iOS 5 Brings 200+ New Features, Copies Android Notification System
Posted under: Apple introduced iOS5 to the masses today at WWDC 2011 with 200+ new features and some really key changes to iOS. These changes to the iOS are applicable to iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod 3rd and 4th generations, original iPad and iPad 2.
Some of the major changes and/or notable features are as follows:
1. Notification system:
Everyone knows how much iOS notification sucks. With iOS5 Apples brings a better and completely overhauled notification system. But apparently completely copies Android notification system. There is a pull down menu which now shows all your notifications. Pick the one you want to interact or just read them later. All your alerts. All in one place.
2. iMessage:
iMessage is a new messaging service for all iOS5 users from Apple. All iOS5 users can now send and receive unlimited messages using 3G, 4G or Wifi on any of iOS5 devices. iMessage will let you share text, photo, video, location and contacts with other iOS users. It will even allow group messaging.
3. iCloud and Wifi Sync:
With iOS5, Apple finally cuts the cord and allows everything to be in sync with iCloud. Now you don’t need to own a computer to own an iPad, iPhone or iPod. Activate and set up your device right out of the box. One of the other features Android users have been enjoying since its inception. But iOS5 finally brings it to it multi-million user base. You can also sync your iDevices to PC or Mac over a share wifi connection.
4. Newsstand:
Read all about it. All in one place. iOS 5 organizes magazine and newspaper app subscriptions in a folder called – Newsstand. There’s also a new place on the App Store just for newspaper and magazine subscriptions. New purchases go directly to your Newsstand folder. Then, as new issues become available, Newsstand automatically updates them in the background.
5. Reminders:
Reminders lets you organize your to-do list — complete with due dates and locations. This is one of the great feature and not yet available on Android. Say you need to remember to pick up milk during your next grocery trip. Since Reminders can be location based, you’ll get an alert as soon as you pull into the supermarket parking lot. Really useful feature if you remember to keep your to do list up to date.
I am not sure though it is going to select a specific location or the category of location. For example, the milk you can pick up from Meijer, Kroger or Walmart or somewhere else. It will be interesting to see if it recognizes the category of location. Then it will be really awesome.
6. Easier access to Camera app:
iOS5 will provide an option to launch Camera even when the screen is locked so that it is easier to capture those special moments. To take a picture you will be able to use the volume button instead of the soft touch on the screen.
7. Tighter Twitter integration:
iOS5 brings really tight integration with Twitter throughout the OS. Sign in once in Settings, and suddenly you can tweet directly from Safari, Photos, Camera, YouTube, or Maps. You can even add a location to any tweet, no matter which app you’re tweeting from.
I wonder why it didn’t pick Facebook instead. Facebook integration would have actually made it a really favorable solution for lot of users. As lot of users still don’t use Twitter as their choice of communication medium with friends.
8. Safari Browser Updates:
Safari browser also got some major overhaul which includes tabbed browsing on iPad, Reading list (kind of Instapaper, Read it Later) and some other speed improvements. To learn about all the new features in details please check out this page at Apple.
Among other major updates are text formatting options in Mail application, Split keyboard for iPad, AirPlay mirroring for iPad 2, improvements to Photo editing and many other small updates. I am sure everyone using iDevices will welcome all these changes to their beloved iOS.
iOS5 will be available to all users sometime in this fall and as mentioned earlier will support iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod 3rd and 4th generations, original iPad and iPad 2. Let us know which feature you are most excited about. And if there is any other feature you were expecting from Apple as an update to iOS.
(Image Credit : Apple)