iPhone Settings

Has your iOS device been running slower lately? There are a few simple things you can do to help speed things up and keep your iPhone or iPad running faster. Like any other computer, Apple's mobile devices require some periodic maintenance to keep everything optimal.

Over time iOS may slow down or even do some strange things, which could mean several different things. Before you rush to Apple or go through the trouble of a complete restore with iTunes, try these steps and see if your iPhone or iPad starts running more smoothly.

If you're one of the many iPhone users who has created home screen shortcuts for individual Settings on your device, you might want to skip the iOS 5.1 update. The first beta of iOS 5.1 has been seeded to developers, and the loophole that allowed this shortcut trick is now closed.

This is unfortunate for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S users (and some 3GS owners) who are waiting patiently for an untethered jailbreak solution for their devices. Shortcuts to individual settings on the iPhone home screen saves time and effort scrolling through several menus to change one item, such as turning on Airplane Mode or switching off Location Settings.

Now you can set up shortcuts to your favorite iPhone Settings right on your iOS home screen without jailbreaking. One tap of the right icon will bring you directly to the Settings item you want to change without any more navigating through multiple menus. The solution shown here is not only free, but it does not require jailbreaking.

To begin, you must have iOS 5 installed on your device. These shortcuts are actually Web Clips delivered to your iPhone in a MobileConfig file. Some of the toggles will change the desired setting immediately, while others are not true toggles, but immediately open the correct Settings page. Jailbreakers familiar with the tweak SBSettings have enjoyed this functionality for some time.

The non-profit Center for Internet Security (CIS) has released a free benchmark on iPhone security, currently the only document of its kind. The full benchmark is available on the CIS website and only requires a free registration for download.

The purpose of the benchmark is to educate iPhone users and network administrators on the best ways to protect sensitive data on the device. The document provides over 20 recommendations and instructions regarding iPhone OS settings, Safari and iPhone Configuration Utility settings, strong password creation, and secure data destruction.