Apple today released iOS 5, the newest version of its mobile OS, to the public. In his last public appearance, the late Steve Jobs announced iOS 5 in June at its Worldwide Developers Conference.
The new OS includes several new features such as “deep Twitter integration, a revamped notification system, an updated camera app, a revamped version of Safari and more,” according to Mashable. However, in the process, apps like Notification Center, Reminders, iMessage, and Cards completely destroy some of the most popular third party apps out there, Business Insider pointed out.
Mashable reviewer Christina Warren dubs the new OS, “one of Apple’s most polished yet. Building on the foundation of iOS 4 and iOS 4.2, iOS 5 feels like a fully-rounded product.”
iOS 5 also includes iCloud, Apple’s service for accessing and syncing photos, music, emails and other media through the cloud. With iTunes in the cloud, the music, apps, and books you purchase automatically appear on all your devices, according to Apple.
When you buy a song, TV show, app, or book from the App Store or the iTunes Store, iCloud stores it in your purchase history. When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage.
Even bigger than all of this, perhaps, is the belief is that iCloud will truly help cloud computing to go mainstream and cloud computing in the connected world has a future based in cloud computing, TechZone360’s Susan Campbell reported.
Coming next from Apple will be iTunes Match, which means that even songs imported from CDs can be stored in iCloud and they can be played on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC, without syncing. iTunes Match will be offered at $24.99 a year.
The updated OS is now available for download through iTunes 10.5.
Erin Harrison is Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives, for TMC, where she oversees the company's strategic editorial initiatives, including the launch of several new print and online initiatives. She plays an active role in the print publications and TechZone360, covering IP communications, information technology and other related topics. To read more of Erin's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Rich Steeves