iOS 5 and iCloud coming October 12

Apple announced that the next major upgrade to its mobile operating system, iOS 5, will be available on October 12. Users of most recent iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models with be able to upgrade at no charge, though users of the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and early iPod touch models will be stuck on iOS 4 from here on out.
Apple SVP of Software Engineering Scott Forstall described some of iOS 5's new features, such as the improved Notification system, location-based Reminders, and long-requested improvements to the included Camera application. iOS 5 will also include a new device-to-device messaging system called iMessage. Forstall confirmed that iMessage will work over WiFi and 3G connections, so it could replace costly texting plans for users that primarily communicate with iOS users.
Most important, perhaps, is iOS 5's compatibility with Apple's new iCloud service. iOS 5 syncs a variety of data between compatible Macs and Windows PCs as well as any registered iOS devices, including iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. With iCloud, apps, music, photos, videos, iWork documents, and other data are kept in sync automatically between devices registered with the same Apple ID. iCloud will also power Apple's $24.99 per year iTunes Match service, which keeps a copy of your entire iTunes library, up to 25,000 tracks, in the cloud for access from any registered device.
Apple SVP of Internet Services Eddy Cue was on hand to detail iCloud. He revealed one new feature that has been rumored but not previously announced: Find My Friends. Users can set up impromptu meeting places using GPS coordinates, and other users can use Find My Friends to find the location and time to meet up.
Both iOS 5 and iCloud are free upgrades for existing iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, and 3rd and 4th-gen iPod touch users, and will both be available October 12. iTunes Match with launch at the end of the month in the US.

Posted in: i-phones