So, you have an iPhone 4 and you’ve heard about all the awesomeness that is iOS 5. You either don’t have the dough for the iPhone 4S or want to hold-out for the iPhone 5.
What happens if you upgrade your iPhone 4 to iOS 5?
What do you get? What do you miss? Will it work!?!
Here’s the info:
What You Will Miss
Siri
Siri is all the rage (funny, too) and for good reason.
Since Siri requires the hot dual-core A5 processor, you’ll have to miss out on the Siri features of iOS 5.
AirPlay
iOS 5’s AirPlay Mirroring allows you to project your video on the big screen via AirPlay-connected HDTV or the Apple TV 2.
Again, this requires the A5 processor, so only iPhone 4S and iPad users can take advantage of this in iOS 5.
What You Get
iCloud
Siri is cool, but iCloud is a game changer. Backup your calendar, email, documents, contacts and access them straight from iOS 5, OS X Lion, Windows machines and Apple’s online web interface.
If that wasn’t enough, iCloud remembers all of your App Store purchase, so delted apps and songs can be downloaded again — #WINNING!
With iOS 5, you get 5GB of free storage, and can upgrade to 10GB for $20, 20GB for $40 and 50GB for $100.
iTunes Match
This is Apple’s first step into the cloud music scheme. With iTunes Match, you’ll eventually access your entire music library remotely, so good-bye iPhone hard drives full of music!
Photo Editing
Remove red eye or enhance your photos before you Tweet and share your photos!
Very cool.
Quick Camera Access & Grid Shots
iOS 5 has another camera 1UP.
Simply double-click your home button and you’re ready to point and shoot while your volume button functions as a shutter. You can even turn on a grid overlay to stage photos.
iMessage
Must everything start with an “i”?
This is essentially SMS without working against your wireless plan. It even includes “read” receipts, but iMessage is only going to work with your iOS 5 friends.
Twitter is everywhere on iOS 5, including on Maps and in the Safari options menu, and it looks gorgeous. When you’re setting iOS 5 up, Apple even asks if you’d like to download the official Twitter app.
Dear Facebook, get a clue.
iOS 5 Users
Are you an iOS 5 user? Tell us what you think!
Is it worth the upgrade?
[via PC World]
Jay Caruso says
Two other things that stand out:
A. Volume up button can now be used to take a photo. So much easier to keep it steady when using the left thumb to hit the volume button.
B. Reminders – This is something I have been waiting for. I didn’t need fancy apps to do something like this. I just wanted something simple to use for a “to do” list and this works excellently.
Also, I have noticed my iPhone 4 being a little snappier with iOS 5. I would definitely recommend upgrading.
Eric Dye says
Jay speaks.
People listen.
Nick Sheetz says
I have an iPhone 4 and upgraded to iOS 5 as soon as it came out. I would definitely say that it is worth the update I love the new notification system. It is much more smooth and less obtrusive. Plus the notification center is pretty handy. In one quick swipe I can check my calendar, the current weather, and a summary of all my unread emails and texts. One feature that hasn’t been talked about much is the reminders. The coolest thing about reminders is you can set it to remind you in a specific location. For example, yesterday when I got home I realized that I had forgotten to put a tripod back in the equipment room. I set a reminder on my phone and set it up to remind me when I got to the church. Then this morning when I got to work I received a notification reminding me to put the tripod up.
Eric Dye says
WOOT!
This is great!
Jim says
I converted to iOS 5 when it came out. Since then I have noticed a few features that are worth the upgrade such as notifications. In general is the upgrade worth the effort, sure. I am not going to suggest that everyone run out an upgrade their iPhone 4 to iOS 5.
I would love to have Siri on my phone, but I am still not sure how this will be a game changer. I think that until Siri or a true learning artificial intelligence appears, such as that on Star Trek. I want to walk up to a terminal and ask a question, then have mounds of data presented to me. I might be asking to much, but that is my view of how voice recognition should progress.
Eric Dye says
Right. Siri is still in beta.
As for the features you get, I think the upgrade looks like a solid one for iPhone 4 users.
Charles Specht says
Okay, so I only have the iPhone 3. Will the upgrade work on my iPhone…or am I that ancient?
Jim says
My wife is in the same position as you. I would not recommend placing iOS 4 or 5 on an iPhone 3. According to the Apple website the iPhone 3GS is only iPhone 3 variety that will work with the latest iOS.
Eric Dye says
Indeed! Jim is correct. I’ve heard this from others, too.
Rick says
I like the rotation on calendar in landscape view, swiping the keyboard up/down on text message screen & notifications screen.
Eric Dye says
I’m a sucker for eye-candy … landscape view FTW!
James Cooper says
I’ve got the original iPhone, I can’t using iOS4 let along 5 😉 I’ll have to stick to dreaming of Siri for the moment!!! (it that wrong?!)
Eric Dye says
No one’s judging you here, James.
Matthew Snider says
I see no reason anyone would not want to minus the lack of untethered jailbreaks.
iOS5 is the reason the iPhone is such a wanted thing. The iOS updates are HUGE.
No more texting plan for me now.
Eric Dye says
HA!