Apple provides updates to the operating system for the
iPhone,
iPad and
iPod Touch system through
iTunes, similar to the way that other
iPods are updated, and touts this as an advantage compared to other mobile phones and devices.
[1] Security patches, as well as new and improved features, are released in this fashion.
[2]With the June 6, 2011 announcement of iOS version 5.0, a USB connection to iTunes is no longer needed to activate iOS devices; data synchronization happens automatically and wirelessly through Apple's new
iCloud service. Revamped notifications, a proprietary messaging app across all iOS devices and full
Twitter integration are among the reported 200 new features.
[edit]Overview
Apple's iOS did not have an official name until the release of the iPhone software development kit (
iPhone SDK) on March 6, 2008. Before then, Apple marketing literature simply stated that their iPhone runs a version of "OS X", a reference to iOS's parent,
Mac OS X.
[3] When introduced, it was named
iPhone OS. It was renamed iOS on June 7, 2010, since iPhone was no longer the only device to run iOS by then.
[4]As of November 11, 2011, the current versions of iOS are: 5.0.1 (9A405, 9A406 for iPhone 4S) for iPhone 3GS, 4, and 4S (GSM/CDMA), iPod touch 4th & 3rd generation and iPad 1 & 2, was released on November 10, 2011; the latest version for Apple TV (second generation), 5.0.1/4.4.4 (9A406a), was released on October 24, 2011; the latest iOS version for the iPhone and iPod touch 1st generation are iPhone OS 3.1.3 (7E18); and for the iPhone 3G and iPod touch 2nd generation are iOS 4.2.1 (8C148).
[edit]Versions
On June 29, 2007, Apple released the first version of what became iOS - concurrently with the first iPhone. The final 1.x series release was 1.1.5, released shortly before version 2.0.
July 11, 2008 saw the public release of iPhone OS 2.0, with upgrades through version 2.2 made available. iOS 3.0 was released on June 17, 2009. It was updated through (and including) version 3.1.3.
[5] The first generation
iPod touch and
iPhone have iOS 3.1.3 as their newest available version. The iPad was introduced with 3.2, a version made specifically for the iPad.
On June 21, 2010, iOS 4.0 was released to the public and was made available only to the iPod touch and iPhone. 4.0 was announced to have over 1500 new
APIs for developers, with the highly anticipated
multitasking feature.
[6] The second generation iPod touch and iPhone 3G have iOS 4.2.1 as their latest version available. iOS 4.2 is the first version to bring major feature parity to the iPhone and iPad. The release of the CDMA iPhone for Verizon Wireless saw a branching of iOS. The 4.2 version sequence continued for the CDMA phone while 4.3 was released for all other products.
On June 6, 2011, Apple previewed iOS 5, Apple TV 4.4 beta and the iOS SDK 5 beta along with iCloud beta among other products. This update introduced
iMessage chat between devices running iOS 5, a new notification system, Newsstand subscriptions, Twitter integrated into iOS, Reminders app, Enhancements to AirPlay, full integration with iCloud and over 200 new features. iOS 5.0 supports All
iPad models,
iPhone 3GS,
iPhone 4 GSM,
iPhone 4 CDMA, the
iPod touch 3rd generation and the iPod touch 4th generation.
Apple concurrently provides the same version of iOS for the comparable model of iPod and iPhone, usually devices released in the same calendar year. iPhone users receive all software updates for free, while iPod touch users paid for the 2.0 and 3.0 major software updates. As of iOS 4.0, Apple no longer charges for iPod touch updates.
[7][edit]Unreleased versions
As of October 23, 2011 two versions of iOS were never released: iOS 1.2, that after the first beta was replaced by 2.0. (the second beta was called 2.0b1 instead of 1.2b2). The other release was iOS 4.2, that was replaced with 4.2.1, because of a Wi-Fi bug in 4.2 beta 3, which caused
Apple to release 2 more Golden masters (4.2 GM and 4.2.1 GM).
