Apple iOS 5 launch close
The new and updated version of software for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is set to released later today (Wednesday the 12th of October 2011), just two days ahead of the launch of the new iPhone 4S.
The new mobile phone operating platform, iOS 5 , is set to include over 200 changes, adding extra functionality and improving the user experience. Here are some of the headlines:
- Wireless sync with iTunes
- A new Notification Centre
- iMessages (free messaging between other iOS devices)
- Improved reminders
- Integration with social media service Twitter
- The ability to take a photo from the standby screen
- Support for formatting (bold, italics, etc) in email
- Photo editing and red-eye reduction
- Support for iCloud (storage)
Ahead of the roll-out of Apple’s latest mobile OS, a new release of iTunes has been made today. iTunes 10.5 is now available to download. It stores your music and TV purchases in iCloud, to makes them available on your iOS devices over-the-air. It also supports Automatic Downloads, plus the new wireless-sync feature in iOS 5. Thankfully, the latest version of iTunes 10.5 no longer mandates an install of the multimedia application QuickTime.
The last major software release for the iPhone and iPod Touch was iOS 4, back in June 2010. We think it’ll be interesting to see whether the enhancements that users will see in iOS 5 will prevent hardcore iPhone lovers from feeling the need to get hold of the new iPhone 4S this week, with many feeling that the improved camera, processor and the Siri ‘virtual assistant’ isn’t enough of a revolution to warrant an upgrade.
