Being iOS developers gives scant privileges.

One of our favourites is getting early release betas of Apple software. Now although this does allow access to some fantastic new features for iPad and iPhone, it does also cause problems with bugs, frequent crashes and inoperable software. I accidentally pressed dial on a contact I hadn’t spoken to in ages and no amount of key bashing would end the call. Even though I pretended to not be there, listening to the echoing “Hello..? Anybody there?” on the other side of the line was a little embarrassing. Hard reboot required…!

Having used iOS 5 for a few days, we’ve been able to evaluate some of the key features of what Apple call their most advanced iOS yet. I’m quite surprised that it’s being heralded as a completely new release. As an isolated instance, to go from 4.3.3 to 5.0 is an overly exaggerated step and would not justify a complete new release. However, I believe with the announcement of the iPhone 5 around the corner (Autumn 2011), there is no doubt a plethora of updates that we, as iPhone 4 users, simply aren’t privileged to. One of these has been hinted at Facetime over 3G, which would be fantastic but no doubt expensive to use on some UK tariffs.

Tools

The most usable tool for me has been the new placement of the camera icon on the homepage. Prior to this, using the camera, especially when security conscious, would mean you’d have to click your home button, punch in your four digit code, quit the program you were previously on, navigate to the page that hosted your Camera icon, then wait for the app to load.

Now, it’s just a case of double clicking the home-button at any point and you are shown a direct shortcut to the camera app. Quick and easy, perfect for those of us who like to snap shot compulsively.

The icons within the camera app have changed also. The grid layout is a helpful hand and goes to add credibility to what is already an excellent photography device.

iMessage is interesting. As an avid Whatsapp user, iMessage looks set to take over the messaging platform that Whatsapp seems to have dominated lately. The key feature of this is that it now allows messaging between iPhone and iPad users too. It’s a nice looking utility and features the message delivery notifications that make Whatsapp so unique. There is also a colour change between iMessage dialogue and SMS dialogue. I assume this is to differentiate between those who have iOS 5 and those who do not.

Having it integrated into the iPad though is a great feature as there was always a black hole in communication. Now, with Facetime available for the iPad 2 too, it has expanded the usability of the iPad significantly. The only thing that’s being mentioned across the internet is the startling lack of inclusion into OSX Lion. How perfect would that be, all your messages accessed by your desktop?

Design

An area of fantastic design is the new notifications. Although startlingly similar to suggestions Dear Apple put to Apple, the new Notifications system has been designed to remove the irritating habit of iOS devices stockpiling all your notifications one on top of the other. Previously, you’d have to keep on clicking ‘OK’ over and over until all your notifications are met.

Now, each notification is placed on the top of the iPhone in order of chronology and swiping each individual notification takes you direct to the application itself. Very neat, very tidy. To add, there is also a new notifications centre. A swipe down from top to bottom now pulls down this tool and here is listed all your recent notifications, together with Tweets, Facebook posts, emails and messages.

Apple have now seen fit to combine this area with other useful information. Right now, it includes localised weather (now the weather app knows where you are) and stocks and shares. I can only assume that Apple will open up this area for further development.

Newstand I see as a more commercial tool to encourage users to buy publications. Books, magazines can now all be stored on this virtual news stand – of course, all purchased through the App Store.

Reminders will no doubt wipe clean the masses of To-Do list applications that populate the AppStore. It’s essentially a task list generator, very simply designed, allowing you to add to-do list items. The novelty, however, is location sensitive reminders.

At first, I was very excited by this but in reality, it’s proving to be a little hit and miss. In theory, you can tell your iPhone to remind you on things based on your geographic location. So, for example, “Pick up umbrella when leaving office”. This would be great, except it only has first part of postcode, so it covers a large area. I really hope this becomes more specific as it would be an amazing tool for me, constantly forgetting things to do before I arrive or leave locations. However, until this app becomes more location specific, then I’m not going to be reminded unless I’m 2 miles down the road.

Additionally, it seems this app continually uses GPS when running in background as my GPS indicator remains on. Battery usage did seem excessive but being a Beta copy could result in any number of reasons.

Twitter integration is perfectly fitted into the iOS. You can now sign in to your multiple Twitter accounts once from the settings screen and then tweet from Twitter enabled apps, including Camera, Photos, Safari, Contacts, YouTube and Maps. Amazing that almost every other developer recognises that users have multiple accounts, except Twitter themselves!

iCloud is safely hidden away for now. It’s there, but it simply doesn’t work.

Other things I’ve noticed:

• Email options changed so that you can now mark multiple mails as read. You can also Flag emails.
• iPad Safari search has changed, allowing you to search words on the page you’re on from a different search box. Tabbing system has now been introduced on iPad also, so it’s now similar to the desktop Safari, no longer has thumbnails.
• Both iPad and iPhone now have Reading List in Safari, allowing you to add all your websites to a Reading Digest version, stripping all unnecessary formatting so that it allows you to quickly read pages.
• The Calendar app now has a landscape view which allows you to see a top down weekly view of your schedule.
• As per the very original iPhone, the Music and Video icons have been separated, removing the iPod icon – a good move in my opinion.

As far as a developer view point, it seems this is a stepping stone to prepare people for the iPhone 5 – what this may entail is as always a closely guarded secret. Near Field Communications is the next buzz which will double the iPhone up as a digital wallet, allowing you to make purchases and confirm identification with the technology.

For me, it’s just another opportunity to play with perhaps the most impressive consumer device ever created.