MobileMe Mail Archiving, Better Gmail Support
MobileMe and Gmail customers can now directly archive emails from the Mail.app. [via App Advice]
Native Mobile Safari Momentum Scrolling
Now web pages and apps using a simple CSS3 element will gain native momentum scrolling. [via Johan Brook]
Real-Time App Syncing Progress
This is a small one, but as part of the iOS 5 tweaks that allow you to use your iDevice during iTunes Syncing, you can now view apps being installed in real-time while they are being synced to your device through iTunes, similarly to if you had downloaded the app to your device directly. [via App Advice]
International Assistance
If you’ve got an American iPhone and have roamed with it overseas, it’ll automatically make your dialed contact numbers internationally friendly by appending a +1 before each domestic number. It’s possible that Apple will leverage the iPhone’s GPS abilities to do this for other countries as well.
iCloud Icon Has Been Changed
In Beta 1 it was purple. Now it’s the brushed steel we’ve seen in all the official documentation. In addition, iCloud is now the default choice for setting up a new email account, with MobileMe pushed all the way to the bottom.
Anything else you think should be highlighted here? Let us know in the comments.
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
38 responses to “Check Out These 10 Cool Things That Have Been Added In iOS 5 Beta 2 [Feature]”
The WiFi syncing is pretty slick! Anyone interested in having their UDID activated to use iOS 5 check http://appledrunk.com
Does anyone else find it a little “odd” that iMessage is not compatible across the two beta versions? I hope that this gets addressed, as I’m sure it will, before release day. Who knows how long the 3GS will be supported for future updates? Many of my friends, family, and co-workers have a 3GS and I know would not be pleased if this were to happen to them… (especially my wife)
-Chris
http://friendsofmac.net
How is the iMessage glitch cool? But otherwise, thanks for the round-up.
are y’all sure about that opening animation thing? i’m not seeing anything but the static logo (and yes, i updated to beta v.2 last night).
the boot up animation is not working on my iPhone4, it seems that only work in ipads?
Everything seems way smoother than beta 2, I will wifi syncing did not require being plugged in, it kind of defeats the purpose.
In beta software? No.
If the compatibility changes after it ships to the consumer without good reason, then yes.
Doesn’t require plugging it in. Can manually initialize it under Settings.
I follow you, was just thinking it would be could if the first time you connected to your home wifi, plugged in or not, it would sync automatically.
I have both iOS 5 Beta 2 and iTunes Beta 2 installed where is my WiFi Sync in windows Apple!!!
I am pretty sure that the new boot animation only happens the first time you boot after the restore…and that was present in beta 1….and i am pretty sure that real time app syncing was in beta 1 as well
who said it was cool? and a features not working between two beta version of an OS, that’s not a big deal, it’s beta and there’s a reason for incremental updates to a beta release, it makes the earlier version obsolete so it’s a non issue… people won’t be running different versions of iOS 5 when it’s released.
The title says “10 cool things” therefore implying that it is cool. It’s rather boring, but nevertheless understandable.
Not only that, if your phone is setup for wifi sync and you press sync from within itunes…it syncs immediately. No need to be plugged into power.
I see your point but you are missing mine, I don’t want to push a button, plug in or other tasks. I would like to come home set my phone down and pick it up the next day and have it be ready. There may not be physical wires in all cases but I am still tied to performing a function that could be completely automatic.
Insert snide Mac>PC comment.
if you want a FREE $15 ITUNES GIFT CARD follow these directions:
1) install the shopkick app from the app store.
2) after clicking “let’s do it” (haha) click cancel at the top left of your screen.
3) go to the “me tab at the bottom left of your ipod/iphone.
4) click the ” got a promo code? box and on the next screen type in mink8492
this works on all ipods/iphones jailbroken or not.
I’d just like the ability to install apps without getting tossed out of the App Store app. Background downloading & installation of apps should have been added when “multitasking” was added to iOS.
FWIW, this is also a pet peeve of mine for PSN downloads as well. Xbox Live has had background download & install for years. Why does everyone else insist on either throwing you out of their storefront (Apple), or manually installating apps (PSN)?
No such app as shopkick.