Got multiple keyboards on your iOS device and need to switch through them quickly, but efficiently? No worry about that. Read on below after the break for our how to guide.

1. To cycle through your multiple language keyboards, make sure the keyboard is open.
2. Press and hold the World icon (as seen in the picture below).
   
3. After a second or so, a pop up should appear with the list of keyboards you have enabled and you can quickly change to and from them (see the picture below).
   
4. Enjoy!

Looking for an alternative to Airplay speakers or Apple TV but have a PS3? No problem about that. Thanks to the folks at Bianor, they have developed an app, iMediaShare, that allows you to stream media to your PS3 without any jailbreak needed.

1. Download iMediaShare from the App Store (note: start with the free version, it works okay) and launch it.
2. Make sure your PS3 is on (if not, turn it on) and make sure your iOS device and the PS3 are on the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Your iOS device should now pop up on your PS3 under the ‘Music‘, ‘Video‘ and ‘Photo Gallery‘ tabs.
   • You can now navigate through your content either from your PS3 or iMediaShare app.
4. Simply select what you’d like to stream and you’re all set to go.

Enjoy!

While most of us resolve to eat better, get to the gym, and drop a few pounds in the New Year, there are also plenty of people looking to make that love connection in 2012. But going to bars and clubs can be tedious, especially since they are more like meat markets than singles mingles. And using online dating services can be expensive and leave you locked to your computer monitor, waiting for a message when you could actually be out meeting someone new in person. Luckily, the iPad lets you kill two birds with one stone (so to speak). Thanks to some awesome dating apps you can meet your friends for a night of fun and flirting on the dance floor and still have instant access to messages from your dating service, meaning that the hottie that wants to meet you could come to the club post haste! And here are just a few of the best apps to get you back on the dating scene for an amorous 2012.

1. Dating DNA. This was the first dating app for the iPhone and according to users, it’s also the best. Now you can get it for free on the iPad, as well, and quickly find yourself interacting with singles in your area that meet your compatibility requirements. Plus, unlike many other apps that give you just a taste, this one offers the full app with no fees for upgrades, extras, or monthly dues down the line. Is there any easier way to meet others looking to be struck by Cupid’s arrow? Probably not.
2. SpeedDate. Let’s face it: most of us don’t have a lot of time to devote to finding the “right” person. And in truth, there are probably plenty of people you might find suitably compatible within your area. So if you want to sift through the options a bit faster to narrow down the list of candidates, this free app can definitely help. And you actually get virtual dates out of it by sending speed flirts. With over 17 million members worldwide and a filter that lets you search by region, you’re bound to meet somebody great in no time.
3. OkCupid. The description for this app claims that “dating has never been this fun, social, or free”, and considering that you can sit back and let the app match you up with compatible local singles, they could be right. Of course, you can also get proactive with uploads, status updates, and messaging. But if you opt to let the app do the work for you, then like the app says, all you have to do is not screw it up.
4. Flurv Flirting. Looking for the opportunity to meet people without the onus of actually having to date? Then this freebie with “no pressure flirting” is right up your alley. Known as “Facebook for Singles”, the service allows you to wink, message, and even chat. And if things go well, you can take it to the next level.
5. eHarmony. You’ve all seen the commercials, complete with uplifting music and testimonials from happy couples that met on this dating website. Well, now their services have gone mobile for the iPad. With 11 years of experience under their belts to recommend them, plus free sign up that includes a personality profile, communications (and communication events), and uploads from Facebook (all free), you really can’t go wrong. If you want to join the ranks of happily married couples (rather than end up in online marriage counseling) this could just be the app for you.

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this quest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

In this day and age of near-Orwellian connectivity, technology, and surveillance, you might begin to wonder just how safe you really are. Are your devices protected from prying eyes? And have you really done everything you can to secure your home against intrusion or robbery? If you’re curious to find out just how secure your networks, devices, and home really are, then here are just a few iPhone apps that can help you to find the holes and button them up.

