Mobile
iOS 5.1 Release Date: What to Expect From iOS 5.1
iOS 5.1 is the next major update to Apple’s latest mobile operating system iOS 5.
iOS 5 was released on October 12, 2011, right before the iPhone 4S arrived. Since then, Apple has released iOS 5.0.1 which was supposed to fix battery life issues, but hasn’t solved them for all users.
If you haven’t upgraded to iOS 5 yet, now is a good time to upgrade. Not only do you get great new features, but it even runs great on the iPhone 3GS.
The next big software update for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch is iOS 5.1. This update is expected to contain a number of bug fixes, another attempt at battery life fixes and most exciting — possible Siri updates to enhance the app.
iOS 5.1 Release Date
iOS 5.1 was released to Apple developers on November 28th, 2011. This beta has been in the hands of developers for a week now, but Apple has not made an official iOS 5.1 release date announcement.
Because Apple wants to fix the pervading battery issues, we expect that Apple will push the iOS 5.1 release out sooner rather than later.
Apple has released a second version, iOS 5.1 beta 2, to developers for testing. This new version brings a few more hints at new features, listed below, but early reports suggest that battery life has not been fixed.
It is possible for Apple to release iOS 5.1 before the end of December, but not a sure thing. At this point, the iOS 5.1 release date could slip to January.
iOS 5.1 Features
Battery Life
One of the biggest targets for Apple is to fix the elusive iPhone 4S battery issues.
Reports suggest that iOS 5.1 hasn’t fixed the iPhone 4S battery life issues that have been hampering the iPhone 4S for a number of users, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a fix in here for some users.
Or at least Apple’s latest attempt to fix the battery life bug.
New Keyboard in Mail
Another new feature is a slightly redesigned keyboard in the mail. This change is visible in the recipient field of the Mail app, where you now have access to an @ symbol to speed up entering email addresses.
iTunes Match Over 3G
New to iOS 5.1 is the ability to sync and stream your iTunes Match music over 3G. This is a handy feature, but could quickly eat through the data plans of many users, so be sure that you use this feature wisely.
PhotoStream Enhancements
In the latest beta, Apple has added the ability to delete individual photos from your PhotoStream. These photos will then be removed from the rest of your iOS 5.1 devices as well.
Siri App Control
The most exciting iOS 5.1 feature that has been rumored is the ability to do more with Siri. We have yet to see anything about this in the iOS 5.1 beta, but Apple could be sharing this feature with just a few developers right now.
Reportedly, Siri will soon be able to perform the following actions.
- Interact with Apps – like to do apps.
- Turn Bluetooth and WiFi on and off
- Capture a video or photo
While it would be awesome to see these features in December, Apple may hold off on updating Siri until next year.
What Devices will run iOS 5.1
Like the iOS 5 upgrade, the iOS 5.1 update will work on the following devices.
- iPhone 3GS
- iPhone 4
- iPad
- iPad 2
- iPod Touch 3rd and 4th Generation
Even the iPhone 3GS, which is more than two years old, handles this new operating system well.
iOS 5.1 Upgrade
Like the iOS 5.o.1 update that was released on November 10th, we expect to see iOS 5.1 available as a downloadable over the air update.
All you should need to do is connect to WiFi, download the update and wait for it to install. You should make sure you have a backup though.
iOS 5.1 and iPhone 4S Jailbreak
If you have been following the status of the iPhone 4S Jailbreak, you’ll know that progress has been made, and the iPhone 4S has been jailbroken.
Unfortunately, the iPhone 4S jailbreak is not available to the general public yet. We recommended staying away from iOS 5.0.1 if you want to jailbreak, because it may patch holes that iPhone hackers use to jailbreak your iPhone.
(Read: 18 Reasons to Jailbreak the iPhone 4S)
There is no official word from the iPhone Dev Team or the Chronic Dev Team, but if you do want to jailbreak your iPhone 4S, you may want to pass on the iOS 5.1 update.
Waiting shouldn’t be that hard to do, unless the Siri integration is really available.
Mframe3795
12/05/2011 at 2:34 pm
Most of the comments have been about the 4S phone. I have the 3GS and after downloading the 5.0.1 to it my battery life went to hell. I have to charge it 2 or 3 times a day. Before that it would last 2 or 3 days. I sure hope the 5.1 works to fix this.
Anonymous
12/06/2011 at 1:19 pm
it is your fault that you are still using 3gs. lol…..i dont mean to be mean. After three years I would face the same situation.
Yash
12/12/2011 at 12:28 am
buddy just downgrade your version
Jteve Sobs
12/12/2011 at 4:02 am
You ARE aware that your phone is over about 2 years old right? And taking into account all the charges and discharges your battery has endured for these 2 yrs, I’d say its pretty decent to charge twice a day.
Juno Az
12/23/2011 at 10:02 am
Apple still sells the 3gs.
Jonesyjunk
12/16/2011 at 9:47 am
Fully agree on the 3gs battery life issue. Mine was fine the day before I upgraded (from ios3!) and now it is screwed, when I’m using the phone it lasts maybe 2 hours. I really need a fix for this or I will be hacking the phone and downgrading back to ios3.
Davoze
12/28/2011 at 1:46 pm
Blast from the past!
Andres
12/05/2011 at 5:23 pm
Do want iOS 5.1 update before the end of december please! I wouldnt want to update anymore and see if I jailbreak 5.1 if there is ever going to be a jailbreak.
Kyler
02/14/2012 at 4:58 pm
It is jailbreak able for 5.0.1 untethered to!
