An Exhaustive List of iOS 5 Features and Changes

ios 5 features1

Since the release of first iOS 5 Beta last week, people have been diligently documenting all the new features Apple has introduced in the upcoming version. Apple claims over 200 new features have been added, but have only spelled out a fraction of those. On our iPhone/iOS Blog we've already covered some of the biggest changes. These include:

iOS 5 Streams Track/Artist Information to Bluetooth Audio Devices
Multiple Routes Supported in iOS 5 Google Maps
iOS 5 Brings Improvements to Weather App
iOS 5 Includes Airport and Time Capsule Setup Software
iOS 5 Allows You to Tap Out Custom Vibration Patterns
Screenshot of iOS 5's New iPad Music App
Demo of iPad's AirPlay Mirroring in iOS 5

MacRumors forum user hellomoto4 has compiled a longer list with screenshots of many of the new findings, such as:

318057560
iCal in landscape mode

usage
Storage space for Apps

The most complete list of changes we've seen, however, is from forum user benna who has compiled 153 changes/features as of this writing. There are some duplicates and only a few screenshots, but it's the most exhaustive list we've seen. Here are some excerpts of some of the more interesting changes:

- You can choose what applications to be included in Notifications Center
- Ability to Set Left or Right for Mono Audio
- You can create additional @me.com email address within the Mail settings
- New Private Browsing option in Safari
- Set custom text tone for each contact.
- You can use your phone while its being synced with iTunes.
- Multitasking Gestures in iPad. Use four or five fingers, swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen, and swipe left or right to switch between apps.
- Camera, use two-finger spread/pinch gesture to zoom in/out accordingly (Thanks @Alan)
- When your alarm goes off you can snooze it from lockscreen or slide to turn off
- Ability to set maximum messages downloaded through email to 1000 instead of 250
- Links can be opened in the background

iOS 5 is presently in developer beta release and will be released to the public in the fall of this year.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and iPod

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

10 Products Still Coming From Apple in 2025

Friday April 11, 2025 4:14 pm PDT by
Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then. We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025. iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone Resolutions Leak With Under-Screen Camera Tipped

Monday April 14, 2025 3:12 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold") will feature two screens as part of its book-style design, and a Chinese leaker claims to know the resolutions for both of them. According to the Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station, the inner display, which is approximately 7.76 inches, will use a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution and feature "under-screen camera technology." Meanwhile, the...
iPad Pro iPadOS

iPadOS 19 Will Be 'More Like macOS' in Three Ways

Sunday April 13, 2025 6:43 am PDT by
A common complaint about the iPad Pro is that the iPadOS software platform fails to fully take advantage of the device's powerful hardware. That could soon change. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS." Gurman said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like a Mac" in three ways:Improved productivity Improved multitasking Improved app window management...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Waiting for the Perfect MacBook Pro? 2026 Might Be the Year

Thursday April 10, 2025 4:19 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small...
Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta

Vision Pro 2 Rumored to Have Two Key Advantages Over Current Model

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:15 am PDT by
Apple is working on a new version of the Vision Pro with two key advantages over the current model, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Specifically, in his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said Apple is developing a new headset that is both lighter and less expensive than the current Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499 in the U.S. and weighs up to 1.5 pounds. Gurman said Apple is also...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: New iOS 19, iPhone 17, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Leaks

Friday April 11, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we catch up on the latest iOS 19 and watchOS 12 rumors, upcoming devices, and more. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Detailed new renders from leaker Jon Prosser claim to provide the best look yet at the complete redesign rumored to arrive in iOS 19, showing more rounded elements, lighting effects, translucency, and...
top stories 2025 04 12

Top Stories: iOS 19 and iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, Siri Revamp Turmoil, and More

Saturday April 12, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
It was a big week for leaks and rumors in the Apple world, with fresh claims about iOS 19, the iPhone 17 Pro, and even the 20th anniversary iPhone coming a couple of years from now. Sources also spilled the tea on the inner turmoil at Apple around the Apple Intelligence-driven Siri revamp that has seen significant delays, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iOS ...
iPhone 16e Feature

iPhones, Macs, and Other Apple Devices Exempted From Trump Tariffs

Saturday April 12, 2025 9:44 am PDT by
Apple and other electronics manufacturers have received a break from Trump's reciprocal tariffs, with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency sharing a long list of products excluded from the levies last night. iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watch, and other Apple devices will not be subject to the 125 percent tariffs that have been put in place on imported Chinese goods, nor will Apple...

Top Rated Comments

gatearray Avatar
181 months ago
Apple is saving features for iPhone 5 launch

I have a feeling that Apple is purposely holding back on some big new iOS 5 features for the unveiling of the next iPhone, like Nuance speech recognition, etc.

If the hardware will be largely similar to the iPhone 4, they will need some new "wow moments" for the keynote, and I don't believe for a second that the 10 new features they focused on at WWDC are the only crown jewels of the new OS.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr Lizard Avatar
181 months ago
When your alarm goes off you can snooze it from lockscreen or slide to turn off

Been doing that for ever!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rickdollar Avatar
181 months ago
"133. Sponsored links in Google Maps"

We could probably do without this one.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
181 months ago

- When your alarm goes off you can snooze it from lockscreen or slide to turn off

This has always been possible in iOS from the start.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dagamer34 Avatar
181 months ago
Need podcast subscriptions straight on the phone!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
southernpaws Avatar
181 months ago
I followed the link and read the article on ieatapples.

I was amused by the part where it talked about how developers are "pissed" at the reminders and camera apps. It pretty much falls into the "competition is good!" category. If they want to keep their apps alive, they need to update their apps with new ideas. Did they think they'd be able to come up with something and just coast on the idea for years? Development isn't a cakewalk, and people who treat it like such, or who got on board thinking they'd be able to make a quick buck, should fall to the wayside and make room for more committed developers.

I admire the guy from instapaper. at first, he was upset that apple duplicated his functionality. Then he basically said "well. Time to start coming up with some new updates and new functionalities." He will do fine because he'll always look to stay ahead of the curve, and those are the developers that are worth buying from.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)