A List of iOS 5 Features

Apple today at its Worldwide Developers Conference detailed features for its upcoming iOS5 software update and a new iCloud service that delivers wireless synching of data for Apple devices. iOS5 and iCloud will be available this fall.

A detailed list of announced features is below:

  • Improved iOS notifications. Notifications (alerts) will appear now briefly in a box at the top of the screen before disappearing.
  • Notification Center. Notifications no longer permanently disappear. Users can access a list of their alerts in the Notifications Center by swiping down on the screen.
  • Newstand app. Newstand is a new app where you can access all your subscription content like newspapers and magazines. New issues are automatically downloaded in the background when they become available. Content can then be read offline.
  • Twitter integration systemwide. You no longer have to use separate apps to sign in to Twitter. Instead, you can enter your Twitter info in the iPhone’s settings, then create tweets from apps like Camera, Photos, articles from Safari, etc. You can also add Twitter handles to contacts.
  • Tabs added to Safari browser.
  • New Reader view in Safari. Reader view will strip away ads and extraneous formatting for an easy-to-read view of content.
  • New Reading List feature saves articles from the web to read later.
  • iPhone now quicker to take a photo. Camera app launches faster, and it’s much quicker to take a photo.
  • Button on iPhone’s lock screen can be tapped to quickly launch the Camera app. No need to unlock the iPhone first.
  • Volume button now can be used to take a photo (as a shutter button).
  • You can now set and lock exposure settings and focus for taking photos.
  • Edit photos on the iPhone. Crop, rotate, fix red-eye, and one-tap enhancement of photos.
  • Camera now has pinch to digitally zoom-in. Replaces the tedious process of tapping the screen and using a zoom slider.
  • New features for Mail app. Drag email addresses to different fields. Rich text formatting. Flag email messages. S/MIME security.
  • New “thumbs friendly” iPad keyboard feature.. Keyboard separates into two sections on the side of the screen, makes it easier to type with your thumbs.
  • Systemwide dictionary. Select word, tap Define, and you’ll get a great looking definition pop-up.
  • Computer no longer required to activate and use an iPhone. Through new features like over-the-air updating, Apple is allowing you to cut the cord and use the iPhone without owning a computer. No prompt to plug in the iPhone to iTunes out of the box. Instead it simply says welcome.
  • Over-the-air software updates. iOS software updates will be “Delta Updates,” meaning they will be smaller updates for only what’s changed, instead of one huge replacement of the current operating system.
  • Create & delete calendars right from iOS. Previously you couldn’t.
  • GameCenter gets new features. See game scores of your friends’ friends. Friend recommendations. Game recommendations. Download games from within GameCenter app.
  • New messaging service and app called iMessages. A new text messaging service for all iOS customers. Send messages between iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. The phone carriers won’t be happy about this one.
  • Introducing iCloud. An online service that stores your content in the cloud and wirelessly pushes it to all your devices. Automatically uploads content, stores it, and pushes it to all your devices. Changes to your calendars, mail, and contacts pushed to all devices. App Store purchases pushed to all your devices. Pushes iBook content and page position to all devices. Documents and changes to documents can be pushed to all devices.
  • iCloud is free.
  • 5 GB of storage for mail, documents, Camera Roll, account information, settings, and other app data. Purchased music, apps, books, and Photo Stream photos do not count against your free storage.
  • Daily device backups to iCloud over WiFi for your purchased music, apps, books, photos, videos, device settings, and app data.
  • New Photo Stream feature pushes new photos to all your devices. Photo Stream will be built into iOS apps, Mac apps, and the Apple TV. Compatible with the Photos folder on a Windows PC. A new Photo Stream album inside the Photos app is a rolling collection of your last 1000 photos. iCloud stores new photos for 30 days so you’ll have time to connect to Wi-Fi and sync your most recent photos.
  • iTunes in the cloud lets you download music purchases to all devices at no extra cost. From now on, new song purchases can be automatically pushed to all devices for free.
  • New iTunes Match service will let you stream non-iTunes-purchased music from iCloud to your devices for $24.99 a year. iTunes will scan your music collection, and if it can match the songs with the 18 millions songs in the iTunes Store, it will allow you to stream it. The music will play back at 256-Kbps quality, even if the original copy was of lower quality. Regardless of how many songs you have, iTunes Match will cost the same ($24.99).
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