Apple says iOS 5 includes over 200 new features
The upgrade added single sign-on support for Twitter so users can post messages and photos through multiple applications without having to sign into the social networking service more than once. It also added a new instant messaging service that side steps SMS and MMS plans from cell service providers, Reminders for location-based to-do tracking, updated versions of Mobile Safari and Mail, a week view for the iPhone Calendar app, no need to connect to computers to activate new devices, and more.
iOS 5 is a free upgrade and requires an iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S, a third or fourth generation iPod touch, or an iPad or iPad 2. Users must first upgrade to iTunes 10.5 before installing iOS 5.
The update is a 435.5MB download through Software Update.
For tips on preparing for iOS 5, be sure to check out The Mac Observer’s upgrade guide.
Apple’s patch notes:
iOS 5 Software Update
This update contains over 200 new features, including the following:
- Notifications
- Swipe from the top of any screen to view notifications in one place with Notification Center
- New notifications appear briefly at the top of the screen
- View notifications from lock screen
- Slide the notification app icon to the right on the lock screen to go directly to the app
- iMessage
- Send and receive unlimited text, photo, and video messages with other iOS 5 users
- Track messages with delivery and read receipts
- Group messaging and secure encryption
- Works over cellular network and Wi-Fi*
- Newsstand
- Automatically organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions on Home Screen
- Displays the cover of the latest issue
- Background downloads of new issues
- Reminders for managing to do lists
- Syncs with iCloud, iCal and Outlook
- Location-based reminders when you leave or arrive at a location for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
- Built-in support for Twitter
- Sign-in once in Settings and tweet directly from Camera, Photos, Maps, Safari and YouTube
- Add location to any tweet
- View twitter profile pictures and usernames in Contacts
- Camera improvements for devices with cameras
- Double click the home button when device is asleep to bring up a camera shortcut on iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation)
- Volume Up button to take a picture
- Optional grid lines to line up shots
- Pinch to zoom in the preview screen
- Swipe to camera roll from preview screen
- Tap and hold to lock focus and exposure, iPad 2 and iPod touch (4th generation) only support exposure lock
- Photo improvements for devices with cameras
- Crop and rotate
- Red eye removal
- One tap enhance
- Organize photos into albums
- Mail improvements
- Format text using bold, italic, or underlined fonts
- Indentation control
- Drag to rearrange names in address fields
- Flag messages
- Mass mark messages as flagged, read or unread
- Customize mail alert sounds
- S/MIME
- Calendar improvements
- Year view on iPad and new Week view for iPhone and iPod touch
- Tap to create an event
- View and add event attachments
- Game Center improvements
- Use personal photos for your Game Center account
- Compare your overall achievement scores with your friends
- Find new Game Center friends with friend recommendations and friends of friends
- Discover new games with custom game recommendations
- AirPlay Mirroring for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S
- Multitasking Gestures for iPad
- Use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen
- Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar
- Swipe left or right to switch between apps
- On-device setup, activation and configuration with Setup Assistant
- Software updates available over the air without tethering
- iCloud support
- iTunes in the Cloud
- Photo Stream
- Documents in the Cloud
- Apps and Books automatic download and purchase history
- Backup
- Contacts, Calendar, and Mail
- Find My iPhone
- Redesigned Music app for iPad
- Hourly weather forecast
- Real-time stock quotes
- Wireless sync to iTunes
- Keyboard improvements
- Split keyboard for iPad
- Improved autocorrection accuracy
- Improved Chinese and Japanese input
- New Emoji keyboard
- Personal dictionary for autocorrection
- Optionally create keyboard short cuts for frequently used words
- Accessibility improvements
- Option to light LED flash on incoming calls and alerts for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
- Custom vibration patterns for incoming calls on iPhone
- New interface for using iOS with mobility-impairment input devices
- Option to speak a selection of text
- Custom element labeling for VoiceOver
- Exchange ActiveSync improvements
- Wirelessly sync tasks
- Mark messages as flagged, read or unread
- Improved offline support
- Save a new contact from a GAL service
- More than 1,500 new developer APIs
- Bug fixes
Products compatible with this software update:
- iPhone 4S
- iPhone 4
- iPhone 3GS
- iPad 2
- iPad
- iPod touch (4th generation)
- iPod touch (3rd generation)
* Normal carrier data rates may apply. Messages will be sent as SMS when iMessage is unavailable, carrier messaging fees apply.
[Update: The article was updated with Apple’s iOS 5 patch note.]