iPhone Firmware

The iOS 5.1 firmware update came one step closer to public release as Apple has launched the third beta version to developers. Nearly a month after the iOS 5.1 beta 2 release, this latest version officially contains bug fixes and improvements. As is usually the case, as developers install and examine the new release more changes will be discovered.

Already it has been reported that the beta 3 version brings back a toggle under settings to switch 3G cellular data on or off. The toggle disappeared in an earlier release, despite the fact that having this option can help save battery life by reverting to EDGE data. iOS 5.1 beta 3 can be updated over-the-air (OTA) or downloaded directly from the Apple Developer Center.

Apple has planted fake device listings like "iPad10,1" and "AppleTV8,3" in configuration files to throw off developers looking for future iOS devices in their new iOS 5.1 beta 2. Mark Gurman (via MacRumors) discovered that the devices listed in the file, USBDeviceConfiguration.plist, went from around two dozen to over 100 items since the last release.

Besides the amusing fake files, iOS 5.1 beta 2 hasn't revealed anything too interesting. There are a few new bug fixes and the ability to remove images from the iCloud Photo Stream. The previous iOS 5.1 beta featured a possible battery drain fix, and an inactive code in the Camera app that allows panoramic photos.

The first beta of iOS 5.1 has been seeded to Apple developers, and includes several changes and improvements. First off, code has been uncovered pointing to support for a new piece of hardware, namely a Sprint iPad 2. Apple launched the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on Sprint's network just recently, and it appears they are taking the next step.

Other changes spotted by 9to5Mac include a new setting in Location Services for geofencing. One source of battery drain is geofencing, when an app such as Reminders puts a virtual perimeter around a location. Notifications are sent when leaving or arriving the location, and in iOS 5.1 each app that uses the feature has a special icon in Location Services.