Invad sim again
12/07/2011 at 8:03 am
what about the invalid sim error which is affecting hundreds of thousand of people at least the lucky ones with bad battery can use there iphone as a phone.
STILL NO NEWS FROM APPLE
ill vote with my money
all done with my expensive ipod4S!!!!
Umairullhassan
12/07/2011 at 12:23 pm
my iphone 3gs is blocked due to updating ios 5.1 when its jailbreak is available :(
Jeremys1995
12/10/2011 at 12:01 am
My ipod touch 4g battery does a little better on 5.01 but still sucks hopefully ios 5.1 will fix it
Ryan Grossi
12/12/2011 at 8:56 am
I can stream iTunes Match over 3G with iOS 5.0.1..
Zach Koshak
12/14/2011 at 11:18 am
Maybe now they can finally fix the broken wifi on my iPod Touch
Zubby_ahmed
12/20/2011 at 11:39 pm
wifi issues(so broken, slow, does not post until turn off wifi and switch to 3G)…itunes sync issues (errors while iphone 4S not connected to power such as randomly opening itunes repeatedly…displaying error could not sync)…..random network drops after unlocking phone….battery life improved on 5.0.1 but not as it was on my iphone 4 ios4…..PLEASE FIX THESE ISSUES
Juno Az
12/23/2011 at 10:04 am
re: new keyboard in mail…
my iphone already has the @ sign. i think what’s new is the “globe” icon. i’m assuming this is the address book?
Logan
12/23/2011 at 4:20 pm
It’s the period.
Marsdenphil
12/26/2011 at 12:59 pm
The globe icon is the button to change input language if you have more than one assigned, the address book is just your contacts and autocompletes when you start typing someone’s name…
Youyou
01/03/2012 at 5:58 am
Wow! A new keyboard! Yay. Now if only my battery lasted long enough to type an email…
Orob
01/09/2012 at 5:20 pm
The globe sign is for changing the language of your keyboard
Johnhill1482
01/04/2012 at 1:53 am
why isn’t the iPhone 4s in the list of compatible ios 5.1 devices?johnhillf
Eulanamadu
01/16/2012 at 6:08 am
will this update work for siri because siri doesn’t pick up london location
Jreff4
01/18/2012 at 7:21 pm
Here is what REALLY pi$$es me off. I updated my iPad 2 to 5.01. Low and behold my Alesis IO Dock no longer works with Garageband. The IO Dock is one of main reasons that I bought the iPad! Alesis has been in contact with Apple and confirmed that FUBARed the audio interface. Alesis states that Apple is fixing the problem with 5.1 (whenever that might ocurr). In the meantime, I am screwed and very angry.
Simon_ram_joe
01/19/2012 at 9:41 pm
amazing accessoriescheck this out !!!https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smart-Travel/210587252366844
Seingmaster
01/22/2012 at 6:31 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt7R0xTCHPA
Seingmaster
01/22/2012 at 6:33 am
Actually the battery drain issue already fixed with Dural M1 jailbreak tools.I used it to untethered jailbreak my iPhone 4S and it work great. My battery can go for almost 1 and a half day with normal facebooking , music and video. Link :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt7R0xTCHPA
Anonymous
01/26/2012 at 11:22 am
Siri: control ALL apps. Photos: be able to sort any which way you want,
i.e., most recent first. Battery: improve it. Speaker: bring up the
volume. Keyboard: Add Swype already! Folders: Allow more than 12 per
folder. Copy/Paste Palette: allow multiple items on the clipboard.
Safari: reflow text. Multitasking: Allow a “Close All” functionality.
Ahem, Android has ALL of these already. COME ON APPLE, SHEESH!!!!!!!!!
Benjamminchristensen
01/27/2012 at 12:48 pm
I have updated my iPhone 3GS to ios 5.0.1 and the battery life is even worse now
Sriram Rangan
01/31/2012 at 6:24 am
Buy a new battery from eBay or similar websites, or download the 5.1 beta ipsw by making a dev center account.
Walessa
01/31/2012 at 8:06 pm
In Kuwait, and I here many countries in the middle east, IPHONE caller ID is not working. If you save a number as +123 456-7890 then get a call from 456-7890 it will not show the name of the caller. Since messages appear in the +123 456-7890 format, they show the name of the sender, unless the sender was saved in your phone as 456-7890.
Imagine using your phone for 3 months without knowing who is calling you when your phone rings! It is not acceptable for Apple to delay this fix until Ios5.1 is released.
Ziggy
02/04/2012 at 3:55 pm
5.0.1 is far to buggy i have an iPod Touch 4G btw but after upgrading to 5.0.1 i’ve been having problems with it e.g. locks up, responds slow, of course the battery drain issue, and I don’t know if any of you has had the problem after 5.0.1 but you know the notification pull down pannel? it stayed their while i was using messages app so the background while I was sending messages was pretty much my notification pannel so I do hope apple fixes it with 5.1
this is the bug I’m referring too btw I took a screen shot
Anonymous
02/10/2012 at 2:34 pm
It’s a bit sad that what I can look forward to in the next OS release is a fix for the shocking battery drain that my 6-month old iPhone 4 is suffering.
Way to think big, Apple!
Jameshodgetts10
03/10/2012 at 1:36 pm
Can you get siri on this new update on the iPhone 3gs
None
03/12/2012 at 12:23 am
you guys are all a bunch of phone fags
Benjaminchristensen
03/18/2012 at 4:54 am
Can’t wait for the iPhone 5. I will get it from my parents
Rj_1924
04/10/2012 at 12:51 pm
When is untethered jailbreak for ios 5.1 on iphone 4 is going to be released