It's no secret the iOS multi-tasking and notification functions need to be updated by Apple. However, thanks to Cydia, jailbreak users don't have to sit on their laurels and wait for the snail-paced Apple to update these functions on their iPhones.
Physwitch ($2 in the BigBoss repository), tackles the issue of multitasking by allowing users to switch between running apps by hitting the up and down volume keys. You can then activate the selected app by hitting both volume keys at once. Hopefully something like this eventually finds its way into future iterations of iOS.
Notifications are a completely different beast. Constantly having to launch each app to clear the notifications can be a real pain. Sadly, there is no fix for this. However, until Apple or someone else comes up with a soltution, the least we can do is be allowed to customize the look of these insipid boxes. AlertArtist ($.99 in the BigBoss repository), allows users to customize the color, font, border, and shadow of the notification alert boxes. Not quite an elegant notification solution like this fan made concept, but it will entertain me in the meantime.
And why would I pay $0.99 just to have my notification boxes a different color/font? Nowadays, most themes have this built in.
And like the other poster said, how is pressing the up/down buttons at the same time easier that simply double tapping the home button. To each his/her own I suppose......
Notified+ and statusbar add for notified is wonderful! It woks like android notifications. It displays text message, app notifications as well. Combined with bitesms, irealsms, or tlert it makes things simpler by ading the quick compose making it so much more elegant.
Im on 4.2.1 so far it works like a charm.
Hope this is helpful
PS: i forgot to mention a bit of tweaking is needed on the messaging app of your choice to make it all work correctly. If you use your regular text messaging app then no tweaking needed
lockinfo deals with the notifications quite well and you can delete them
you can save your buttons by using activator to open the switcher, no need for Physwitch/Multifl0w or any Other app that does the same thing, plus mobile substrate addons use valuable memory up
Lockinfo is best for notifications. I stayed with Multifl0w but I quite liked the opportunity to scroll through open apps with the volume switcher. Physwitch is not just for activation.