Many of the people who purchased the first generation iPad are angry that after installing iOS 5, they are missing one of the best new features of the software.
They have a right to be upset especially since everyone knows that the multitasking gestures work without any problems on the device and no where does Apple claim that the multitasking gestures are an iPad 2 specific feature.
With Apple leaving so many customers outraged, I expect that the feature will be included in an upcoming software upgrade and to be fair this may have not been done intentionally. Although, Apple has not yet said anything official on the matter.
The gestures have been available to developers for sometime but they were just released to the public with iOS 5, that is if you have an iPad 2. Back in March we wrote an article on how to add the new gestures using Xcode. Unfortunately, this method is no longer works. The Xcode method required a Mac but did not require jailbreaking.
I understand that many users do not want to jailbreak their devices but until Apple enables the gestures that is the only method that will work for the original iPad. Currently, there is a tethered jailbreak for the first generation iPad that requires a Mac to install but the iPhone Dev Team is also working on a Windows version.
The jailbreak tool is still in beta but it works and it will unlock the multitouch gestures that Apple didn’t. If you are interested then we have a tutorial that will help you through the process.
After you complete the tutorial you should see the new features added in Setting under General.
Update: 10/20/2011
There is now a way for Windows and Mac users to activate multitasking gestures without installing the jailbreak. View this post to find out how.
What’s more shocking is that none of this was advertised or stated on any Apple documentation, including the release notes! However Apple are slowly starting to update the various websites to say “Multi-touch gestures for iPad 2″, as of 07:58 GMT on 14/10/2011 the US site says iPad 2 but the UK one just says iPad, something of a cover up!
Actually there is an easy work-around… Settings – Accessibility – Assistive Touch. Turn it on… A circle will appear at the lower R corner of each screen. This circle gives you access to the home screen, and most of what I needed to overcome the “Home Button doesn’t work” on-going problem.
WHAT. THE. FUCK!?!?!? I loved that feature and now it’s gone? They better bring it back or I will give them hell to pay.
@teixeira
Can you use assistive touch to access the multitasking bar ?
how ?
Beware, if you jailbreak using this method, iBooks stops working.
[...] you can use Cydia or redsn0w to do this for you. TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in apple, [...]
Join the Facebook Group “Apple!! We Want Multitasking Gestures For iPad 1 in iOS5″ #ipad #ios5 #apple
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Apple-We-Want-Multitasking-Gestures-For-iPad-1-in-iOS5/263681083667884
Hi Norbert,
Double tapping on the home button on Assistive Touch screen brings multi tasking bar..
so you’re saying that the iOS 5 jailbreak enables the multitouch gestures on its own? I’m about to try this out
norbert, activate assistive touch home screen by taping the little circle then double click the home button twice can able to access the multitasking bar
Please update ASAP the customers want information and action as to why the multi-touch feature has been removed from iPad1. Hope that apple brings us more stuff the next time they release a newer version.
I have been a loyal apple customer for over 15 years. Yes, there stuff is pricey, but you pay for the great design. However, Apple has a disturbing habit of screwing customers with older hardware. My iMAC was hobbled and made obsolete by an osx update, and I cant reinstall from the original disks, because it updated the firmware of my superdrive to not recognize it. My 1st gen appletv has been left in the dust. Now they are abandoning 1st gen ipad customers.
I guess it is time to switch back to microsoft, and other devices. I am done with apple. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER APPLE PRODUCT!
Sorry, I meant to say my eMAC was hobbled by osx update.
Gus!!!!!! I just got multitouch gestures on my 1st gen iPad.
If you do exactly as tutorial says, you will get your gestures right after jailbreak automatically.
Have a good time fellas