New features in iOS 5 including iCloud

Here are the latest updates going into iOS 5 to be released later this Fall, as well as iCloud released today in iOS 4.3 via iTunes

– iOS 5 will ship in the Fall of 2011, supports iPhone 3GS, 4, iPad 1 and 2, iPod touch 4th gen

– Apple introduces iMessage in iOS 5, a new IM app and platform supporting text messages, photos, videos, contacts and group messaging iPad & iPhone. iMessage works over 3G or WiFi

– New iPhone and iPads can now be activated and get software updates without a PC USB cable with iOS 5

– iOS 5 now also includes the ability to set up and configure your AirPort and Time Capsule right from your iPhone or iPad. This means you can really live without a Mac or PC now.

– WiFi Sync is now a reality with iOS 5. You will be able to wirelessly sync your iOS device to your Mac or PC without having to plug in the USB cable. Your device must be connected to a power source or charging station for WiFi sync to kick in with iTunes.

– Mail in iOS 5 will allow you to search entire messages, and adds keyboard enhancements giving you access to formatting options in the context menu. The Calendar app on the iPad will have a new year view.

– Updates to the Camera app in iOS 5 make it loads faster, adds volume buttons to shoot, grid lines, pinch zooming, crop + rotate, red eye reduction, auto enhance. You now can also load the Camera app from the Lock Screen using the Camera button next to the slide to unlock button.

– New Reminders app in iOS 5 will give you a native to-do app with GPS location based reminers you can set like “when i arrive” or “when i leave” to get notifications. Reminders will sync via iCloud.

– Mobile Safari in iOS 5 adds tabbed browsing, Reader view, Reading lists, and Twitter integration. Reading lists behave like Instapaper and are integrated into the bookmarks menu button. Mobile Safari’s Reader will strips ads and other junk on the page and increase font sizes for easier article reading.

– Private Browsing in Mobile Safari is yet another new feature in iOS 5. Wanna go incognito? With the private browsing feature turned on the chrome of the Safari browser turns black and you’ll keep your history private. This means Safari doesn’t remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information.

– As expected deep Twitter integration will come with iOS 5, in places like the Camera app, Safari and Maps. For example now in the Camera app you can take a photo and tweet your photo.

– Then Newsstand app will combine all your magazines and newspaper subscriptions in iOS 5, and will have a News Stand Store, where you can browse, subscribe and read magazines and newspapers.

– Notification Center in iOS 5 will combine all push notifications into one widget on the Lock Screen. Notifications are not more subtle, sliding from the top of the screen, a bit like the Growl system on a Mac.

– Multitasking get a bit more useful in iOS 5 with new gestures. Use 5 fingers on the iPad to see the new apps bar, then swipe left or right to switch between apps, or pinch to go back the Home screen.

– Apps can now be deleted from the Settings menu for easier management.

– iOS 5 accessibility options add support for LED Flash notification when a phone call comes in. You can now also set vibration modes per contact, or even create your own custom vibrations to be used for a contact. A video demo is available in Italian.

More iOS 5 information is available at apple.com/ios/ios5/

iCloud features

Best part is iCloud is FREE

– MobileMe is now in the history books, iCloud is free and will sync Calendar, Contacts, Apps, Media, and more, using Apple ID and Password

– Safari Bookmark Sync There is no mention yet whether iCloud will sync Safari Bookmarks or not. The email from Apple sent to MobileMe subscribers states:

When you sign up for iCloud, you’ll be able to keep your MobileMe email address and move your mail, contacts, calendars, and bookmarks to the new service.

But there is no indication yet on the iCloud website whether iCloud will continue to provide the same bookmark sync functionality.

– iCloud will push your apps, media and settings to the cloud and sync with all your other devices like iPad, iPhone and Macbook

– iCloud gives you 5GB of storage for free to store files, docs, and backups, purchased music apps & books don’t count towards the limit

– iTunes will sync purchased music and media with the iCloud for free to 10 devices, music you’ve ripped yourself will not sync.

– iTunes Match ($24.99/year) will find songs you don’t have in iCloud and give you 256kbps DRM-free versions. Apple is going to be using their recent acquisition of the LaLa music technology to scan your iTunes library and find matches of your non-iTunes songs in its own database of over 18 million tracks. There is one catch with iTunes Match however according to Ars. It appears if you don’t renew the yearly $25 fee, your iCloud matched music are taken away. But you can keep the files you have downloaded from iCloud to your devices.

– iCloud backs up the Home screen and app organization layouts in your various iDevices, plus SMS Text messages, Camera Roll, and Ringtones.

– iCloud works with iPhoto using Photo Stream. It stores only 1000 photos until synced with all devices not a storage system. You can also stream latest photos to your Apple TV via iCloud. If you want to manage your iCloud photos, check out the page on how to delete photos from your iCloud Photo Stream.

– iCloud has a full API for developers, so you will be seeing iPhone and Mac apps integrating iCloud functionality into their apps soon.

– apple.com/icloud is now being redirected from icloud.com

More iCloud information is available at apple.com/icloud/