iOS 5

Apple previewed iOS 5 on June 6, 2011 and announced the free update for October 12 through iTunes 10.5. iPhone 4S was introduced with this system and an announced October 14 sale in the first markets. Apple's October 17 report already records iOS 5 users after release.

Type

Operating system

Family

iOS

Major version

5

Preview

2011-06-06

Announced availability

2011-10-12

Initial distribution

iTunes 10.5

Upgrade price

Free

Main changes

Notification Center · iMessage · PC Free

Documented updates

5.0 · 5.1

Limit

System support does not imply support for every feature.

Notification Center gathers alerts; iMessage sends messages, photos and videos between iOS 5 users. Newsstand organizes publications, while PC Free allows device activation and setup without a computer, plus wireless system updates. These additions are not attributed to earlier versions.

Apple documents the update for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, original iPad and iPad 2, and third- and fourth-generation iPod touch. Siri was announced in beta for iPhone 4S, initially in English, French and German: installing iOS 5 on another model does not turn it into iPhone 4S or automatically grant Siri.

iOS 5.1 stays within this entry: Apple announced it available on March 7, 2012 and associated it with third-generation iPad, whose sale was announced for March 16. Additions included a redesigned Camera app for that iPad and dictation in English, French, German and Japanese. Support is documented by device, not as a promise of identical features.

Sources

• Apple Newsroom · 2011-06-06
• Apple Newsroom · 2011-10-04
• Apple Newsroom · 2011-10-04
• Apple Newsroom · 2011-10-17
• Apple Newsroom · 2012-03-07