Apple released more software than you can shake an iPhone at, and we wrote about it in great detail. If you’re curious about what’s new with iOS 5 and the rest of the Apple ecosystem, here’s a recap of the week gone by.
iOS 5
If you start reading Dan Moren’s review of iOS 5 now, you’ll probably finish it by the time iOS 6 is released. We showed you how to upgrade; though the process wasn’t smooth for everyone initially, it appears now that most of those issues are resolved.
Want a closer look at some key iOS 5 features? Of course you do! Here are up close looks at a slew of new or substantially updated iOS 5 features, from AirPlay to Twitter. (Note to Editor: Can I call it “Zee Twitter” just this once, to make my A-to-Z reference better?) (No. -Ed.)
- Accessibility features
- AirPlay
- Calendar
- Game Center
- iMessage
- New gestures
- Newsstand
- Notifications
- Reminders
- Safari
- Twitter integration
New apps
Alongside iOS 5, Apple unveiled a variety of new iOS apps, and updates to existing ones.
AirPort Utility lets you configure your network from your iOS device; Find My Friends helps you unleash your inner stalker; iWork, Find My iPhone, and Remote all scored updates. Dan Frakes went hands-on with the entirety of Apple’s “Find My” suite.
iCloud
Not content merely to unveil iOS 5 and a bunch of app updates Wednesday, Apple also took the wraps off iCloud. You’ll want to grab the Mac OS 10.7.2 and iPhoto 9.2 updates to get your Mac iCloud-ified. And then you’ll want to curl up with our copiously detailed iCloud guides:
- Getting started with iCloud
- iCloud syncing
- iCloud purchases and iTunes Match
- iCloud backup
To make things even easier, Serenity Caldwell walks you through common iCloud signup scenarios. And if you generally share an Apple ID with a family member, I offer some tips on how to configure iCloud in that case.
And even the Apple TV merited a small update Wednesday, adding iCloud support for Photo Stream, along with niceties like an NHL option.
iPhone 4S
Last, but certainly not least, we turn our attention to the iPhone 4S. Jason Snell says it’s a sure thing. Jason also sat down for a hard-hitting interview with the iPhone 4S’s Siri. Jason—or perhaps Siri, at Jason’s bidding—also wrote up a piece on just how international the iPhone 4S really is—including a Sprint-specific update. And enough people read Jason’s positive review that crowds lined up around the world to get their hands on the iPhone 4S on Friday.
Free Bonus Content
We did cover a few interesting, non-iPhone, non-iOS, non-iCloud topics this past week. Dan Frakes offered a close look at the new iPod nano software. Joel Mathis wrote a piece on Netflix’s slaying of Qwikster—when I’d finally learned to spell it. Kirk McElhearn shared a primer on annotating PDFs. And I shared a tip on migrating your Mail autocomplete database from one Mac to another.
It’s possible Apple could have a bigger week next week than this week. But boy, my fingers hope not.