News: GoodReader for iPad adds Data Protection support

Good.iWare has released an update to GoodReader for iPad adding support for encrypting files stored within the app using the Data Protection features in iOS 4. With the latest version, users can now easily designate which files and folders they wish to have secured and the underlying operating system will automatically encrypt those files whenever the device is locked with a passcode. By integrating with the iOS Data Protection features, GoodReader is able to leverage hardware level encryption built into modern iOS devices making the process fast and transparent for end users while ensuring that sensitive files are protected in the event a device is lost or stolen. The update also adds support for “flattening” PDF annotations, embedding them in the main PDF body for reading in PDF viewers that do not provide annotation support and protecting them from further modification. Additional new features include symbolic PDF page label support, AirPlay video playback and several improvements related to connecting and synchronizing with remote servers. GoodReader for iPad 3.6 is available from the App Store for $5.

Update (04/19/2011): An update to GoodReader for iPhone is also now available adding the Data Protection and other new features to the iPhone version.  Data Protection requires an iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS or third- or fourth-generation iPod touch running iOS 4 or later.

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Sonos music systems now support AirPlay, but there's a catch

Filed under: Music, iOS

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Apr 19th 2011 at 9:00AM

Sonos, creator of a well-reviewed, multi-room, wireless music system, has updated its software to support Apple's AirPlay. It means a Sonos music system owner can wirelessly send music from an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to any room that has a Sonos Zone Player. The catch is that you have to buy a US$99 AirPort Express to plug into one of the Zone Players to get it working.

It's understandable that Sonos has to do this. AirPlay support is a hardware and software solution, and Sonos is not building AirPlay hardware into its Zone Players. I'm not sure this will be a big deal to many Sonos owners. The company already provides a wireless dock with iPhone support that allows the phone to stream to any Sonos device. That dock needs to be plugged into AC power, but the connection into the Sonos system is wireless.

The Sonos software update also includes support for multitasking for its iPad and iPhone app. That means it will run in the background and not force a relaunch, which will speed up operation of the system from any iDevice. Those updates are available on the App Store for free. The Sonos system has become very popular over the years, and feature updates have included even the earliest devices the company has made. Supporting AirPlay is a nice addition to the feature roster, and for those who already have an AirPort Express to dedicate to this task, it will be welcome.