new IOS5 for apple mobile devices

[fishingguy]

Apple released the latest version of their IOS5 mobile operating system yesterday. A free upgrade for iPod, iPhone and iPads. I've already got it installed on an iPad and iPhone, but have a few more devices to go. I thought I'd shed a little light on things right now; a lot of people have been waiting for this upgrade, so there is a huge demand for it right now. I know there are many Apple mobile device users on the forum.

It took almost 4 hours yesterday, to download the first upgrade for an iPad (~700mb). The Apple download servers are obviously seeing a lot of traffic for the upgrade, but it only took 10 minutes to download the upgrade for an iPhone at 4 am this morning (also ~700mb). It's almost 8 am right now, and the download for the next iPad looks like it will take another 3 hours, so if you are in a hurry, the best time to update will likely be late at night or very early in the morning -- no surprises in that I guess, eh?

Not only do you need to download the updates for each device (since each is different), the upgrade/installation process also needs to validate and connect with other Apple servers several times along the way. Yesterday we got bogged down even after we downloaded the new upgrade, since the validation servers were also overloaded. (The inability to tie into the validation servers resulted in errors, and having to reinstall the downloaded software several times.)

If you are one who gets easily frustrated by slow downloads, errors from server overloads, etc. then it might be wise to wait a few days or time your upgrade for the 'wee hours'.

I'm still getting familiar with IOS5, but so far the actual IOS5 seems to be working perfectly. We do have a couple seldom-used 3rd party applications on an iPad that need to be upgraded to IOS5 by the developer. But the issues with these applications are really only minor annoyances (mostly format and layout).

 

[MichaelColey]

I got mine upgraded yesterday (and will be getting my 4S tomorrow), and am loving the new Notification Center.

 

[Passepartout]

Does one's device (iPad1 in my case) automatically do the upgrade or does one need to do something to trigger it? What? I'm going cruising soon and while I'll have it in airplane mode when flying, I will turn on the wi-fi on the ship. I REALLY don't want it to launch a multi-hour upgrade at a half-a-buck a minute!

Jim

 

[MichaelColey]

You have to upgrade it through iTunes. It's not automatic.

 

[fishingguy]

You'll also have to update iTunes to the latest version as well, in order to do the upgrade.

 

[Passepartout]

I did it. Fairly painless and took a bit over an hour at mid-day. ITunes had already put it's newest version on my PC, and as soon as I tethered the iPad to it, it went to work.

No one had mentioned that this is like a new, clean install of the OS. So if you have a lot of pictures, music, videos, etc. on your device it's gonna take longer. It makes a backup on your computer, then installs the new OS and then it restores all your stuff. You have to reset your password and well, lots of steps just like when your device was new.

Kinda fun starting out fresh but with all my own apps and stuff. Freshly updated.

Jim

 

[timeos2]

You may want to hold off for a bit ad there are numerous reports of problems both with installs/downloads & the new system itself once installed.

But not as bad as the "fiasco" (as its already being referred to) of Apples "cloud" offering. MS anyone?

 

[fishingguy]

timeos,
I haven't had any problem with iCloud, it seems to be working quietly in the background amongst the devices. So far I've seen it update calendars, contacts and pics; between the iMac/MacBook Pro/2-iPads/iPhone/2-iPods. 5 GB is 3 GB more than what DropBox gave me.

...or you must be referring to Mobile Me, the old cloud service?

 

[MichaelColey]

FWIW, mine "forgot" the location of most of my apps when I upgraded. I have them sorted into folders, and about half of them ended up randomly placed outside of folders. It didn't take too long to get things back in order (plus figuring out where to put the few new icons/apps). I'm frustrated that the (useless to me) Newstand can't be removed or hidden in a folder.

 

[fishingguy]

I just move stuff that I never intend to use to page 6. Out of sight and out of mind....

 

[MichaelColey]

Yeah, I move the things I don't use into a folder called "Unused" on my second page. (I just have two pages.) I used to have 6 or 7 pages, but I figured it was much easier to use folders.

The Newstand is considered a "folder", so you can't put it inside another folder.

 

[pwrshift]

Where do you get info on using folders. I don't know how to move app icons elsewhere and getting too many to work with.

Also...the photo album is a mystery too...all 300 of my pictures are in one folder and there doesn't seem to be any way of easily moving them into different albums or folders.

I thought Apple made user friendly software.

Started to download the new iPad software until it said it would delete all my apps in the process. Huh?

