Apple’s iOS 5 Update Now Available For iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

After 128 days, 7 Beta releases, and 1 gold master, it’s finally arrived. iOS 5 has just been released to everyone (or at least, everyone with a compatible iOS device).

For those who hadn’t finagled their way into the developer Beta’s: 1) you’re a more patient human than I could ever hope to be, and 2) you’re in for a treat. This is the biggest update iOS has seen since the addition of the App Store, and it’s jam-packed full of good stuff.

The iOS 5 update is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (GSM and CDMA), iPod touch 3rd/4th generation, and the iPad/iPad 2. It’ll also come preloaded on the 4S, of course, when that device launches later this week.

It’s been a while since iOS 5 was announced to the world, so here’s a quick recap of some of the biggest features:

• iCloud: Apple’s cloud-based content/data syncing service. Backs up your content, photos, etc. in the cloud for safe keeping, provides one-click access to redownloading all the apps you’ve ever purchased, etc.
• iMessage: Apple’s free iOS-to-iOS messaging solution. SMS dies today.
• Notification Center: Apple has completely overhauled their old, antiquated alerts system. You now drag down from the top of the screen to see a drawer with all notifications.
• Newstand: Bundles all of your e-magazine/newspaper subscriptions into one smart folder
• Reminders: a new to-do/reminder system, complete with location-based alerts
• Twitter Integration
• Much improved Camera UX (You can access the camera with a double tap of the home button on the homescreen, and use the volume up key to take a photo)
• Crazy simple photo editing (Cropping, rotating, red-eye reduction) within the Photo app
• Over-the-air updates and PC-less device activation

Downloading the update is pretty simple: just plug in, pop into iTunes, tap on your device’s name in the left-hand navigation, and click the “Update” button found on the page that pops up. If you’re not seeing the update, give it a few minutes — the servers are getting hammered pretty hard right now.

Crunchbase

• APPLE

Company: Apple

Website: apple.com

Launch Date: April 1, 1976

IPO: NASDAQ:AAPL

Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January 2007. Among the key offerings from Apple’s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook Air) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple TV, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod, the...

→ Learn more