16 of the Coolest New Features in iOS 5

Geek · June 6, 2011

<p>You know that <a href="http://osxdaily.com/2011/06/06/ios-5-release-date-fall-2011/">iOS 5 will be released in the Fall</a>, but what are the latest and greatest features? Here are some of the most exciting features that were shown off by Apple at WWDC 2011:</p>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Notification Center</h2>

<p>iOS 5 completely changes and improves the way iOS handles notifications. </p>

<ul>

<li>Combines notifications from all apps including email, texts/SMS, friend requests, calendars, reminders, missed calls, and more</li>

<li>Swipe down from any app to see all your notifications in the Notification Center</li>

<li>Lock Screen will now display notifications</li>

<li>Access notifications from any app without interrupting app usage</li>

<li>Weather & stock widgets included inside the new Notification center</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Wireless Syncing & Setup with PC Free</h2>

<p>iOS 5 finally frees the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch from syncing with a computer. </p>

<ul>

<li>Activate and setup any iOS device right out of the box, no more hooking up to iTunes first</li>

<li>Download iOS software updates directly to the device from Apple</li>

<li>Backup and restore iOS devices automatically once per day to the free iCloud service</li>

<li>Updates are delivered as ‘delta updates’ meaning only the changes are downloaded, dramatically reducing file transfer size</li>

<li>Automatic syncing of content to iTunes on a Mac or PC when connected to a power source</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">iPad Split Keyboard for Easy Thumb Typing</h2>

<p>iOS 5 brings a cool split keyboard for easier typing with your thumbs. Just swipe down with four fingers to reveal the split keyboard. This was one of those <a href="http://osxdaily.com/2011/06/02/6-features-ios-needs-from-windows-8/">features that iOS needed from Windows 8</a> and Apple delivered quickly.

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Safari</h2>

<p>Safari gets some great features in iOS 5:</p>

<ul>

<li>Tabbed browsing on the iPad</li>

<li>Reading List sinks bookmarks to iCloud so you can access and continue reading articles from another device, including Safari in Mac OS X Lion</li>

<li>Safari Reader removes any clutter and ads from content and allows for distraction free reading</li>

<li>Improved performance</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">iMessage</h2>

<p>An all new messaging service built right into iOS 5 that allows you to send unlimited messages between iOS devices. Much like iChat, but this is clearly aimed at corporate users as well:</p>

<ul>

<li>Works over Wi-Fi and 3G</li>

<li>Allows you to send text, pictures, videos, map locations, and contacts</li>

<li>Group messaging</li>

<li>Encryption for secure messaging</li>

<li>Resume conversations from another iOS device</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Reminders</h2>

<p>Reminders is a to-do list built into iOS 5.</p>

<ul>

<li>Manage, add, delete items from a to-do list</li>

<li>Set calendar and time reminders for time sensitive tasks</li>

<li>Location based alerts and reminders – near the grocery store? Your shopping list will automatically show</li>

<li>Syncs with iCloud, iCal, and Outlook – all your tasks will be updated everywhere you check them</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Camera Improvements</h2>

<p>Multiple camera enhancements have been added to iOS 5:</p>

<ul>

<li>Access to Camera from the iOS lock screen</li>

<li>When open, Camera app turns the volume up button into a physical shutter button</li>

<li>Addition of grids for better image composition</li>

<li>New gestures and tap functions to focus and adjust exposure</li>

<li>Automatically tied to iCloud for instant uploading of photos to iCloud and then syncing to all your other devices</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Newsstand</h2>

<p>Newsstand is how iOS 5 organizes your magazine and newspaper subscriptions.</p>

<ul>

<li>Automatically updates and downloads the latest issues of your subscriptions</li>

<li>Interface is basically like iBooks but for digital subscriptions</li>

<li>Separate App Store section exclusively for magazine and newspapers that you can subscribe to</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Other Notable iOS 5 Features</h2>

<ul>

<li><strong>Twitter integration directly into iOS 5</strong> – sign into Twitter once and tweet from nearly anywhere</li>

<li><strong>Photo editing from Photos app</strong> – crop, rotate, adjust and enhance colors, remove red-eye, directly from Photos, and it syncs to iCloud</li>

<li><strong>Mail updates</strong> – format text, email flagging, add and delete mailbox folders, search message body content, free up-to-date email account with iCloud</li>

<li><strong>Calendar</strong> – improved calendar that syncs with iCloud and lets you share dates and events with friends</li>

<li><strong>Game Center</strong> – multiple adjustments to Game Center designed to be more social, with profiles, pictures, score and achievement records, and game discovery</li>

<li><strong>Multitasking gestures for iPad</strong> – new four and five fingers gestures for application switching, home screen shortcuts, and more</li>

<li><strong>Airplay video mirroring for iPad 2</strong> – wirelessly mirror what’s on your iPad 2 display to an Apple TV2</li>

<li><strong>Accessibility options</strong> – LED flash and custom vibration settings give new visual and touch cues to incoming calls and notifications, plus a variety of improvements in VoiceOver</li>

</ul>

<p>There are tons of new features and improvements to iOS 5, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios5/gallery.html">Apple’s gallery</a> for videos of these and more. </p>

<p>Images via <a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios5/">Apple</a> </p>

</div>

</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/osxdaily/~4/wAbnRnsQlEo" height="1" width="1"/>

View the full article

Sign In

16 of the Coolest New Features in iOS 5

Recommended Posts

Geek

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Browse

Activity

Site Info