Apple has rolled out the iOS 5.01 update, bringing with it the promised battery fixes, along with improved Australian voice support.
You can get the update by plugging your iPhone (3GS, 4, 4S) or iPad/iPad 2 into your computer, but why tether? One of the key features of iOS 5 is that it supports over the air WiFi updates; that’s what I did about an hour ago, and within ten minutes both my iPhone 4S and iPad 2 had downloaded, installed and rebooted into iOS 5.01
According to Apple, the update fixes the following issues:
- Fixes bugs affecting battery life
- Adds Multitasking Gestures for original iPad
- Resolves bugs with Documents in the Cloud
- Improves voice recognition for Australian users using dictation
Battery drain is clearly the key #1 complaint regarding iOS 5, and it’ll be interesting to see how much of a difference the update makes in that regard.
As for improved voice recognition? Well, I’m not feeling too flash today, so the first thing I did post-update was ask Siri to write this article for me. It didn’t go well, but at least Siri seemed to understand what I was saying.
NateC
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7:43 AMDownload size was 44mb for 4g. Overall process about 15-20 mins.
Asked me to plug it in to a power source to save battery while updating lol. Didn’t bother.
Sam D
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7:56 AMDamn, need wifi to upgrade. I hate that restriction, 44Mb isn’t that bad to download when you’ve got a couple of gig a month to use.
Greg
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 8:55 AMSuch a stupid design decision.
Sicarius123
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:37 PMWhy on earth do some iPhones allow OTA 3G, and others require Wifi?
I have 3GB a month and I can’t download a 38MB file because I have a 3GS? EADC Apple. My device has been bleeding battery charge ever since I installed iOS5.
NateC
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 8:30 AMIpad 1st gen was 39mb.
cV
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:19 AMAs with in-phone iTunes and App Store purchases they should at least give you the option of overriding the restriction.
cV
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:21 AMThat was meant to have been a reply to San Ds comment.
Mitch
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 8:53 AMI have to wait until I get home this afternoon to update thanks to the wifi restriction, damn. This is my first iPhone and first time I’ll have done an OTA update – all my stuff will stay intact, it won’t wipe anything, right?
olearymo
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:14 AMit’s the same as an itunes one Mitch, but without a cable. It’ll install, reboot, and everything will be fine. Just like a desktop update.
I actually left the room to make a coffee, came back a few minutes later and it had already rebooted and I had to go into the settings to check it was 5.0.1! Too easy.
Mitch
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:21 AMThanks for that – have never updated an iPhone before though, I was an Android person before I got the 4S. Good to know though, I’ll have a crack at it soon :)
Johnny P
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:19 AMNot often you see android people going across to Apple. How are you finding it Mitch? Buying into the ‘it just works’ mantra or are you pulling your hair out or somewhere in between
Mitch
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:56 AMLol, can’t imagine it happens too often. I love it though, haven’t looked back. The whole “it just works” thing is one of the things that got me across. Still a bit anti-Apple outside the phone/mp3 player areas, but my iPod and iPhone have been great.
Ozoneocean
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 4:43 PMYou were an Android person and yet you’ve never done an OTA update before…? That’s strange
You made the best choice moving to iOS. Some OSs are better fits for some people. -I don’t mean to be rude in saying that
NateC
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:34 AMDoes not wipe anything. Quick clean and easy.
Luke
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:00 AMDownloaded this morning via WiFi.. The size of the firmware for the iPhone 4s was 55MB. It’s a lot better then plugging it in to the Macbook and launching iTunes.
olearymo
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:13 AMSo nice to be able to do this. Been doing it for years on Nokias, then Palm Pre, then Anroid. Not having a dig at apple, just saying it’s nice.
iPad 2 size was ~32mb. not bad.
TC
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:16 AMJust of interest, is the downloading via wifi only, an older iPhone gen thing? I just updated my 4S fine over normal 3G connection while driving.
jeremy
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:17 AMfinally apple do delta upgrades – welcome to 1990s mobile software tech ;-)
jeremy
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:19 AMOk OK it just worked, and I giggled like a boy.
NateC
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:33 AMHow’s a boy supposed to giggle?
Frosty
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 9:20 AMDid mine OTA. Had to turn 3G off and on again after update to get Internet working again, not sure if phone is a tiny bit slower browsing, need to test a bit longer before giving any more feedback
Stew
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:11 AMSo why in iTunes is the update downloading the whole entire full firmware (700MB+) but from the device itself only downloads & updates the files it needs to (<45MB)? Oh well – I'm happy, works well. Nice having the smaller download & not having to plug it in to my PC & start up that monstrosity which is iTunes.
John
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:43 AMI’m guessing the ota only updates files needed where as itunes still does the backup your phone then do a full restore using the new os then restores the backup
Will
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:12 AMMy download is happening now over wifi but…. 819mb???
John
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:42 AMI’m guessing your doing it through itunes cause i did them same before i remembered the ota update so i went into settings and hit update now. Only 44mb (i think if memory serves me correctly)
Chemenski
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:03 AMDidn’t fix the reversed playlists :’(
Penmonicus
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:41 AM“Reversed Playlists”? My playlists work fine…
Sicarius123
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:43 PMMy compliation albums have been massively split up under iOS5. No issues under previous iOS.
TG
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:56 AMMy iPhone updated over wifi with no issues. My iPad 1 keeps stopping during the ‘preparing update’ and telling me I have to connect to iTunes to do the update. Assume that might be because I applied the enable multi-touch gestures hack a couple of weeks ago…
BenDTU
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:08 PMUpdated my iPhone 4 and iPad 2 this morning with OTA, no issues to speak of. Super quick process!
Michael
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:10 PMUpgraded to 5.01. Battery drain is now even worse. 15% loss per hour with moderate usage.
Sicarius123
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:44 PMWhich model?
Michael
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7:56 PMSorry, iPhone 4s
Ben
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 1:11 PMHey,
My iPhone 4 can’t see the update and I’m on a WiFi network…just says “iOS 5.0 Your software is up to date”
Any ideas?
Phil
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 4:32 PMWifi update is 36mb, but it’s over 600mb via iTunes? What kind of a joke is that!?
Andrew
Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 12:02 AMworked great. awesome to be able to do this now!
NatC
Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 8:59 AMMy iPhone 4 is still bleeding battery. Used up 90% between 7pm-11 last night, 1 hour phone call and about 30 msgs, & 20 mins browsing. Yuck…
alex
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 12:15 AMHey, my Iphone 4 drains even faster after update.