iOS 5: 12 things Apple needs to fix

While flawed, AirPlay and AirPrint in iOS 4.2 showed Apple continues to innovate regarding features for its mobile operating system.

However, with competing mobile systems rapidly evolving, Apple can't afford to sit still.

And while it's great to see big new features arrive, there are plenty of other things we dearly hope Apple sees fit to fix for iOS 5. Here are the 12 fixes we most want to see…

1. Wireless sync

They might be mobile, but iOS devices need wires to connect them to a computer whenever you want to sync newly bought apps and other media. An over-the-air option would be useful. Also, Apple encourages consumers to buy multiple devices, but cross-device data sync (for apps and games) is almost non-existent.

2. Notifications system

The current iOS notifications system is intrusive and sub-optimal. Something more akin to the call bar would be more suitable for notifications, and Apple should take a cue from Boxcar and provide a single location for exploring recent notifications.

3. Configurable lock screen

Most of the competition is making a big deal about the immediacy of information, and yet the iOS lock screen is a configurable photo, the time and the date. A few optional extras - new emails, social network notifications, missed calls, even the weather forecast - would make all the difference.

4. Single-app back-up

Games for iOS are growing, and device capacity isn't keeping pace. If you suddenly need the space your latest 1GB blockbusters are hogging, you must delete them and their data. Apple should provide the means to optionally reinstate data when you reinstall an app - at least when doing so from iTunes.

5. Better folders

Folders are fine, but they're limited and fiddly. Since Apple's happy with you scrolling panes in apps, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to store more apps in a folder, scrolling them vertically as necessary.

6. More multitasking options

The multitasking bar and the few widgets accessible when you swipe it are handy, but we'd like more options: quick access to a brightness slider on iPad; single-tap toggle of airplane mode on all devices; and a 'quit all' option for running processes. Some kind of quick app-switching gesture would also be lovely (much like the one now confirmed removed from iOS 4.3, in fact).

MORE OPTIONS: The multitasking bar is useful, but it could offer power users fast access to far more settings

7. Superior data sharing

There's something to be said for sandboxing apps (in it enhancing stability), but developers increasingly grumble that isolation stops data being easily shared, meaning small, focussed apps often balloon to deal with this shortcoming. Apple in part addressed this by enabling some apps to open certain file formats in specific other apps, but this is currently limited and limiting.

8. Installed apps list

Everything was simple when you had 20 apps, but now you've hundreds installed, you forget what you've got available. We'd like to see an additional swipe past Spotlight that presents an alphabetical list of apps that can be filtered by typing characters (as opposed to a list gradually being populated as you type, which is only useful if you know what you're looking for).

9. Default apps toggle

Sure, you can dump Apple's default apps into a folder, but you shouldn't have to. We get why Apple won't let you delete default apps (otherwise there'd be people freaking out when they 'lost' Safari), but power users should be able to at least hide them via options in the Settings app.

HIDE AWAY: You can bung default apps in a folder, but you should be able to hide them entirely

10. Editable dictionary and auto-correct

To be fair, the iOS auto-correct is pretty smart and it's good for assisting typing on a virtual keyboard, but as blog Damn You, Auto Correct shows, it regularly messes up. If Apple enabled you to edit the dictionary and set custom auto-corrects, these problems would disappear.

11. App Store multitasking

Apple wants you to buy apps, but, seemingly, only one at a time - and slowly. We're not sure why the App Store kicks you out to a home screen every time you download something, but we wish it wouldn't.

12. Guest mode

We'll never see multiple user accounts on iOS devices. However, we hope Apple will soon provide some kind of 'guest' mode, so someone can mess about with a device without wrecking your settings (although the recently added restrictions options in the Settings app are a decent start).