[edit]Current versions
| Version | Supported devices: Apple TV |
|---|
| 5.0.1/4.4.4 | Apple TV (2nd generation) |
[edit]Version history: portable iOS devices
iOS releases for Apple's portable devices: the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
[edit]iOS 1.x: initial OS release
| [show]Table of versions: iOS 1.x (portable iOS devices) |
|---|
[edit]iOS 2.x: second major OS release
2.0, the second major release of the iOS, became available with the release of the iPhone 3G. Devices running 1.x are upgradable to this version. The version of the OS introduces the
App Store, making third-party applications available to the iPhone and iPod touch.
| [show]Table of versions: iOS 2.x (portable iOS devices) |
|---|
[edit]iOS 3.x: third major OS release
3.0 became available with the iPhone 3GS. It was released on June 17, 2009. This release added much requested features such as
copy and paste, and MMS. Not all features were available on the original iPhone. Devices running 2.x were upgradeable to this firmware.
[34][35]
| [show]Table of versions: iOS 3.x (portable iOS devices) |
|---|
[edit]iOS 4.x: fourth major OS release
iOS 4 was made available to the public for the iPhone and iPod touch on June 21, 2010. This is the first major iOS release to drop support for some devices. It is also the first major iOS release that iPod touch users do not have to pay for.
The
iPhone 3G and
iPod touch 2nd Gen. have limited features, while the
iPhone 4,
iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 3rd Gen. & iPod touch 4th Gen. have all features enabled. The iPhone and iPod touch 1st Gen. cannot run iOS 4.0 and above.
iPad compatibility was added with the release of iOS 4.2.1 on November 22, 2010.
| [show]Table of versions: iOS 4.x (portable iOS devices) |
|---|
[edit]iOS 5.x: fifth major OS release
iOS 5 was previewed to the public on June 6, 2011.
[72] This is also the second major iOS update to drop support for older devices, in this case; the iPhone 3G, and iPod touch 2nd Generation (MB & MC models). It was released for
iPhone 3GS,
iPhone 4 (GSM and CDMA),
iPhone 4S,
iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation),
iPad, and
iPad 2 on October 12, 2011 at 10am Pacific Time (5pm GMT).
[73]
| [hide]Table of versions: iOS 5.x (portable iOS devices) |
|---|
| Version | Build | Baseband | Release date | Features |
|---|
| iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation, iPad and iPad 2 |
| 9A334 | 04.11.08 (GSM)P4 P5 S2C
| October 12, 2011 | * Initial release on iPhone 4S
- All notifications concentrated to Notification center: swipe downwards from the status bar to open it. Notification center shows a list of all notifications and widgets (widgets available only on iPhone and iPod touch).
- Notification order can be arranged.
- Choose Notification Type: Banner notifications, the classic pop-up notifications, or no notification at all (selectable on an app-by-app basis).
- Notification list on lock screen. Swipe an icon to unlock and go to the specific notification.
- Notifications announcing earthquakes with 2 minutes early (only in Japan).[74][75]
- Messaging between all iOS devices running iOS 5 through Wi-Fi or 3G. Allows to send text, photos, videos, contacts, and locations.
- All iMessages and conversations will be synced between all iOS devices linked under a single Apple ID. You can start a conversation on one device and continue it on another.
- Can message between multiple people simultaneously (group messaging).
- Shows when other person(s) is typing.
- Delivery receipts.
- Optional read receipts (enable from Settings).
- Animated GIF image support for iMessage.
- Repeat alerts up to 10 times.
- Ability to set how much time a message alert has to be shown again if you don’t respond to the phone when it notifies of a new message.
- The name of the person that responds appears in small light blue text directly above the response when SMS is sent to a group.
- Slight redesign for text messages. Font & time-stamp layout.
- The keyboard (after being used to type an SMS/MMS/iMessage) can be hidden by scrolling down the part of the screen that contains the messages.
- A new icon on Springboard, which opens to an iBooks-inspired folder which shows all papers and magazines downloaded from the App Store.
- Subscriptions to newspapers and magazines available for browsing and downloading in a dedicated section of the App Store, stored in the Newsstand folder.
- "To-Do list" functionality in Reminders app.
- Date-based reminder notifications.
- Location-based reminder notifications that can be set to when you leave, or arrive a specified area (available on iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S only).
- Tweeting from native applications: Photos, Camera, YouTube, Maps, and Safari using new Tweet Sheet which supports multiple accounts.
- iPod app now split into Music and Videos (iPhone and iPad only).