Guess I'll just leave it as it is because it works.

 

[Transit]

FWIW, mine "forgot" the location of most of my apps when I upgraded. I have them sorted into folders, and about half of them ended up randomly placed outside of folders. It didn't take too long to get things back in order (plus figuring out where to put the few new icons/apps). I'm frustrated that the (useless to me) Newstand can't be removed or hidden in a folder.

http://gigaom.com/apple/ios-tip-put-newsstand-in-a-folder/

Hope this helps

Everything seems to be working well on mine.
If your a Mac user There is also a Mac update 10.07.02 you'll need to download to have the iCloud on your Mac. You'll also need to update to iPhoto 2011 to use Photostream

 

[timeos2]

timeos,
I haven't had any problem with iCloud, it seems to be working quietly in the background amongst the devices. So far I've seen it update calendars, contacts and pics; between the iMac/MacBook Pro/2-iPads/iPhone/2-iPods. 5 GB is 3 GB more than what DropBox gave me.

...or you must be referring to Mobile Me, the old cloud service?

That disaster is what it is being compared to for many users.

 

[Conan]

I agree Newstand is a nuisance.

Messaging isn't working for me on the iPad. I can see that my contact participates (cloud next to his name). I can get him into the 'to' field but I can't get the field where text needs to go to accept typing. Any ideas?

 

[rhonda]

Woot! Just discovered my favorite new feature of iOS 5 for my iPad: background sync w/ iTunes. I'm syncing and yet still able to use my iPad ... very cool!

Edited to add: Oh, wait - I already favorite features in iOS 5: Safari's tabbed interface (finally!) and Reader (again: finally!). I'm really enjoying both of these important upgrades.

 

[Passepartout]

I like the tabbed interface in Safari, too. It's much more like Firefox. And being able to do more at a time. I might learn to like this. I don't have enough experience with the cloud- or devices linked- to develop an opinion yet. I suppose having the pictures you take with an iPhone or iPad magically appear on the iPad might be worth the price of admission.

Jim

 

[Numismatist]

On the keyboard, the lower left button that makes the keyboard go away, there are 5 new little hash marks. Any ideas what those are?

 

[janej]

I upgraded also without any problem.

I am a bit confused about the Cloud. My family shares one apple store account. Does that mean we also will share the same Cloud? That will probably not work for us. I definitely don't want to sync my phone with my teen's music.

 

[fishingguy]

janej,
Yes, the iCloud uses the same user name/pw that you use to sign into iTunes to make purchases. Now my wife has her apples user acct and I have mine, so there is no problem like you described, and we each get 5GB free. I don't know what to tell you, especially with a teenager however.

 

[pwrshift]

I loaded the new software on my iPad 1 tonight about 10 pm and it took about 1 hr 45 minutes. All went ok except it spread my apps over a number of pages and I think I lost several of them. I wonder if they'll automatically be loaded again from the app store or are they gone gone gone?

 

[pwrshift]

It makes a backup on your computer, then installs the new OS and then it restores all your stuff. You have to reset your password and well, lots of steps .

Jim

Mine did this too...loaded the backup stuff somewhere on my laptop and reinstalled them on the iPad. But is all the backup still resident on the laptop too?

On Safari...it does look different...but how do you delete the tabs when youre finished with them?

This is like getting a new computer.

Brian

 

[Passepartout]

On Safari...it does look different...but how do you delete the tabs when youre finished with them?
Brian

See the little x at the left end of the tab? touch it. (poof)

And if you want a new tab- instead of just replacing the web page of one you have open, there's a little box with a + in it at the right end of the tabs. Touch it and get a new tab to load either from your bookmarks or by typing in a URL.

Jim

 

[SmithOp]

I upgraded also without any problem.

I am a bit confused about the Cloud. My family shares one apple store account. Does that mean we also will share the same Cloud? That will probably not work for us. I definitely don't want to sync my phone with my teen's music.

You can use an @me e-mail address for an iCloud account, you DONT have to tie it to your Apple ID, and its probably not a good idea to do it if several family members share an Apple ID. And its legal...

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220887/How_to_configure_iCloud_if_you_share_an_Apple_ID

 

[Numismatist]

On the keyboard, the lower left button that makes the keyboard go away, there are 5 new little hash marks. Any ideas what those are?

Figured it out myself! Drag the keyboard-remover button upward and you slit the keyboard in two so you ca use thumbs!