iPhone iOS 5 software update details from Apple iTunes

Apple has done it again with their latest update to the iPhone with iOS 5. The notification center really is the hallmark and biggest improvement to an excellent device and well worth the wait for Apple’s stellar implementation. Just glance at the notification center for a complete update in a few seconds all in one place really improves the usability and coolness of the iPhone.

The update process was a bit challenging especially as I’m the kind of “give it to me now” person and as there were probably 20 million other people trying to update their iPhones at the same time. No doubt the servers at Apple were being pushed to the limit to enable device updating, but my persistence was the key that morning. If you haven’t yet updated, make sure you do it’s a great update and will take about an hour or two depending on how full your device is.

Apple have improved the camera and made it much easier to get to and take a photo using the volume button. It really is now a point and shoot camera you always have with you. No longer to you fumble, swipe, swipe to find the camera app and click to take a photo, usually missing the opportunity in the process. Now when the phone is in your pocket, grab it out double pressing the home button, tap the camera icon and press the volume up button. Much faster to capture a precious moment.

Battery life seems to have become an issue again with this update but no doubt Apple are working on a fix to improve the iPhone 4’s already excellent battery life. The latest update has a great new feature to make updating much easier and they can send parts to our phones without having to download a 700mb update. So I’m sure one of the first over the air updates will be to increase battery life.

Another part of Apple’s strategy is iCloud where your iPhone, Mac, iPad can communicate and keep in sync together. Take a photo on your iPhone and it will be copied to your iPad and Mac or PC pretty much instantly. I was already an avid user of Apple’s MobileMe service and I liked the mail, calendar and contacts but especially the look and easy to use web applications.

[pb_vidembed title=”Apple iOS 5 Update Overview” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLJIef-e-7g” type=”yt” w=”600″ h=”360″]

Apple has said there are over 200 new features and below is a list of the improvements and changes. Here is the list of new features from Apple.

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.

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