- Video podcasts can only be found in the Videos app.
- Ability to play content while the device is synchronizing with iTunes.
- Ability to delete songs from device (by swiping over the corresponding song).
- Tap and hold on a song to view extended song information.
- Long names scrolling in now playing.
- Album artwork now displays in full resolution (Retina Display only) on Now Playing screen.
- Broadcast song information on devices (like car stereo) when connected over Bluetooth.
- Improved Sound Check for Music.
- “Group by Album Artist” option for Music.
- Volume-up key as shutter release button to take photos (also works using headphone remote volume up button). Also works for starting/stopping recording of videos.
- Shortcut to Camera App from Lockscreen created, accessed by double-clicking the home button (iPhone and iPod Touch 4th Generation only)
- Grid composition aide (3x3).
- Spread to zoom-in, pinch to zoom-out.
- Swipe left to reveal camera roll.
- Tap and hold to lock/unlock Auto Exposure and Auto Focus.
- Options button added, HDR toggle and Grid composition aide toggle.
- New Camera button on Photos.app that returns to Camera instead of a ‘Done’ button (was on OS before this) to close the Camera Roll.
- Face detection and video stabilization. (iPhone 4S only)
- Print maps.
- Alternate routes.
- Traffic.
- Can now create, rename, and delete calendars right on the device.
- Tap and hold or double-tap to create a new event.
- Tap and hold in “all-day events” to create a new all-day event.
- Drag appointments to a new time slot.
- Drag handles to change start and end times.
- When creating a new Event, users will notice a new field titled “Invitees.” Selecting the Invitees option takes the user to a screen where you can input multiple email addresses to invite multiple people to an event, and once all emails have been added and the event saved, emails will be sent out to all Invitees. When the Invitee has chosen between “Accept” “Decline” and “Maybe” the reply is sent up into the iCloud servers and is reflected for all other Invitees to see. The Calendar event on your device will list those who have accepted the event. All users of iOS 5 devices will get a notification when the event is nearing.
- Ability to specify a time zone to events.
- Ability to add URLs to events.
- Current time on Calendar if in landscape mode.
- Navigate in day view by swiping.
- Event attachments can now be viewed directly in the app.
- Share calendars through iCloud with friends and family. Any edits made by any subscribers to that calendar will be updated and pushed to all subscribers of that calendar (this can probably be disabled by the creator of the calendar/locked so no one else can make edits).
- Japanese or Buddhist calendars support.
- Rich text formatting (bold, italics and underline).
- Indentation control.
- Ability to mark multiple mail items as read.
- Ability to flag emails.
- Draggable mail address in the recipients field.
- Alert if the subject line is blank.
- Search now includes body of messages.
- Delete mails while in Airplane mode.
- Exchange Activesync Email can now be deleted offline.
- Can create new email folders.
- Mail sidebar.
- S/MIME support.
- Ability to show 1000 recent messages; 25 message option removed.
- Ability to create additional @me.com email address within the Mail settings.
- Ability to increase quote level in Mail settings.
- New and updated tiny icons on Mail for Windows Live Mail, Gmail, Exchange etc.
- Hotmail accounts now have new icons & folders.
- While reading an email you can swipe right would open a list of messages and swipe left would bring back to the open email message again.
- If you have multiple email accounts configured in Mail.app, swipe left or right from one’s mailboxes folder list, it will take you to another account’s mailboxes.
- Support for three popular Chinese email services: Tencent’s QQ Mail, and Netease’s 163.com & 126.com mail inboxes.[76]
- Built-in basic photo editing: crop, red-eye, auto-enhance and rotate photos.
- Ability to create and edit local photo albums folders (only those that aren't synced with iTunes).
- Ability to sync pictures taken on one iOS device automatically with other iOS 5 devices using Photo Stream.
- Ability to select all when adding pictures to an album.
- Slight re-design for video time-line under Photos app.
- Safari Reader: On certain web articles, a new 'Reader' icon will appear in the address bar which will display a new window sheet over the current page sans any ads or clutter. Prior or following pages in the article normally needed to open a new link will show up uniformly, separated by only a page break.
- Ability to change font size in reader mode.
