iOS 4

We heard earlier that iPhones and iPads are silently and consistently tracking our locations, and logging the info when we perform syncs or backups. While this fact may be kind of scary on its own, the worst part is that the data is totally unencrypted and available to anyone who gets their hands on your devices or backup folders on your laptop. As of now, there's no way to stop your iOS 4-running devices from logging this data, but you can keep it on lockdown with a simple click.

Want to know how to keep this data private? Just keep reading.

The new iPad 2 will be stocked with the latest version of iOS, iOS 4.3, which will come with some great new features and updates. Of course, with the addition of the forward-facing camera, you'll get to use some of the fun photo apps already coming in Macs, like PhotoBooth and FaceTime. Check out all the iOS 4.3 features and enhancements below.

• Increased Safari performance
• iTunes home sharing
• AirPlay improvements, including audio and video streaming from apps
• Preference for iPad switch (mute or rotation lock)
• PhotoBooth for iPad
• FaceTime

iOS 4.3 will come as a free download on March 11 and support all iPads, iPhone 4 and 3GS, as well as third- and fourth-gen iPod Touch.

Remember all of the issues that the iPhone 3G suffered after users updated to iOS 4.0? Phones became incredibly slow and buggy, and in some cases unusable. And, since it's not possible to downgrade your OS (at least, not in a way Apple recognizes), 3G users were stuck with slow and difficult-to-use phones. Now a new lawsuit alleges that Apple knew updating an iPhone 3G would cause problems.

The San Diego woman who filed the suit is hoping to have it elevated to class action status, which would mean that a large number of plaintiffs (i.e. all 3G users who updated to iOS 4) are eligible to potentially benefit from the case.

Find out more about the lawsuit after the break.

Start your engines — the latest iOS 4.1 iPhone and iPod Touch update is ready to download on your iPhone and iPod Touch! What's the big deal, you ask? Well, not only does this version of iOS 4 include lots of bug fixes — namely proximity sensor issues and better compatibility with the iPhone 3G — but it also includes a handful of new features. Find out what they are when you read more.

If you've set your Apple updates to "automatic," you may have already seen the iTunes 9.2.1 update pop up on your screens. If not, now's the time to check for it — not only does it fix some outstanding bugs, but it also helps out new iPhone 4 owners with their syncing abilities. What's new in 9.2.1? Check it out below!

• Speedy sync support for iPhone 4
• Fixes some sync problems we saw with 9.2 — like blurry photos and missing music and podcasts
• Increased stability and performance with iBooks
• Addresses issues with upgrading your iOS 4 iPhones and iPod Touches that have encrypted backups
• Fixes issues you may have been seeing when dragging-and-dropping items

But that's not all — see what updates have come to the iBooks app after the break.

There's been a steady stream of complaints coming in about the new iPhone 4 — from reception problems to them catching on fire — so it's no surprise that Apple may have a class action law suit on its hands.

However, if you're a die-hard iPhone Apple Fangirl (or Fanboy!) who doesn't mind a few roadblocks, here are some quick tips and tricks to get your iPhone 4, and iOS 4 handset in working order.

• Fix blurry photos — Upgrade your 3G or 3GS only to find that all of your pics are funky and blurry? There's a fix for that.
• Stop holding it like that! — It's software-related, it's not software-related. Either way, Apple says you're better off getting a case for your iPhone 4 to improve reception and prevent dropped calls.

See the last few tips after the break.

Sometimes you stumble upon something great on the Internet. Other times, your friends send you a link that makes your day. Take for example this Pac-Man wallpaper sent by a pal that fits your iOS 4 iPhone or iPhone 4.

The wallpaper surrounds your folders and app icons with dots and Pac-Man ghosts to show off your love for retro gaming (get the full image from this Japanese website). Need to know how to set a background wallpaper? Check out my complete iOS 4 guide. Of course, this wallpaper is awesome, but I do wish it was animated a la the Google Pac-Man birthday Doodle (or, ahem, an Android device). Maybe my dreams will become reality with the iPhone 5.

With thousands upon thousands of apps available in the Apple App Store, there's more than enough to choose from, and way more than your iPhone, iPod, or iPad can handle. However, with the recent update to iOS 4, there are just a handful that have been optimized for fast app switching and multitasking, and even some that have added new features to go along with the new OS. Out of all the iOS 4-optimized apps we've come across, here are some of my faves, and some essentials.

• Twitter (Free) — The official Twitter app allows fast app switching, and even sends tweets when you've switched out of the app, including photos and video.
• I Am T-Pain ($1) — Now, in iOS 4, you can share your recordings with friends on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or email, and also record video when used for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4!
• Pandora (Free) — Play your tunes in the background!

To see the rest of the list, just keep reading.

Were you one of the many dedicated fans that got a new iPhone yesterday? Even if you didn't, you can still enjoy some of its new features with a quick upgrade to iOS 4! There was a lot of info to process, so if you missed any of my iPhone 4 and iOS 4 coverage, just click on the thumbnails below and catch up!

iPhone 4 Hands-On	iOS 4 Beginners Guide	iOS 4's New Features
Why You Need an iPhone 4	Why You Don't Need an iPhone 4	Issues Occurring in New iPhones
Fix Blurry Photos in iOS 4	Take Your Pick of iPhone 4 Cases	Make Money Off of Your Old iPhones