1. Wyse PocketCloud. Some forms of security are necessarily virtual in this day and age, but just because this app protects your connection doesn’t mean it lacks real-world security value. If you’re worried about accessing your home of office computer remotely, this handy app can put your mind at ease via a secure cloud that can house everything you would normally store on your computer (from files and photos to Word and Outlook). So if you’re looking for a secure virtual desktop, this app delivers. Try it for free or get the Pro version for $14.99.
2. SplashID. These days it seems like it’s all too easy for hackers to gain access to your many online accounts and use them fraudulently. If you’d like to avoid this distressing scenario, think about downloading this app that helps you to create (and store) usernames and passwords that will stymie hackers. You can even store URLs so that anyone tracking your keystrokes will be unable to duplicate your destinations. At $9.99 it’s a bit pricy, but you’ll almost certainly get your money’s worth.
3. Snap. If you ever wondered how easy it would be for others to access your networks and devices, this app will probably scare the crap out of you for just a buck ninety-nine. It auto sweeps networks within range to deliver information about devices that are logged on, including servers, routers, phones, and so on, along with network names, IP addresses, and any other info it can garner. Although it may frighten you to see how many people have access to your network, the upside is that you can get an idea of the kind of security you need to install. Plus, it lets you access other open networks when you’re out.
4. Alarm.com. If you have a home alarm system (like Vivint or ADT) that offers wireless monitoring options, this handy (and free) app will let you control the system (turn on and off alarm zones, lights, electronics, and even the thermostat) and it will send you alerts when alarm zones are triggered (whether they’re scheduled or not). It will even alert you when you forget to arm the alarm for too long (like when you’re on vacation). That’s what you might call a fail-safe security system.
5. EyeSpyFX apps. There are a number of apps to choose from depending on the hardware you use, with options for D-Link, Linksys, Panasonic, Vivotek, or even your trusty webcam. Each one will run you $4.99, but you probably only need the one that’s compatible with your cameras. The gist of the app is that you can use your iPhone to remotely monitor cameras placed…well, anywhere; at your home, office, or other locales. With up to 100 possible views to choose from (meaning up to 100 cameras), you’ll have eyes everywhere. Short of installing multiple alarm systems, this could be the best way to feel safe within your own walls (or ensure security even when you’re away).

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this quest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

If you ask just about anyone what the top pick for a New Year’s resolution is, they will probably say, without hesitation, weight loss. Not only is there a serious and growing problem (no pun intended) with obesity amongst both children and adults; there is also the fact that most of us just spent the last month indulging in the fats and sugars that seem to be part and parcel of the season, when treasured family recipes and treats galore crumble the resolve that keeps us on our diet throughout the other eleven months of the year. Luckily, there are more tools than ever to help you get back on track with a regimen that includes fitness, dieting, and overall improvement of health. And using your smart phone is a very smart way to start.

There are a couple of categories of apps that can really help you to reach your weight-loss goals this year, and the first and most important are those that center on diet. You can exercise day and night and never shed a pound (you may even gain) if you don’t begin by changing your eating habits, and that means paying attention to the calories going in and going out, the types of food you choose, and the motivations that keep you eating even when you’re not hungry. And when it comes to apps to help you out, Weight Watchers offers some of the best.

The great thing is that you don’t even have to be a member to download their many free apps (although joining will get you the full version). For example, Weight Watchers mobile offers a new recipe every day, along with the ability to save 10 recipes, a smart food cheat sheet, and success stories to inspire you (as well as a listing of nearby meetings in case you want to join up). But if you’re a member, you’ll also gain mobile access to many of the features on their eTools site, like points tracking and unlimited access to recipes. The company also offers an app for barcode scanning as well as a kitchen companion that will help you craft healthy recipes from the foods in your kitchen.

Of course, you don’t have to go with Weight Watchers; there are plenty of apps to help you track calories, scan barcodes for caloric information, and make healthier choices when it comes to food. Many are even free, including one from famed fitness expert and trainer Jillian Michaels. Her Slim-Down Solutions App not only helps you create a workable diet with slimming recipes (although the free version only nets you 30), she also provides fat-burning exercises, daily tips, a weekly podcast, and access to her real-time message board. If you thought you couldn’t afford a personal trainer, you were wrong — here she is for free.

But there are so many more. You can try Simply Organic HD for healthy organic recipes, MealBoard to plan your diet by the day, MyNetDiary to track diet and exercise, and dozens of cookbook apps for different diets like Atkins, South Beach, and so on. But you may also want to check out exercise apps like Fitness Buddy, Everywhere Exercise, and iMapMyFITNESS+. Since hiring a malpractice attorney Chicago style to sue the makers of their famous deep-dish pizzas is out of the question (ditto on Philly cheesesteaks), you’re simply going to have to take responsibility for what you put in your body and how you work off the extra pounds. And thanks to the iTunes store, there are dozens of apps to help you out.

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this quest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.