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What’s new in Apple’s iOS 5

iOS 5 is Apple’s latest version of their mobile operating system, designed for use with their iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Announced in early June 2011, it brings a host of new features designed to enrich the user’s experience.

What’s most interesting about this version of iOS is its movement towards allowing the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to exist without the need for a desktop or laptop to sync to.

iOS 5 updates the device automatically and all applications can work without a “home” computer. It’s another step in the direction of total autonomy, particularly for the iPad.

Other new features of iOS 5:

• Revised notifications: Any iPhone or iPad user can tell you that the system notifications can be pretty annoying. They pop up and interrupt whatever you’re doing, no matter how important the message is. Apple has heard this feedback, and have revamped this area in iOS 5. Notifications are now unobtrusive and will be displayed on the lock screen
• Revamped Safari and Mail: Despite mobile devices becoming more and more important, web developers still target designs towards desktop users. The iOS 5 version of Safari now allows users to re-arrange websites, turn off ads, and focus on the most relevant areas for a more user-friendly experience. The mail app has also been revamped to bring it in-line with a desktop mail client. It offers rich text formatting, email address dragging, and the ability to flag messages.
• Revisions to the camera: iPhone users previously would have to go through their lock screen and bring up their camera before they could take a picture – meaning that they often completely missed the boat on a candid moment! With the new iOS 5, there will be a shortcut to the camera from the lock screen, so candid moments won’t be missed!
• iMessage: Taking a cue for BlackBerry’s BBM, iMessage allows iOS users to send text and multimedia messages to each other. iMessage conversations can be continued no matter what device the customer is using, so if someone starts a chat on an iPad and then goes mobile with their iPhone, the conversation will be uninterrupted.
• Newsstand: Newsstand is a new app for iOS. It’s similar to iBook or iTunes, however Newsstand is geared specifically towards newspapers and magazines.

As always, we will keep an eye on these new technologies and keep you informed as they progress!