Free iOS 5 for Apple iPad 2

Apple is set to release iOS 5 on October 12, 2011 for free for public consumption. Registered iOS developers got an early lead with the "Gold Master" version which is the ninth Beta released to date.  So what features does it bring for iPad 2 users you might have asked?

Notification

It now has Notification Center that sits on top area of the screen. It groups all notifications and has an unobtrusive way of notifying users without sending pop up windows. Text, missed calls, voicemails and app alerts won't interrupt you whenever your watching videos or play games. It somehow has the same features with LockInfo and Mobile Notifier tweak.

Newstand

It organized all magazine and newspaper subscriptions in one app. Purchases for these items in App Store will automatically be reflected and updated on Newsstand using push notification. You can quickly and easily  find your reading material in one place without the need of separate app for items.

Reminders

The Reminders app is an updated Notes app. It is a to-do list app with added features that allows you to get reminded when a date is near or when your near to a certain location like a supermarket. This is helpful when your daughter asked you to buy her a snack on your way home from office. It also have syncing feature with Outlook and iCal.

Integrated Twitter

On old version of iOS, you need to open the Twitter app in order to send tweets. Now, you can tweet directly using native apps such as Photos, Camera, YouTube, Maps, and Safari. You can also easily add your location with a tap of a button.

Safari

Real tabbed browsing which is only limited to desktop version of Safari, have now reached iPad 2. Gone are the days that you need switch view to choose the other tab from the maximum of nine thumbnails. That does not appeal to most mobile Safari users and most of them opt to install a separate browser like iCab to have the real tabbed browsing feature. Now, iOS 5 have all the features that iCab has.

It now has Safari Reader that removes the site's sidebar and ads and only shows you the content that you are actually reading. Reading List allow these contents to be bookmarked for later reading.

Improved Camera

You can now use the camera from the lock screen instead of unlocking the device to open the Camera app. Using the camera from the lock screen, you use the volume button to snap pictures. You can now modify the exposure, and crop the photos before saving them.

Mail

It now has rich-text formatting, flagging messages as unread and a built-in dictionary. It also has split keyboard which allows users those who type long messages to use both thumbs. Think of it like typing text using both thumbs on iPhone in landscape mode. Jennifer Bergen gave us a comedic description below of how to enable the split keyboard on iPad.

To get the split keyboard on your iPad screen, the user simply places two fingers on the keyboard and moves them outwards to split the keyboard in half. It’s extremely easy, and makes typing with your thumbs pretty handy – no pun intended.

AirPlay Mirroring

The AirPlay protocol in iOS 5 now supports video mirroring. Think of it as your external projector without the cable. You will be able to see on your HDTV the videos, photos, or website that are being displayed on your iPad 2. You need to purchase Apple TV to be able to do this. This feature is only available on iPad 2 though.

iMessage

It is an instant-messaging app designed only for Apple iOS 5 mobile devices. It allows iOS 5 users to send text, photos, videos, contacts and locations with their friends that also have iOS 5 device. It has most of, if not all, the features of BBM that make BlackBerry's users stay in their comfort zone. Now Apple has given them an option to think again, we should watch out for what RIM has to offer something new.

PC Free

Setting up your iPad 2 does not require a Mac or PC. You can setup your device right out of the box. If you are upgrading from iOS 4, this feature does not affect you really.

Wi-Fi Sync

It backs up and syncs your iPad 2 with your PC over a shared Wi-Fi network. This is somehow similar to an app that was rejected by App Store last year. The app, created by Greg Hughes, is being sold for $9.99 on Cydia Store under the same product name. More story of this via The Register.

Here's the infographic from Chris Spurlock summarizing the differences between iOS 4 and iOS 5:

Conclusion

There you have it. These are some of the features that iOS 5 brings to your iPad 2 device. With the advent of iCloud on iOS 5, you need to ensure that it meets all your bring-your-own (BYO device) computing policies that your company requires. With iCloud it is easy for anyone to take a photo and upload the data on the cloud. Even though you have confiscated the gadget, the data such as company's confidential documents or products can easily be leaked to the public.