We're expecting big things from Apple this year: the iPhone 5 (and possibly iPhone 4S) will be with us during the coming weeks after Apple announced a 4 October event.
iOS 5 wasrevealed during theWWDC 2011 keynote back in June, but will it get a release when next week when the event happens - or will it be held back until the handset debuts?
Read on for our list of all the new iOS 5 features but for a video rundown of what's new, check out our pal T3's video below:
iOS 5 release date
The iOS release date may coincide with the new iPhone, but Computerworld suggests that - according to past form - Apple will announce it in around two weeks from now.
iOS 5 compatibility
iOS 5 will work with iPhone 4 and 3GS (the latter is a surprise), iPad and iPad 2, and the iPod touch 3rd and 4th gen. We're also a little surprised to see it's going to be rolled out to the original iPad, but as it has the same hardware as the iPhone 4 we guess Apple doesn't have to cut it loose this time.
iOS 5 goes PC-free
Apple says it is "cutting the cable" with iOS 5 - just as well, as it claimed the iPad 2 was the first post-PC device earlier in the year. OS updates can be delivered over the air - you'll just received what's changed rather than the usual 600MB download - and devices can be activated without plugging them into iTunes. Ace.
You can also now create and delete iOS calendars and mailboxes too, so you really can devolve your device from your PC or Mac.
"You can activate on the device and you're ready to go," explained Apple's Scott Forstall.
"Software updates are now over the air. So you no longer need to plug in to update your software. And they're now Delta updates. Instead of downloading the whole OS, you only download what's changed," he continued.
"We said, why do people go back to a computer? Calendars, people create or delete them. You can do that now. Photo editing, you can do it on the devices. Even mail - you can create folders.
"So if you want to cut the cord, you can."
With iOS 5 and iCloud, you just enter your Apple ID and password, and iCloud will seamlessly integrate with your apps to automatically and wirelessly keep all of your mail, contacts, calendars, photos, apps, books, music and more, up-to-date across all your devices without ever having to connect to a computer.
Your comments (21) Click to add a new comment
chrispmatthews
Friday at 16:42 BST
21. What about features for enterprise? I heard they're releasing more features for administrating an iPhone fleet. True?
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ebu101
August 25th
20. I am an android nut but have to say, this looks good. Game on.
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fight4truth.org
August 24th
19. MAY I REMIND EVRYONE ABOUT IOS5??? ITS BLANTLY COPYING EVRYTHING ANDROID HAS,NOTIFICATION...LOCKSCREE...ITS OBVIOUS IOS PLAYIN CATCH UP. I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY IF GOOGLE SUE APPLE FOR THIS AHHH WAIT A MINUTE DA MINUTE IOS5 COMES OUT IT WILL "MAGICALLY" BE AN INNOVATION MADE BY APPLE. NOT STEALING BUT "INNOVATION" WOW APPLE... RIP OFF! HYPOCRITES FOR SUEING EVRYONE WHEN YOU YOURSELF STEALS!
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rhk5546
June 14th
18. Well now, iOS4 all things aside, was a very powerfull bit of OSing. as it was usable across multiple devices, and all the others are copying it NOW(mango, 2.3, 3.1)and still many were harping on and on about fluff rather than a stable foundation, so with iOS5 Apple are giving the masses what they cry for (fluff)and if they are to do FLUFF they sure as heck are going to do it with style, now they are giving you all what you were cyring for a year ago and now you are saying its not good enough, that they are copying, well it's what you wanted, and seeing as the foundation is set they can FLUFF it out a bit, iOS5 brings all the bits and bobbs that make all the other OS's so much better than iOS to iOS, and yet you all still *****, and it hasn't even hit yet and your all judging it, but i think i'll put it down to the same people that said the iPad was **** and it filled no market, then it came out and they were the first in line. Hippo's all!!!
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iosguy
June 8th
17. If anyone is interested in registering their udid I am asking for a donation of $10
email me at IOSGuy@yahoo.com
find me on twitter: iosguy
Facebook: iosguy@yahoo.com
spread the word!
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windymiller
June 7th
16. @ slaguru
The arrogance stems from the man at the top,with comments like (and I'm sorry to bring up old news)
"Your holding it in the wrong hand"
Then it works its way down to people like you.Because instead of saying
"It WOULD be the same for MS or Google."
you couldn't bring yourself to say
"It IS the same for MS and Google."
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slaguru
June 7th
15. @akthar26
You say arrogance, I say marketing. If that's the same then ok.
The video you talk about was new for the 3gs, but I don't think I saw anywhere where Apple said it was new in the phone market.
As for these updates being copies of other things, well I'm sure if Apple have breached copyrights or patents then they will get sued or pay royalties ( as they should ).
As for acting like they invented things they come up with, well Steve Jobs is very good at claiming that Apple have taken an idea and improved it, that's not really claiming it was Apple's in the first place.
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akthar26
June 7th
14. Apple are now copying other mobile OS manufacturers, this is shameful! Steve Jobs said "2011 is the year of the copycats". Now who is copying who?? Check link below:
http://www.slashgear.com/windows-phone-chief-feeling-flattered-over-ios-5-design-07157518/
@slaguru Mate, people slate Apple coz they act arrogant. They use ideas from others and act like they invented it. I still remember the advert for the 3GS, it read "the new iPhone with brand new features like video recording". Wow!!! Crappy *** Nokia's from back in the day were doing that, but now iPhone got it, its a new feature. And all the iUsers just believe this line.
Anyways, good on Apple for implementing these updates, it should make a good mobile OS better. Let's just hope they don't try to patent these and take Google, Microsoft, HTC, Samsung etc. to court saying they can't use these features anymore coz Apple own it.
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slaguru
June 7th
13. @MRG
Its not like MS have had 4 years to watch Apple eat its lunch at the mobile table is it !!!!
People slate Apple for being 'magical' or they slate them for using Androids best feature (notifications), or they slate them for this and that and the other.
Fact is Apple have the luxury of being seen to be the markets premium brand and the system that all comers want to take down.
It would be the same for MS or Google.
If Google get into Apple's position then it will be them getting all the bullets from the 'Technorati', but while Apple own the mindset of the average consumer they will be the one to snipe at.
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mrg
June 7th
12. Apple appear now to have lost they're way massively, Twitter integration and facebook are already and have been announce by MS for Windows phone 7 last month. Its appears they're not resorting to copying Android, WP7 and BB to try and create someone new - Massive fail - All the people slating WP7 should be quiet now because after theie mango update it will officially have more functions than apple have created in 5 years in less than one.
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wigwam_salesman
June 6th
11. Still no widgets??? Or am I going blind?
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bradavon
June 6th
10. @ Adri1988: Who cares? If it's a good system, copy it. So what if Apple didn't invent the idea.
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phibo78
June 6th
9. People may say.....it's copy from android, however it no that much different from the original notification app that had running using my original jai broken iPhone 2g
Wireless syncing being legit is also great news, my most used jail broken app is now no more.
Overall, GREAT update and lots of amazing new features for both iOS, osx and cloud
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adri1988
June 6th
8. copying androids notification bar isn't clever from apple. i was expecting something better from apple instead of taking androids ideas.
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trumpetjedi8378
May 15th
7. If iOS 5 brought just a small proportion of those things, Android would be dead forever...
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duskrider
April 6th
6. "iOS 5 rumours: what you need to know" should read "IOS 5 rumours: wild speculation based on nothing and we really don't have a clue"
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riddles
April 6th
5. @chisy you are probably right and just as many iOS users don't want widgets as those that do, but how about having the choice?
Just because a phone has widgets doesn't mean you would have to use them - if you want to stick with screen upon screen of grid layouts of icons that's fine, but I'd like to see some progress with iOS5!
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lions87a
April 5th
4. I'm interested in the hardware improvements they'll release this time around.
I've been an iPhone user since the Nokia N97 fiasco, and have adored the gorgeous operating system ever since - as android seems to be catching up, it seems that unless Apple can find a way to re-invent the phone (again), the market will become like it used to be - about the hardware.
Super-duper 8MP, top-quality sensor, camera phone as suggested on techradar? Yes please. Better notifications... meh
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pete_ll
April 5th
3. The main thing ou need to know (and never forget) is that these are only rumours.
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