- Reading List: a new area of the bookmarks window has been added purposed for pages you might want to read later called the 'Reading List.' New pages can be added from a new option in the action menu.
- Items from the Reading List can be synced to iCloud to be pushed to all of your other iOS devices.
- Safari bookmarks can be synced to iCloud.
- Ability to open pages in background or in new page (change via settings).
- Ability to replace a word with a word from a list of similarly spelled words spellings when typing in a text box on a web page.
- Private Browsing (interface colors change from blue to black. Change via settings).
- Ability to remove custom Website Data.
- CSS fixed position support.
- Slight fade out at end of long URLs (instead of ellipses).
- Super fast HTML5 draw support.
- Kinetic scrolling within text fields in Safari.
- iTunes, iBooks (books and progress), App Store, Photo, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, Mail, Safari bookmarks and Reading List items, device settings, app data, iWork and backup data saved in iCloud and automatically or manually downloaded to all linked devices (iOS and Mac/Windows PCs).
- All iMessages and conversations will be synced between all iOS devices linked under a single Apple ID. You can start a conversation on one device and continue it on another.
- Backup homescreen layout on iCloud.
- Document sync.
- Ability to buy more storage.
- Free upgrade to 256 kbps bit-rate for purchased songs if backing up on iCloud.
- File names in iCloud Storage are case-sensitive.
- Documents / Data can now be selected to sync with iCloud account.
- Option to disable iCloud Sync via cellular network to save cost especially if roaming.
- Photos for friends.
- Ability to make your Profile public or private.
- Points in Game Center: shows you how many points you have on the home screen of Game Center.
- Sort and View friends on the basis of Points.
- Friend Recommendations.
- Games can be purchased from within Game Center.
- Game Recommendations.
- New Friend requests screen.
- Native Support for turn based games.
- Help Center: Learn more about every option under settings app to explore more about it.
- System Services.
- Hearing Aid Mode.
- Ability to rename your device.
- Ability to set up an AirPort base station or Time Capsule devices.
- Ability to organize Notification Center items "Manually" or "By Time".
- Can select which apps can be included in Notification Center.
- Can select which type of notifications will be used for each app: banner notifications, the classic pop-up style notifications, or no notification.
- Ability to turn off app badges.
- On the “Ringtone” and “Text Tone” page, instead of showing “new”, they are all in one category now.
- Custom sounds for New Message, New Voicemail, New Mail, Sent Mail and Reminders alerts.
- Ability to purchase text, e-mail and voicemail alert tones.
- Under “Mail, Contacts, Calendars”, on the bottom it shows “Reminders” and gives an option to Sync.
- In the “Messages” section, the “Alerts”, “Show Preview” and “Repeat Alert” options have been removed.
- The Usage screen is improved and now shows how much of the memory is consumed by each app.
- Storage usage clean up.
- Backup to iCloud shortcut added.
- Photo Stream settings.
- Settings to automatically download new purchases that have been made on other devices (for music, apps and books). This can also be enabled or disabled for use on cellular when not connected to Wi-Fi.
- Twitter sign-in OS-wide with support for multiple Twitter accounts.
- Ability to set left or right for mono audio.
- Ability to turn on and off sending of iOS diagnostic data to Apple.
- Ability to create keyboard shortcuts (autotext) to replace custom phrases. By default includes “omw” which expands to “On my way!”.
- Emoji keyboard is no longer requires an app to enable it.
- Define your own words in Offline Dictionary.
- New keyboard with prominent # (hash-tag) and @ (mention) buttons for Twitter app similar to the ‘.com’ button when entering an address into the Safari address bar.
- New Chinese-Pinyin keyboard spreading.
- Quick Chinese input method.
- List of associated words show on the top of Chinese input keyboard.
- Function to convert voice to text.
- iTunes/USB no longer needed to activate new devices via a computer.
- New welcome screen when using the device for the first time (or after resetting a device).
- Ability to start fresh with no need to tether it to iTunes. Option to restore all data on a device through a simple iCloud sign in.
- Ability to wirelessly sync to iTunes over Wi-Fi added (an initial tethered sync is needed to pair them together and the setting must be enabled in iTunes).
- OTA delta software updates: from iOS 5 forward, devices can now self-update the system software right on the device itself through Wi-Fi or 3G. No iTunes needed.
- Ability to play 480p/720p videos over 3G (iPhone only).[77]
- Scrolling titles for YouTube videos.
- Improved video quality.
- Ability to set your FaceTime caller ID to be your email or your phone number.
- Ability to mirror the FaceTime call on large screen.[78]
- iTunes Tone Store.
- New Purchased History section.
- Genius support for finding songs and apps similar to ones users have purchased previously.
- Ability to completely disable in-App purchases.
- iTunes password prompt.
- Restrictions with password needed for purchases if enabled.
- Shows "Install" instead of price for previously purchased apps. Shows "Installed" for installed apps.
- Additional “iForgot” button on App Store if a user has forgotten their Apple ID password.
- Simultaneous App downloads.
- Custom tones for almost everything under ‘Sounds’ with ‘Buy more tones’ button.
- Music app now has a ‘Store’ button that goes to the iTunes Store.
- Add family relations ("related names") to contacts.
- Add social media info in to contacts.
- VoiceOver item chooser.
- VoiceOver action support.
- Arabic language support for VoiceOver.
- Option to speak text selection.
- New voices for VoiceOver.
- AVRCP 1.4 supported (sends track and artist info to supported devices).
- Minor improvements / bug fixes
- New rounded UISwitch graphic.
- Ability to use the device while syncing.
- Spotlight search now includes Reminders and searches through SMS messages.
- Built-in system-wide dictionary (press and hold on a word gives the option to copy or define. Define brings up a view with definition of the selected word).
- Ability to delete app data.
- Fixed a bug that caused a song to crash for a second while switching to another application in the multitasking bar.
- Apps fade to homescreen when they crash, rather than flicking off.
- Multiple downloads run simultaneously instead of sequentially.
- Option to automatically set the time (new for Wi-Fi only devices).
- Switching the ringer switch to "on", the indicator now shows the volume level bar (iPhone and iPad only)
iPhone & iPod touch only - Option to display Stock & Weather widgets in Notification Center. Swipe weather left or right to get five day forecast.
- Week view in landscape orientation.
- Weather for user's current location.[77]
- Hourly updated weather of 5 day forecasts.
- Real-time stock updates..
iPhone only - Voice commands are now executable for different users on device.
- Device can now translate voice into text and backwards
- Available in English (UK, US and Australia), French and German for the Beta period.
- Enable/disable option for voice-dial if the device is set to security with passcode lock.
- Delete individual calls in "Recents" Phone app. Clear button is now Edit button.
- Make FaceTime calls without a SIM card.
- ‘Unsecured Calls’ warning lets users know if they are talking on unencrypted networks.
- Shows city name or area/county in addition to number for unknown calls.
- Time-mid call invitation alerts.
- Option to have iMessages sent as SMS when iMessage is unavailable (enable from Settings).
- Placeholder text indicates whether sending iMessage or Text Message in Messages.
- SMS bubbles are green in color and iMessage appears baby blue.
- Customized vibrate alert patterns (can be set per-contact).
- LED flash alerts (iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S only).
- Assistive touch gestures.
iPod touch only - New ‘Message’ option for iPod touch under settings to use iMessage using an email ID.
iPad & iPad 2 only - Split keyboard: Swipe up or pull apart to split keyboard in half.
- Undock keyboard option: Keyboard can now be moved up and down the screen.
- Swipe left to reveal Inbox when in portrait mode.
- Swipe left and right to change months.
- Year view with heat map colors to show busy/free status.
- Tabbed browsing.
- Tapping and holding back button in Safari will show recently visited website history.
- All-new user interface.
- Swipe to next song.
- Skip tracks by swiping left – right on album art itself when not on lock screen.
- Ability to pick an event.
iPad 2 only - Multitasking gestures with 4 or 5 fingers:
- Pinch to return to the Home screen.
- Swipe up to open multitasking bar.
- Swipe left or right to move between open apps.
iPad 2 & iPhone 4S only - Ability to connect with Airplay to an Apple TV, display on iOS device also seen on TV.
