No, it does not have an IR, as noted. Nor is it wonderful, it's just better in many ways, but not all. Being 18 months newer helps. IR has been slashed, along with FM transmitter, to make room for the better camera, compass, HDMI and the like.

I played with IR myself, unfortunately I found that there are a lot of incompatibilities and limitations (Can't fire up My Panasonic Plasma with N900, e.g.). If you have many IR devices, you'll feel the hit there. If you get lost more, compass is better.

Overall, however, I think more is gained than lost, hardware-wise.

As for your issue, may I suggest a 20$ fully programmable remote? I have one that has 200 devices built-in, plus, a learn mode where you hold a button, point a remote face to face with this one and it learns and repeats the signal.

Mighty useful, available at all times and all around better than firing up apps on a phone. No bragging rights, though :)

Added browser comparison.

As for multitasking, I'm still exploring it. It does the obvious, doesn't seem to swap in/load back apps like Android, but most apps intentionally pause when left back, and almost all wait for user input.

When I have a better understanding of multitasking on E7, I'll add a more informed point. Until then, know that it doesn't close apps, one can switch at will, there is copy/pasting from apps to other apps, and at least known tasks work.

For example, you can leave Store app in background to download and install while you edit contacts. You can leave browser and it still loads (otherwise it loses connection to server). What I can't tell is whether the Store requests to be left running (a la iOS/WP7) or it's left running by default (a la N900).

Not that it matters, the end result is the same. You can fire up 10 windows, switch between them, and mail will keep updating, conversations will get updated, music will play and so on. Games typically pause, but not all. Those who do handle it well, say mid-loading or while editing high score name.

ETA:
A picture is worth 1000 words:

Google (full)
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

TMO
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

Facebook (full)
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink