As promised, Apple today released iOS 5, the next version of its mobile operating system powering the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. It includes some 200 new features including:
- New Notification Center replacing modal alerts. Located at top of screen and opened by swiping down from top (very similar to Android)
- Lock screen also presents notifications. You can swipe the notification to enter the app directly
- Newsstand: Centralized management of subscriptions such as magazines and newspapers
- Twitter integration including single sign-on for apps
- Improved Safari, including tab support for iPad version
- New Reminders and To Do list functionality
- Camera: Improved performance and new features such as camera icon on lock screen for quick access, volume button now acting as shutter button, and auto exposure/focus lock at touch
- Improved Mail app
- New split thumb keyboard for iPad only (portrait mode)
- OTA delta updates
- Improved Game Center which turn-based game support, achievements, game downloads and more
- iMessage: new messaging service for iOS devices only. Can send texts, photos, videos, and group messages over 3G or Wi-Fi. All messages are encrypted.
Compatible devices are the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch (3rd and 4th generations) and both iPads. One feature that none of these will benefit from is the new Siri personal assistant. It is limited to the new iPhone 4S (and likely future devices).
The update requires iTunes 10.5 which was released yesterday. Once you have upgraded iTunes, you will be able to upgrade your iOS devices.