As we reported earlier today, Apple has just released a free update for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, both iPads, and the third and fourth-generation iPod touch. Watch how easy it is to update iOS 5 over the air, without using iTunes. Designated iOS 5.0.1, the update claims to fix that battery longevity bug, and in addition, owners of the original iPad get the additional multitasking gestures (already possible on the iPad 2), everyone gets better synching with documents in the Cloud, and Aussies can more accurately dictate text using voice recognition.
Some of us have already noticed longer battery life with the 5.0.1 update (we’ll test that further as the days go by), but the big novelty here is the way you can upgrade an iOS device over Wi-Fi, otherwise known as an over the air (OTA) update. Android users will laugh, because they been doing this for years.
But for those of us using iPhones and their brandmates, this is a big deal. it’s no longer necessary to plug your iOS device into iTunes and wait for the entire 852.5MB operating system to download. Just the part that needs fixing is downloaded — this time it’s 55MB which took only a few minutes before it started installing.
For some iOS users, it’s even easier — they’re getting a “push” notification of version 5.0.1′s availability, with a small red-encircled “1″ on the Settings icon that leads them to the update. We didn’t get that push notification, but we’ll show you how to update your iOS device without it. Here’s the step-by-step upgrade procedure, which took a grand total of about 10 minutes to download and install: View As Slideshow »
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Start the Update
Tap the Settings icon, select General, tap Software Update. If you need the update, here's where it'll let you know.
Here we go!
After you've agreed to the "Terms and Conditions" you're off and running, starting with a quick download. While you wait, it gives you something to read, showing you what the update will fix.
Over-the-air update means a quick download
It took us about 4 minutes to finish the download over a moderately fast broadband connection and Wi-Fi. It advised us to plug in our device -- we didn't with one iPhone 4S that was fully charged, but we plugged in this additional iPhone 4S that was running low on battery power. It won't upgrade unless your device is 50% charged.
After the download, this screen appears
Verifying....
The installation takes about 5 minutes
First it appears to be rebooting. Then you see this progress bar as it installs. After a final reboot...
You're good to go.
Longer battery life will surely be welcome. We'll be testing that.
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