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iOS 6.1 Release Date: Beta 5 Possible

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With the expiration of the iOS 6.1 Beta 4 update only days away, owners of the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are wondering if Apple might release a iOS 6.1 Gold Master or release a new beta of the software, likely dubbed iOS 6.1 Beta 5. Well, according to one well-known iOS hacker, it could be that Apple releases the fifth beta of iOS 6.1, a release that would likely push the GM release beyond January.

Read: iOS 6.1 Release Date: Clock is Ticking.

For the past several weeks, after the release of iOS 6.1 Beta 4, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners have anxiously been awaiting Apple’s next move. Rumors have been flying about a possible release of an iOS 6.1 Gold Master but thus far, nothing has panned out, leaving iDevice owners on iOS 6.0.2, the latest version of Apple’s software. But, as we’ve mentioned, the clock is ticking.

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The iOS 6.1 release date might come after an iOS 6.1 Beta 5.

On Monday, the iOS 6 Beta 4 software will expire, and at that point, those using the software will be unable to use their devices. That said, Apple is likely going to release something in the next few minutes, hours or days to remedy the situation. The question is, what exactly will it be releasing?

Well, according to note iOS hacker Stefan Esser, known as i0n1c, it could be that Apple releases an iOS 6.1 Beta 5 to developers before releasing the iOS 6.1 update to the public.

Esser is predicting that Apple release iOS 6.1 Beta 5 to developers and after two to three weeks, release the iOS 6.1 Gold Master which would translate into a release in late February or early March.

It’s unclear what exactly has swayed him to think this way, but a possibility is the fact that Apple has, in the past, released new versions of iOS either right before or during the CanSecWest security conference. Last year, CanSecWest took place in early March, kicking off at on March 7th, and Apple released iOS 5.1 on March 7th. At the conference, there is an event dubbed ‘pwn2own’ which is an annual hacking contest and in the past, iOS has been target.

iOS is said to not be a target during this year’s pwn2own which could impact Apple’s plans and translate into an earlier release date. CanSecWest 2013 is scheduled to start on March 6th.

While Esser is a reliable source, it should be noted that at this point, anything is possible. However, by the end of January 28th, we should have our answer from Apple whether its a iOS 6.1 GM or a new Beta 5.

OS 6.1 isn’t expected  to be a big update but it should provide a couple of new features to iPhone and iPad owners including a different looking music control on the lock screen, a more prominent place to report bugs in Apple Maps, and a new feature in Siri that allows users to purchase movie tickets using the virtual assistant and Fandango.

It’s also possible that Apple has hidden some features out of sight of developers as well.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Geancarlo

    01/25/2013 at 3:08 pm

    I really hope that it’s the ios 6.1 GM. I can’t wait to have a jailbroke iPhone 4S. We should appreciate the hard work the Evad3rs are doing and be patient for a little longer.

  2. M.P.

    01/25/2013 at 3:45 pm

    According to https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1522183&page=7 the GM was released yesterday…

  3. billi macoy

    01/25/2013 at 5:46 pm

    i0n1c is not a reliable source, he is a troll… for that reason he is out of all jailbreak teams.

    • TannanBob

      01/25/2013 at 5:53 pm

      I was just about to say that same thing.

  4. TannanBob

    01/25/2013 at 5:57 pm

    i0nic is upset with the evad3rs because they have the public on their side. He is probably just trying to troll and bring people down to lower faith in evad3rs. However, an iOS 6.1 beta 5 is sadly possible :/
    Hopefully it will be GM with a jailbreak to follow shortly after.

    • IPHONE4EVET

      01/25/2013 at 7:08 pm

      He’s a douche bag, but none the less he could be right, but if he is I’m sooo bummed, been waiting sooo long it seems but ill patiently wait for the good stuff. Thanks Evad3rs!!!

  5. Papasin

    01/25/2013 at 11:30 pm

    Last beta….no beta 5.

  6. What

    01/26/2013 at 8:59 am

    It does make sense for Apple to release 6.1 in March alongside the iPads. Why release it without having one of Apple’s Keynote Presentations like they normally do…they normally show off they’re new Apple products there. Pretty sure the next version is beta 5 and anyone who thinks its not, is just gonna be disappointed.

    • IPHONE4EVER

      01/26/2013 at 10:06 am

      If the update is so small what exactly are they spending so much time doing running so many Betas? I believe there is much more included in this update than has been said or expected. Anyone else thinking along these lines?

    • TannanBob

      01/26/2013 at 4:32 pm

      I respect what you have to say, but I got my own thoughts on this too.

      With everything being compiled together, it is unlikely that a “beta 5” will be let out. I know I’m not giving much evidence here, but im tired of posting my ever growing thoughts on this subject. But here is my say.
      1- Apple has to get 30+ new carriers on LTE (they will likely do this with the iOS update) before the end of the month.
      2- Apple stocks are dropping like rocks. If they want to get the public eye, an iOS update would be a start.
      3- (Most convincing thoughts for me personally) Apple uses a little tactic known as “planed obsolescence” in the which they add little steps at a time and then jump out with something huge in major updates or marketing seasons. An iOS 6.1 update is a fairly minor update and few things have been added. Thanks to planed obsolescence, they are probably not going to add anymore features in iOS 6.1 then they already have, thus demeaning any need for further betas. Really, they are backed into a rock and a hard place situation. But I think it would do everybody (including Apple) more good to let out iOS 6.1 Golden Master and then iOS 6.1 shortly after then it would be for them to make a beta 5 that would push them and jailbreakers back. They, after all, have a lot of things they need to do and the new iOS will make them possible.

  7. Zaidan

    01/26/2013 at 9:18 am

    In the second last para, the first word, i think it should me iOS and not OS.

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