iOS and iPhone 5: What to Expect

27.03.2011
With the and , the rumor mill's attention is now shifting to what we could expect to see in the new iPhone and iOS 5, the next iteration of Apple's mobile OS. And while the new iPhone 5 is set to arrive some time this summer, a report suggests exciting developments for iOS are coming this fall too.

"Two solid sources" told TechCrunch that Apple is likely to break its pattern of unveiling the latest features for iOS, which is set to move from a 4.X increment to version 5. This would mean that instead of getting a brand-new iPhone 5 this summer, along with a refreshed OS, "a major revamp" of iOS would be introduced separately later in the autumn (read delayed), possibly in September.

Assuming TechCrunch's sources are correct, what can be new in iOS 5? Apparently, it would be "heavily built around the cloud," with some new services added to iPhones and iPads. One of them is said to be a music locker service, basically a way of storing and accessing all your music (purchased from iTunes) wirelessly, without the need to sync with a primary computer (like it is the case now).

Another of these cloud services is expected to be a location-based service that would allow users to find friends and family members. On top of that, a revamp of Apple's is anticipated, potentially free (currently $99 per year), which would give every iDevice holder free access to Apple's cloud email, calendar, and storage service.