If you’ve left your iPad on the table for a while and a slew of notifications build up, iOS 5 presents them in a list on the lock screen the next time you try to unlock your iPad.
However, if you use a Smart Cover and have it set to “automatically unlock” the device (meaning, you do not use a passcode), there is no opportunity for the list of missed notifications to be displayed. In that case, the next time you roll open the Smart Cover, Apple keeps you informed by gracefully displaying these pent up notifications in the status bar, grouped by app.
Editor’s Note: If you ever need to review notifications you’ve missed, you can tap on the status bar and drag down to reveal iOS 5’s new Notification Center. This “sheet” contains all recent notifications, grouped by app, and a couple of basic widgets for weather and stock. You can customize the Notification Center under Settings > Notifications.
