Notifications is an obvious and early favorite, but I have to say, I'm personally REALLY digging the lock screen camera shortcut + volume shutter button, and the iPad split screen keyboard and tabbed browsing.
Reminders seems conceptually half-baked to me, and doesn't do enough to take the role of a dedicated personal task management system (kind of like how Notes could never replace something like Simplenote for me). Reading List may have potential, but it's like they knocked off the least useful aspects of Instapaper.
For those that have access to the iOS beta, what do you think?
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Favorite iOS 5 features so far?
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ryan's pick
Lock screen notifications may be the winner for me. So nice to have that level of clarity.
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ryan's pick
Tabs is a big winner for me, especially on the iPad. Also wireless syncing of iTunes.
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ryan's pick
This didn't even get a shoutout in the keynote, but to me, text macros are huge. I love being able to type my email in three letters, and other phrases and words I use all the time. It's something I previously had when jailbroken, but just works flawlessly when built-in.
Another low profile -- but highly useful -- feature I really find useful is the camera shortcut from the lock screen. It only appears if you double-tap the home button, but loads the camera instantly.
(The animations of the split keyboard and status bar notification fade-out are also ridiculously sleek... So Apple.)
Another low profile -- but highly useful -- feature I really find useful is the camera shortcut from the lock screen. It only appears if you double-tap the home button, but loads the camera instantly.
(The animations of the split keyboard and status bar notification fade-out are also ridiculously sleek... So Apple.)
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ryan's pick
One problem with the volume button shutter.
To me I can take a much more stable photo when using the press and hold, then release method. This method allows you to stable your shot then simply slide your finger down off the on screen shutter button to take the photo.
Pressing the volume button requires too much force and therefore photos are not as sharp due to the shake. This is even worse for iPhones in cases. A lot of people have their i4 in a bulky OtterBox, these are non geeks by the way. Pressing the volume button through case is excruciatingly hard. So I can imagine those photos will turn out pretty bad.
For me AirPlay mirroring will be huge. Imagine Keynote presentations. And in schools this will kill those smart whiteboards.
To me I can take a much more stable photo when using the press and hold, then release method. This method allows you to stable your shot then simply slide your finger down off the on screen shutter button to take the photo.
Pressing the volume button requires too much force and therefore photos are not as sharp due to the shake. This is even worse for iPhones in cases. A lot of people have their i4 in a bulky OtterBox, these are non geeks by the way. Pressing the volume button through case is excruciatingly hard. So I can imagine those photos will turn out pretty bad.
For me AirPlay mirroring will be huge. Imagine Keynote presentations. And in schools this will kill those smart whiteboards.
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community pick
Although I'm not an iOS user anymore, I will have to say that "PC Free" feature is hands down the most exciting and useful of all the new features. As an Android user, I have no idea how iOS users are still able to keep up with backing up everything on a computer that they might not have access to all the time and using the crippled iTunes software.
This feature makes you feel more confident about using an iOS device knowing that you are backed up all the time on the air and without any extra effort, from activation to restoration.
This feature makes you feel more confident about using an iOS device knowing that you are backed up all the time on the air and without any extra effort, from activation to restoration.
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As a long time jailbroken iPhone user, I have to say that the features newest and most exciting for me are iMessage and a proper notifications system. MobileNotifier had promise but no polish; nice to see Peter Hajas get recognition for his work and see it finally come to proper fruition in iOS 5. Most of the other stuff has always been available for jailbroken phones. Still, always nice to see it natively implemented.
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Most people haven't noticed this, but if you turn the calendar app to landscape it gives you the week view. I'm an avid user of this app and it's a more than welcome addition.
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Notifications hands down! Small stuff like the camera led flash on notification and recording your own vibration pattern is cute, but I don't really see me using it.
iMessages however is a nice addition, even if its only ios - ios. And the PC-Free setup is very easy. I'm guessing that feature alone will sell a lot more ipads!
iMessages however is a nice addition, even if its only ios - ios. And the PC-Free setup is very easy. I'm guessing that feature alone will sell a lot more ipads!
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It's really hard to choose one, but am really liking the AirPlay mirroring feature.
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I definitely like Notifications (even if it is a clear gimmick from Android OS).
The camera shortcut will come in handy, since I'm switching from a Droid X to an iPhone 4 (that camera button was the most used button on the phone).
And of course, the iPad split keyboard just looks awesome.
The camera shortcut will come in handy, since I'm switching from a Droid X to an iPhone 4 (that camera button was the most used button on the phone).
And of course, the iPad split keyboard just looks awesome.
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is it only me or did Apple actually had to copy features from Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7. Early signs of decay?
WiFi Sync, Camera from lock screen is from WP7. Notifications from Android. And the new Messenger is from Blackberry.
