After anxiously waiting, Apple will be releasing iOS 5 to the public today for users to update their iPads, iPods, and iPhones. With the features offered in this release, iOS 5 will be the greatest update to iOS ever for both consumers and developers. iOS 5 can be installed on any iPad, any 3rd generation or newer iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4. The iPhone 4S comes shipped with the new operating system.
Notifications:
Apple has improved notifications in iOS 5, bringing the Android like notification bar to the operating system. This is called the “Notification Center” where all notifications are in one place and does not interrupt what you are doing with a pop up. Also included are widgets for Stocks and Weather apps.
Newsstand:
The Newsstand feature is an extension of iBooks, placing newspapers and magazines you are subscribed to into one place.
Twitter:
Twitter is deeply integrated within iOS 5 and makes it easier to tweet directly from Twitter enabled apps instead of needing the Twitter app installed. Among the apps include Photos, Camera, Safari, YouTube, and maps which allow you to tweet with a single tap.
Safari:
iOS 5 brings Safari Reader, which makes websites more readable by de-cluttering and managing font sizes that it is easier to scroll through and read. It also adds Reading List, which lets you save articles and websites to read later on any of your iOS devices because it syncs automatically. Tabbed browsing was added, making it easier to switch between multiple tabs.
Reminders:
Apple’s new Reminders app was added to iOS 5 so that you can create lists and manage tasks. You can group related tasks and set time or location based reminders, priorities, and due dates.The reminders can also be viewed in iCal or Outlook.
Camera:
You can now access your camera app from your lock screen, user the volume up button as a shutter button, line up shots with grids, and is now easier to focus and zoom.
Photos:
You can do basic image editing right on your iDevice like cropping, rotating, enhancing, remove red-eye, and organize photos into albums right on your device. You also get a one tap auto enhance feature for your images.
Mail:
Mail has added upgrades to now allow you to flag messages, search contents of email servers, have rich text, indentation, drag email addresses, and with better enterprise support.
Wireless Sync:
You can now activate devices wirelessly, sync your device wirelessly, and update software over the air so you don’t have to carry your cord around with you.
iMessage:
Much like Blackberry Messenger, iMessage allows messaging between iPads, iPod, and iPhones. iMessage allos you to send texts, messages, photos, videos, or contact information to anybody that has an iOS 5 device and works over WiFi or 3G.
iPad Keyboard:
iOS 5 includes a split keyboard for the iPad making it easier to type with your thumbs.
Enhanced Airplay:
Airplay now allows you to connect through an Apple TV to wirelessly show your iPad on your HDTV.
