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iOS 5 facts for kids
| Version of the iOS operating system | |
 |
|
iOS 5 home screen running on an iPhone 4
|
|
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Source model | Closed, with open source components |
| Initial release | October 12, 2011 |
| Latest release | 5.1.1 / May 25, 2012 |
| Repository |
|
| Update method | Software Update |
| Package manager | App Store |
| Platforms |
iPhone
iPod Touch
iPad |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
| License | Proprietary EULA except for open-source components |
| Preceded by | iOS 4 |
| Succeeded by | iOS 6 |
| Tagline | We've taken iOS to a whole new level. |
| Support status | |
| Obsolete, unsupported. Drops support for the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch (2nd generation). | |
iOS 5 was a big update for iOS, which is the operating system for Apple Inc.'s mobile devices like iPhones and iPads. It was the fifth main version, coming after iOS 4. Apple first showed off iOS 5 on June 6, 2011, and it was released to everyone on October 12, 2011. Later, iOS 6 took its place on September 19, 2012.
iOS 5 brought many cool new features. It changed how notifications worked, making them appear as quick banners at the top of the screen. It also added the Notification Center, a handy place to see all your recent alerts. This update also introduced iCloud, Apple's service for storing your stuff online and syncing it across your devices. Plus, iMessage was added, letting you send free messages to other Apple users. For the first time, you could update your device's software wirelessly, without needing a computer or iTunes. iOS 5 also had strong links with Twitter, allowed special multitasking moves on iPads, and made it easier to open the camera from the lock screen.
Some users with the iPhone 4s had problems with the first version of iOS 5. They reported issues like their battery draining too fast, problems with SIM cards, and echoes during phone calls. Luckily, Apple fixed these issues in later updates.
iOS 5 was the last version that worked on the third-generation iPod Touch and the first-generation iPad.
Contents
History of iOS 5
How iOS 5 Was Introduced
Apple first announced iOS 5 at their Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 6, 2011. A special test version was given to app developers that same day.
The official release of iOS 5 for everyone happened on October 12, 2011.
New Features in iOS 5
Better Notifications
Before iOS 5, notifications would pop up as big boxes in the middle of your screen, stopping whatever you were doing. With iOS 5, notifications became much better! They now show up as a quick banner at the top of your screen, so they don't interrupt you as much.
You can also pull down a "Notification Center" from the top of the screen to see all your recent alerts in one place. If you preferred the old way, you could still choose that option in the Settings.
iCloud Storage Service
iOS 5 introduced iCloud, which is Apple's service for storing things online, also known as "cloud storage." This new service lets you keep your music, photos, videos, and app data in sync across all your Apple devices that use iCloud. The best part is that it was free to use!
Wireless Updates for Your Device
With iOS 5, you could finally update your device's software without needing a computer or iTunes. This meant you could get the latest updates directly on your phone or tablet over Wi-Fi. You could also set up new devices wirelessly.
Twitter App Integration
iOS 5 made it super easy to use Twitter. You could sign in to your Twitter account right from your device's Settings menu. This allowed you to share photos directly from your Photos or Camera apps. You could also tweet from apps like Safari, YouTube, and Google Maps.
Multitasking on iPad
Special multitasking moves were added for the iPad with iOS 5. These gestures let you switch between apps quickly without having to double-tap the home button or go back to the home screen first. At first, these gestures only worked on the iPad 2.
Keyboard Improvements
The keyboard on the iPad got some cool new tricks. You could move it away from the bottom of the screen. You could also split it into two smaller keyboards, which made it easier to type with your thumbs.
Siri Voice Assistant
Siri, Apple's helpful voice assistant, first appeared on the iPhone 4s with iOS 5. At this time, it only worked on the iPhone 4s. Later, Siri became available on more devices and got even smarter with each new iOS update.
App Features in iOS 5
Photos and Camera App
One great new feature in iOS 5 was how easy it became to open the Camera app from the lock screen. You could double-click the home button, and a camera icon would appear. Tapping it would take you straight to the camera.
Later, in the iOS 5.1 update, this process was made even simpler. You just had to swipe up the camera icon from the lock screen. For safety, if your device was locked with a passcode, this shortcut only let you use the camera, not other parts of your phone.
Another handy feature was being able to take a picture by pressing the volume-up button.
Messages and iMessage
Messages got a big upgrade with iMessage. This new service let anyone with an iOS 5 device send free text, photo, and video messages to other iOS 5 users. Unlike regular SMS messages, iMessages used the internet, not your phone plan. They were also color-coded blue, while regular SMS messages were green. iMessages would sync across all your Apple devices.
Mail App Updates
The Mail app became more powerful. You could now use bold, italic, or underlined text in your emails. It also became easier to organize your messages and move addresses between the To, CC, and BCC lines.
Reminders App
The new Reminders app helped you keep track of tasks. You could create lists of things to do and set alerts. These alerts could be based on a specific date and time, or even on your location, like reminding you to buy milk when you arrive at the grocery store.
Newsstand App
Newsstand was a special folder that looked like an app. When you opened it, you would see all the newspapers and magazines you subscribed to. New issues would download automatically, so you always had the latest reads.
Music and Videos Apps
On the iPhone, the old "iPod" app was split into two separate apps: "Music" and "Videos." This made it easier to find and enjoy your songs and movies, just like on the iPod Touch.
Problems with iOS 5
Initial Upgrade Issues
When iOS 5 first came out in October 2011, many people had trouble upgrading their devices. There were errors during installation, and Apple's servers became very busy because so many people were trying to update at once.
iPhone 4S Battery Life
Some iPhone 4s users noticed their battery draining very quickly after updating to iOS 5. Apple confirmed this issue and released an update, iOS 5.0.1, which helped fix the battery problems.
SIM Card Problems
A few iPhone 4s users also reported issues with their SIM cards. They would see error messages like "Invalid SIM" or "SIM Failure." Apple released another small update (a second version of 5.0.1) to fix these SIM card issues.
Supported Devices for iOS 5
With the release of iOS 5, Apple stopped supporting the iPhone 3G and the second-generation iPod Touch. This meant these older devices could not update to iOS 5 or newer versions.
iPhone |
iPod Touch
|
iPad |
Apple TV |
iOS 5 Version History
iOS 5 had a few updates after its first release to fix bugs and add small improvements.
- iOS 5.0 (October 12, 2011): This was the first version. It brought iCloud, Notification Center, iMessage, wireless updates, Twitter integration, and camera shortcuts.
- iOS 5.0.1 (November 10, 2011, and December 12, 2011): This update mainly fixed problems. It solved the fast battery drain for iPhone 4s users and fixed issues with iCloud syncing. A later small update to 5.0.1 specifically fixed the "No SIM" error for iPhone 4s users.
- iOS 5.1 (March 7, 2012): This update added Japanese support for Siri and made the camera shortcut on the lock screen always visible. It also improved battery life and fixed some other bugs.
- iOS 5.1.1 (May 7, 2012, and May 25, 2012): This was the last update for iOS 5. It improved how HDR photos worked from the lock screen camera and fixed problems with Wi-Fi and AirPlay video playback.
Images for kids
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The official logo for iOS 5.
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The home screen of iOS 5 running on an iPhone 4.
See also
In Spanish: IOS 5 para niños