Apple Updates Roundup

ByMike Moffit

As promised, Apple today launched iOS 5 and iCloud. Accompanying these, Apple today also released a slew of updates and apps for iOS devices and Mac. Here is a rundown of what’s new:

iOS 5
iOS 5—the new operating system for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch—brings over 200 new features to iOS devices. For a look at our overview of the top ten new and enhanced features click here. One of the most anticipated new features is the ability to wirelessly sync iOS devices with computers for updating software, backing up data and performing other necessary tasks.

Details on iOS 5 and the security features of the update are available on Apple’s support site. The iOS 5 update is available via iTunes—just connect your device to your computer using the dock to USB cable and follow the instructions in iTunes.

iCloud
iCloud—Apple’s new service for wirelessly storing music, photos and documents and syncing them across your devices—is free for iOS 5 users, who can set up their iCloud account using their Apple ID at icloud.com. 5GB of storage comes free with your iCloud account, and neither your purchased music, apps, books and TV shows, nor your Photo Stream count toward that 5GB. Should you need more than 5GB of storage for your mail, documents and Camera Roll, three storage upgrade options are available for purchase right from your device: 10GB for $20/year, 20GB for $40/year or $50GB for $100/year.

Our overview of the top features in iCloud is available here. For information on setting up iCloud on all of your devices—including your Mac or Windows PC—visit Apple’s website.

Lion 10.7.2
The Lion 10.7.2 update includes support for iCloud as well as includes several fixes recommended for all Lion users.

Apple lists the following iCloud features as included in the Lion 10.7.2 update:

  • iCloud stores your email, calendars, contacts, Safari bookmarks, and Safari Reading List and automatically pushes them to all your devices.
  • Back to My Mac provides remote access to your Mac from another Mac anywhere on the Internet.
  • Find My Mac helps find a missing Mac by locating it on a map and allows you to remotely lock the Mac or wipe all its data.

According to Apple, in addition to iCloud support, the update also includes Safari 5.1.1 and fixes for all Lion users that:

  • Allow reordering of desktop spaces and full screen apps in Mission Control.
  • Enable dragging files between desktop spaces and full screen apps.
  • Address an issue that causes the menu bar to not appear in full screen apps.
  • Improve the compatibility of Google contact syncing in Address Book.
  • Address an issue that causes Keynote to become temporarily unresponsive.
  • Improve VoiceOver compatibility with Launchpad.
  • Address an issue that causes a delay in accessing the network after waking from sleep.
  • Enable booting in to Lion Recovery from a locally attached Time Machine backup drive.
  • Resolve an issue that causes screen zoom to stop working.
  • Improve Active Directory integration.

Mac users running Lion can download the update via Software Update or by selecting the appropriate upgrade for their machine from Apple’s support site, which includes full details of the update and included security features.

Find My Friends
This free app allows friends and family members to share their locations with each other (when connected to a Wi-Fi or 3G network). Users can choose to share their locations for temporary periods of time that are customizable. Add friends via the app and see their locations on a map. Users who want to keep their whereabouts to themselves can choose to not be visible. Parental controls are available under Settings on your iOS device.

Find My Friends is available in the iTunes App Store and requires iOS 5.

AirPort Utility
This free app allows iOS device users to manage settings, passwords and features for their Wi-Fi networks and AirPort base stations (AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule) from their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. The AirPort Utility app is compatible with all Apple 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations.

AirPort Utility is available in the iTunes App Store and requires iOS 5.



iPhoto 9.2
This update to iPhoto ’11 includes support for iCloud and iOS 5. In addition, the update addresses several other issues, making it a recommended update for all iPhoto ’11 users. According to Apple, the update includes the following fixes:

  • Left and right swipe gestures can now be used to navigate between photos in Magnify (1-up) view
  • Previously imported photos are now displayed in a separate section of the Import window
  • Book/calendar themes and card categories can now be selected using a pop-up menu in the carousel view
  • Resolves an issue that could cause some pages of books to print incorrectly
  • Rebuilding a library now correctly preserves saved slideshows and books 

Mac users running OS X 10.6.8 or later or 10.7.2 or later can download the update via Software Update or on Apple’s support site. Please note that compatibility with iCloud requires OS X 10.7 Lion.

As always, we recommend performing a full backup of your iOS device or computer before upgrading your operating system.

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