- Ability to play 1080p content.
|
|---|
| 9A405 (All devices including iPhone 4S)
9A406 P5(iPhone 4S update) | 04.11.08 (GSM)P4 S2C
05.16.05 P307.11.01 S1C1.0.13 (9A405, GSM) P5 1.0.14 (9A406, GSM) P53.00.03 (CDMA) P4D S2D | November 10, 2011 | Bug fixes, security update - Attempted to fix battery drain bug.
- Fixes bugs affecting iCloud mail push.
- Adds Multitasking Gestures for original iPad.
- Resolves bugs with Documents in the Cloud.
- Improves voice recognition for Australian users using dictation.
- Contains security improvements.
- Activates the LED camera flash, whether the speaker is muted or not, for incoming calls and messages, when activated within the Accessibility sub-menu.
- Introduces a new way for developers to specify files that should not be backed up.
Build 9A406: - Attempts to fix 'Invalid Sim' and 'No SIM card installed' issues on the iPhone 4S.
|
|---|
| 9B5127c | 1.4.0 P5
| December 12, 2011 (beta 2 released) Apple Developers Only | - Enhanced dictation support during text input "on supported device"[79]
- Carrier updates (e.g. AT&T 11.1)
- Baseband updates
- Attempts to fix battery life[80]
- Fixes iPhone 4S support for Caller ID Name Display (on supported carriers - ie. Rogers & Fido in Canada)
- Users can now enter any Apple ID to sign up for an iCloud account. Previously, users had to create a new MobileMe account.
- Images can now be removed manually from the Photo Stream in iCloud. Any photos deleted are now also removed from other iOS devices connected to iCloud.
- Shake-to-shuffle caused the Music app to freeze, this will be fixed.
- The Setup Assistant caused an “infinite setup loop” for some users. When the setup was completed, the iPhone would jump back to a “thank you” screen ad infinitum. Users had to reboot the device to restore functionality.
- SpringBoard, the home screen app for the iPhone would sometimes fall into a state when double-clicking the home button would not display the camera icon. This too will be fixed.
|
|---|
| Version | Build | Baseband | Release date | Features |
|---|
[edit]Version history: Apple TV (second generation)
iOS releases for Apple's Apple TV (second generation onwards).
[edit]iOS 4.x: initial OS release on Apple TV
iOS 4.1 was the first version of iOS available on the Apple TV 2G. It included Apple TV Software 4.0.
[81]
| [show]Table of versions: iOS 4.x (Apple TV) |
|---|
[edit]iOS 5.x: second major OS release on Apple TV
On October 12, 2011, Apple TV (2nd generation) software was updated to version 4.4 bringing Photo Stream, Airplay mirroring (iPhone 4S, iPad 2), NHL, Wall Street Journal, slideshow themes and Netflix subtitles.
[81][82] Contrary to rumors and code found in iOS 5, the release did not bring support for Bluetooth or apps to the Apple TV 2 yet.
[83]
| [hide]Table of versions: iOS 5.x (Apple TV) |
|---|
| iOS version | Apple TV Software | Build | Release date | Features |
|---|
| 4.4 | 9A334v (3140)[84] | October 12, 2011 | Upgrading from this version resets the device to factory settings as part of the upgrade process. [87] |
|---|
| 4.4.1 | 9A335a (3150) | October 17, 2011 | Upgrading from this version resets the device to factory settings as part of the upgrade process. [87] |
| 4.4.2[88] | 9A336a (3160)[89] | October 24, 2011 | - Audio playback: addresses an issue in which audio is not output when playing some video content.
- Video playback: addresses an issue in which video is not displayed when playing some content.
- Audio output setting: adds an audio output setting for switching to 16-bit audio for compatibility with some TVs and AV receivers.
- Live FF/RW improvements: improves the performance of fast-forwarding and rewinding live events.
- Movie description: addresses an issue in which the description information is not displayed for some movies.
- YouTube video order: addresses an issue in which YouTube subscription videos were not ordered by date.
|
| 4.4.3 | 9A405l (3323) | November 17, 2011 | - Added support for Netflix in Mexico.
- Addresses an issue in which audio may not play through the optical port when the TV is turned off.
|
|---|
| 4.4.4 | 9A406a (3330) | December 15, 2011 | - General performance and stability improvements, including a fix for an issue that displayed an error when playing some video content.
|
[edit]See also
- Other mobile platforms
