pin-based method

1. Connect your iOS device such as your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network associated with the local network your Apple TV is connected to.
2. Launch the Remote app on your iOS Device.
3. Tap “Add an iTunes Library.” You will find this on the Remote app’s setting screen. The app will display a 4 digit pass code.
4. Go to your Apple TV.
5. Select “Settings” from the main menu.
6. Select “General”
7. Select “Remotes”
8. Choose the name of your iOS Device on your Apple TV.
9. Enter on your Apple TV the 4 digit pass code from your iOS Device’s Remote App. You can use the volume up/down key on the infrared Apple Remote (The physical remote) to change the numbers. To switch from digit placement use the track next/back keys on the physical remote.
10. Choose “Done.”

To enable Music Sharing, follow these steps.
1)      Launch iTunes on your computer
2)      We need to open the iTunes preferences. If you have a Mac choose iTunes, then click on “Preferences.” If you have a Windows PC, click on the “Edit” menu, and then click on “Preferences.
3)      Click the “Sharing” Tab.
4)      Click on the “Share my library on my local network” checkbox.
5)      Select whether you want to share your entire library or
6)      Add a password (optional) by clicking on “Require Password.”
7)      Cick OK.

Anyone on your home network should now be able to access your iTunes library. If you enabled a required password, only your iTunes name will appear.

What makes this 3D globe really cool is that you can see the earth as if you were sitting out in a spaceship, real time! The real life animation shows cloud cover and weather in parts of the earth where there is day light. This weather graphic is updated every 3 hours from satellite data. My favorite graphic provided by the 3D globe is the picture of the earth at night. The evening view shows a darkened globe with specks of light emanating from the surface.

Day View

Night View

Living Earth HD in my opinion is a showcase app, truly representing the power and simplicity of the iPad. With the app you can quickly scroll through a list of your favorite cities as well as have the app access your GPS or WIFI location services to find where you are currently. You can observe sunrise and sunset on all parts of the globe. The app provides current temperature and other weather data as well as forecasts for the coming week. For those who want to use this as an alarm or night stand, the Living Earth HD app has an auto-lock override feature. This keeps the display on while docked for a nightstand or desktop clock.

Alarm Clock View

The built in Alarm Clock is fully functioning with different alarm rings and even a snooze button. You truly do not need to purchase another alarm clock app.  For the music aficionados the app allows you to play music as an Alarm ring.  The Living Earth HD app integrates with your iPad or iPhone’s Music player allowing you to select any songs in your Music library.

Notes: The normal price for this app is $1.99, but at the time of this publish date, the developer is having a sale of just 99 Cents for Living Earth HD.

Get it at the app store with the links below:

Living Earth HD – World Clock and Weather

Weather View

Settings View

Portrait View

How to add an event on the iPad Calendar:

There are three ways to add an event on your calendar:

Method 1:Tap the plus icon (+) to add an event
1) Tap + located at the bottom right of the screen.
2) The “Add Event” menu will pop up.
3) ) Fill out your event information and tap “done”.

Method 2: Touch and hold an empty area of the calendar to add an event
1) Touch and hold an empty area of the calendar
2) Next, drag the two points to adjust the duration of the event
3) In the “Add Event” window, fill out your event information and tap “done”.

Method 3: Create a search in the home search menu.
1) In the home screen, swipe left to access the home screen search.
2) Type “event” or “new event”
3) “New Event” will pop up in the search dropdown menu. It should next to the Calendar app icon.
4) Once selected, a new event will be created with the time stamp.
5) Enter the “Edit” menu to create event information.

How to delete an event on the iPad Calendar:

To delete an event, you must go in the “Edit” menu to remove the event.
1) Tap on the event  you want to delete and select “Edit”
2) Scroll towards the bottom until you see a “Delete Event” button. The button is colored red.
3) Once selected, a second delete button will pop up for confirmation that you want the event removed.

How to update an event on the iPad Calendar:

Updating an event is similar to adding an event in the “Edit” screen
1) Tap on the event you would like to update.
2) Select “Edit” and select information to change
3) For adjusting time or duration of the event, you can adjust the two points on the calendar or change it manually in the Edit menu.

How to move/adjust events on the iPad Calendar:

Moving an event from one date or time to another is accomplished through dragging and dropping.
1) Start by selecting the event you want to move.
2) Touch and hold and you will see it pop out.
3) Drag to adjust your selected events to the desired position.

If you are looking to set up a Home Sharing network, you will need to have 1) Latest iTunes, 2) and Apple ID, and 3) a home Ethernet or Wi-Fi internet network.

If you have the requirements listed above, follow these steps to set up your Home Sharing Network:

1. Launch iTunes on your home computer
2. Click on the “Home Sharing” icon. You will find this on the left hand pane in iTunes under your list of Devices.
3. If you do not see the Home Sharing icon, you will have to activate it on iTunes. On your menu bar select “Advanced.” Then click on “Turn on Home Sharing”
4. This is not a necessary step, but if you want to avoid duplicate files change “All Items” to “Items not in my library” in the “Show” drop down menu.

Other Notes & Known Limitations:
• When you enable Home Sharing, the Home icon representing your computer disappears.
• Additionally, you fill find the Settings and Import button missing if you are trying to share music. Music Sharing operates differently and will be the subject of another article.
• Home Sharing will transfer the media file and the ID3 tag, but custom iTunes metadata such as ratings and play history are not transferred.
• Apple recommends you manually transfer files if your iTunes libraries have a lot of identical files.
• There is a Show Duplicates function in iTunes to help you eliminate duplicate faster.