WiFi Sync, Camera from lock screen is from WP7. Notifications from Android. And the new Messenger is from Blackberry.
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I'm sorry to be negative, but my favorite feature is the volume shutter button for the camera, only because Apple booted Camera+ from the market less than a year ago for daring to do something so useful for their users.
I wonder when phone manufacturers will start realizing that so many people want a dedicated camera button...
I wonder when phone manufacturers will start realizing that so many people want a dedicated camera button...
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The most frustrating impediment to full enjoyment of all the capabilities wireless broadband makes available to us has been the portability of content, a legacy of DRM policies that tie consumers to physical media. iTunes in the Cloud is certainly a great feature of iOS 5, and what it represents for consumer freedom is the most exciting thing about this and other cloud services. We are moving -- not quickly enough, in my view, but we're getting there -- to a world in which consumers can purchase a song or movie and watch or listen to it on the device of their choosing. Why should I have to buy more than one copy of the same movie when I want to watch it on different devices I own? Why should I have to buy multiple copies of the same song to listen to it on different devices? Cloud services give me more control over the content I lawfully purchase, and making content available to consumers in a timely manner, at a fair price, and without unfair restrictions on usage of the content on my own devices -- that's what I want. iOS 5 is a nice step toward getting us there.
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Notification area for sure, but the app management and whole icloud scheme looks to be a winner. If...and this may be a big if, Apple can do something about what happens when you install an app. I love, love, love that you can click on the cloud to install an app you already bought. But, I frakking hate that it still dumps you to the home screen after each app. That cloud icon is just begging to be used as a download queue or something
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Been using it since available for devs, and have to say some features are really useful while others somewhat annoying.
favourite features: new notification system - especially now being available on the homescreen with slide-to-view notification. iMessages also useful and you're able to see if the other person has it working too (so you know if you're sending an MMS or iMessage - useful). There's also lots of little features like creating photo album on iPhone, and under setting very useful - you're able to delete iPod music/video from the device itself!. PC-free and iCloud as well as delta updates also a big boom!
Annoying features are: why have they split the "iPod" app on iPhone to separate "music" and "video" apps like the touch? :/. Also, the notifications can't be switched on/off completely like iOS 4, but rather each app/notification has to be done individually!..
favourite features: new notification system - especially now being available on the homescreen with slide-to-view notification. iMessages also useful and you're able to see if the other person has it working too (so you know if you're sending an MMS or iMessage - useful). There's also lots of little features like creating photo album on iPhone, and under setting very useful - you're able to delete iPod music/video from the device itself!. PC-free and iCloud as well as delta updates also a big boom!
Annoying features are: why have they split the "iPod" app on iPhone to separate "music" and "video" apps like the touch? :/. Also, the notifications can't be switched on/off completely like iOS 4, but rather each app/notification has to be done individually!..
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Wireless sync is awesome. I love that I could keep using my iPad 2 while all my apps and music were syncing.
A lot if these features are making want to ditch my Android devices for an iPHone...
A lot if these features are making want to ditch my Android devices for an iPHone...
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PC Free features and if iTunes Music Match is truly DRM free. I'm worried if a user stopped paying for the $25/yr, they'll lose access/syncing to their ripped cd music and other content gathered thru questionable means. Or worse, the music labels might just track and sue such users.
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PC Free by far but the lock screen camera thing is cool too. Imagine how many more Wienergate pics we'll have now! No fifteen seconds of tapping to regain your sanity before taking that crotch shot anymore.
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+ Notifications
+ Twitter integration
+ Swipe left to right on Camera to goto Albums
+ Flagging messages
+ Twitter integration
+ Swipe left to right on Camera to goto Albums
+ Flagging messages
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Wifi sync, without a doubt. I've wanted this for quite a while and I'm not sure why they didn't make it a bigger deal in the keynote.
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I am looking forward to iMessage and volume up to take pictures. Bring it!
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Lock screen notifications and additional data such as weather and such. I hope android takes a look at this and implements a way to have widgets on the lock screen...so useful.
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Notifications and keyboard macros. I just reverted to 4.3.3 on my iPad because there were just too many issues with apps on iOS5 that I regularly use--I'm not currently developing anything for iPad, so will wait for next beta to see where things are at.
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Without a doubt, customizable, system-wide text expansion. Big time-saver.
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Split keyboard is way more useful than I gave it credit for, previous to trying it out. Finally I feel like I can hold this device however I want, instead of having to set it down on my lap just to punch something out.
Notifications are huge, but I feel weirdly impressed by the keyboard, especially since it's movable vertically...
Notifications are huge, but I feel weirdly impressed by the keyboard, especially since it's movable vertically...
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Notifications, hands down. I hate the current notification system to the point where I've turned off the alerts for all my apps. I rely on badges to see what apps have sent notifications.
