TechBytes: iPhone Upgrade

April 9, 2010— -- Apple unveiled a bunch of new features for the iPhone Thursday. The biggest upgrade is the ability to run more than one program at a time. Multi-tasking is something users have been demanding since the device was first released. Other new features include the ability to send messages from multiple e-mail accounts to one inbox and folders that let you organize your apps. The new software will be available this summer for the iPhone and in the fall for the iPad.

Games are already among the most popular apps for the iPad. The device could give portable consoles such as the Nintendo DSi and Sony's PSP a run for their money. Jake Ward of Popular Science says playing games on the iPad feels as though it's the future.

"The best games that I've seen so far are the really simple games," Ward said. "This is also the first gaming device I've seen where you could really play with somebody else on the same device and have a satisfying time."

The iPad "feels in a way more futuristic to me than playing the same old first-person shooters or racing games that you can get on your Xbox at home," he added.

Ward said he expects the games to get even better as developers have more time to play with the iPad.

You may soon be able to get your hands on Amazon's Kindle without having to buy it online. Amazon will reportedly sell its electronic book reader at Target stores beginning later this month. It would be the first time the Kindle is sold at a traditional retail store.

Some new technology could make using public bathrooms a little more sanitary. The Sanidoor is a touch-free door that opens with the wave of a hand. The door helps reduce the spread of germs and works sort of like touch-free faucets and towel dispensers. The company that makes the door said about half of people do not wash their hands after using the bathroom.