The iOS 5 upgrade adds some initialization questions for setting up your device and enabling iCloud services after the install. It also added a small snag to the process if it is unable to turn on the iCloud backup service.

The "iCloud Backup Failed" message presents you with a dialog that has two choice: Try Again or Cancel. Try Again will give you the same error and Cancel will dump you back to the same screen where you will run into the same error message if you hit the next button to continue the initialization process.

Don't panic. It's not an infinite loop. It's just a very un-Apple like interface flaw. To get around it, simply choose not to backup to iCloud and the process will let you through. You can turn iCloud backup on in the settings under "iCloud".

Workaround: Jerry posted a workaround in the comments section that involves connecting the iPad (or iPhone/iPod Touch) to your PC and turning on the iCloud backup services through iTunes. This option is on the first page when you click on your iPad in iTunes. You may still have issues performing the actual backup, but at least the setting will be right. Thanks Jerry!

Learn more about iCloud

It was easy to forget about iOS 5. First, we had the unveiling of the iPhone 4S, which was quickly accompanied by some griping about the absence of the iPhone 5. Of course, Apple could have just as easily called the iPhone 4S the iPhone 5 -- after all, it's still the next generation iPhone. Then, there was the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who stepped down from his CEO position just a few months ago.

Suffice to say, it's been a busy month for Apple.

For iPad users, iOS 5 represents a nice upgrade to play around with while waiting for the iPad 3 release, which is expected around March/April of next year. Not only will the upgrade bring a whole host of cloud services, including cutting the ties with the PC as we now will sync via the much anticipated iCloud service, it also features deep Twitter integration.

How to get started with iOS 5

Before you can upgrade to iOS 5, you will need the latest version of iTunes on your computer. Once installed, iTunes will ask you to setup iCloud by logging into your iTunes account with your Apple ID and password. If you haven't synced your iPad with your computer in a while, it is also a good idea to go ahead and do that before downloading and installing the upgrade.

More on upgrading to iOS 5

What to expect from iOS 5

iOS 5 boasts over 200 features, and it shouldn't take long to start telling the difference. One feature you might notice right away is the new iMessage center, which takes a page out of Android's book by alerting you to new notifications at the top of the screen and giving you a single area to see all new messages.

One thing I really like about the update is the added multi-touch gestures. iPad users can now go directly to the home screen by pinching with four fingers, swipe left or right to switch between apps and swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar.

Apple TV users will get a special treat from iOS 5. The update includes the ability to do display mirroring over AirPlay, so you stream Hulu Plus or play games on your HDTV without worrying about any wires connecting your iPad to the TV.

Pretty cool.

Read More About iOS 5

Facebook released their long-awaited iPad app, but if you are already using a third-party app like Friendcaster or MyPad, you don't need to bother downloading it. The official Facebook app presents a cleaner interface than you'll find on the website, but it is nothing spectacular.

In fact, the features found in the official app come up lacking when compared with the competition. There is no support for multiple accounts, which is disappointing considering how much of a family device the iPad has become, and while areas such as photo viewing improve over the website, they are still a little rough around the edges.

In short, the official app is a good start, but has a ways to go. And if you love Facebook on the iPad but don't like the Facebook website on the iPad, you are far better off checking out some of the best third-party Facebook apps.

Troubleshooting iPad Wi-Fi Problems:

As expected, we walked away from Apple's iPhone event with a little bit of news for the iPad, including a soon-to-be-released Cards app that will let us design greeting cards and well wishes then have Apple do the printing and delivering of the card. First Apple conquered the music industry, now they are setting out for... Hallmark?

But the burning question on most iPad owners' minds is no doubt about Siri, the new voice recognition user interface that will be integrated into the iPhone 4S. I've never much cared for voice recognition software -- my Texas accent is thick enough that Dragon Dictation and other apps really mangle my words -- but this one sounds pretty cool.

So will it come to the iPad?

Don't expect it on your iPad or iPad 2. There's no official word coming from Apple, which means it is okay to hold out hope. But if Apple were planning on integrating it with iOS 5 and not making it simply an iPhone 4S feature, they would have no doubt announced it at the event. After all, they announced Cards fro the iPad. There's no reason to be shy about Siri for the iPad.

More than likely, the iPad 2 simply can't handle Siri. The iPhone 4S shares the same processor as the iPad 2, but there was no word on how much memory it would have available for applications. The iPad 2 has 512 MB. The iPhone 4S could have 1 GB, with the extra bit of memory giving it the power to run a more fully-functional version of Siri.

If so, we can expect to see Siri support added with the iPad 3 early next year, but we'll be out of luck until then.

At least we can (hopefully) put aside all of those "the iPad 3 is coming this year" rumors.

The Best Utility Apps for the iPad

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