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I don’t know if this was mentioned during the keynote but so far the feature I like the most is that you can still use your iPad or possibly iPhone (have not upgraded it yet) while its Syncing. Thins is a great feature especially when its restoring close to 30 GB of data.
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Everything they debuted was much-needed, but the PC-free activation and OTA updates, immediately followed by iMessage. Put a dagger in BBM, though others have already found refuge in other programs such as KiK and LiveProfile.
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So far really digging notifications. Qq - how did you enable the lock screen camera button?
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It's a toss up for me between notifications and the enhanced lock screen, but I'd probably lean towards notifications if I had to pick just one.
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For me it's a toss-up between the new camera options and the PC-free.
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I am looking forward to the split keyboard on the iPad, I have a feeling it will make typing alot better in many situations.
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Wireless synch, by a long shot, its one of those things that will disappear into the ether and within weeks of its launch we will wonder how and we - we did anything other
Then notifications, Lock screen ones in particular
Then notifications, Lock screen ones in particular
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As a developer I'm looking forward to exercising the iCloud API's for storage. As a user, I'm really liking the new notifications.
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The ability to be PC Free, especially the Sync and Backup to the cloud. I hope that podcast subscriptions work automatically.
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Favorite, I'm not quite sure. But perhaps most useful would definitely be wireless syncing. This could be huge for some people who do not want to have to sync up with a laptop/desktop. For most of the readers here are gdgt I'm not sure it will have the same impact, but convenient never the less.
The most noticeable difference will of course be the revamped notifications, something they should have done this a loooong time ago (the notifications haven't changed since the original iPhone in 2007).
The most gimmicky feature that everyone will of course use is iMessage, BBM killer much.
The way I see it nothing is innovative about anything in iOS 5. iCloud (with the exception of iTunes match) google/android has already had this for years in addition to a very similar notifications system. Wireless sync a la Zune HD, iMessage from RIM, etc.
The most noticeable difference will of course be the revamped notifications, something they should have done this a loooong time ago (the notifications haven't changed since the original iPhone in 2007).
The most gimmicky feature that everyone will of course use is iMessage, BBM killer much.
The way I see it nothing is innovative about anything in iOS 5. iCloud (with the exception of iTunes match) google/android has already had this for years in addition to a very similar notifications system. Wireless sync a la Zune HD, iMessage from RIM, etc.
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Personally the Reminders with GPS fields. For someone who rushes out of the house in the morning sometimes I don't have everything with me that I should. Many 'Damn, I forgot that ...' is something that I can do without. Having the ability of a check list that will alert me on my way out of the house and not when I get in the office is definitely a plus
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I like the sound of iTunes in the cloud and iTunes Match... all my music on all my devices and in the cloud for $25 a year.. seems like a pretty good deal.. especially considering all the other free updates that are interegated in iOS 5.. and the fact that all my tracks will be 256kbs now.. not too shabby
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android like notifications. but icloud is a winner too :)
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Oh sooo many nice changes. There is one sleeper that didn't get a lot of attention but to me is huge and that is mirroring. Wirelessly seeing what's on the iPad on the big screen TV at the same time is huge. In the iOS5 video posted on the Apple site it clearly shows that this is true mirroring, not just AirPlay a video kind of thing. It's beautiful and I want it now!!
My other #1 the fast camera functionality.
My other #1 the fast camera functionality.
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Loving the hand gestures to get to the other running apps, and looking forward to getting many of the periodicals into the Newsstand. Still trying to get used to the new, split Music/Video experiences.
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There are so many good features, it is hard to choose one, but two top ones is the new notification system and imessages those are the top ones
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My favourite feature is definitely being to able to use my iPad / iPhone while it's syncing, since wireless sync doesn't seem to work...yet.
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No. 1 favorite feature thus far is not needing to sync to iTunes on a Mac. No 2 is wi-fi syncing.
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I'll tell you what I don't like! Apple keeping tract of you iPhone. I know this isn't a jailbreak forum but I reley on the jailbreak for numerous tweaks and I'm afraid apple will jailbreak proof iOS and the fact that some app were pirated on my devices vis installous. I hear they already have a jailbreak but dose it have appsync 5.0 in the works
To answer your question my favorite thing is imessaging to other iOS. But is it free?
We will see ;)
To answer your question my favorite thing is imessaging to other iOS. But is it free?
We will see ;)
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My favorite is that you can swipe left from the camera app like you were swiping through photos.
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Besides for the obvious features (notification, iCloud etc.) a really useful feature that's finally come to iOS: in previous iOS', whenever enabling network data, I would have to enable/disable airplane mode after for data to work. Not the case anymore in iOS 5 (just enable data/3G, and no need to enable airplane mode) !
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