Edible Apple

Apple over the past few months has issued a steady stream of iOS 5 betas. Now, with the iPhone 5 launch right around the corner, the typically accurate Ming-Chi Kuo wrote in a note to investors that Apple plans to release a golden master of iOS 5 to overseas assemblers sometime between September 23 and September 30.

With Apple expected to release the iPhone 5 in early October, Apple’s manufacturers, upon receiving the iOS 5 GM, will be able to install it on the upcoming iPhone hardware and prepare it for shipping to US shores. Accounting for a 10-12 day shipping period, Kuo writes that Apple’s next-gen iPhone will likely hit stores by mid-October.

This of course jibes with previous reports claiming that iPhone 5 pre-orders will open up on September 30 and that the device will go on sale sometime between October 7 and 15th.

iOS 5 is poised to be one of Apple’s most significant iOS updates ever. Some of its more prominent features include a completely revamped notification system, 1080p video output for all media files, custom vibration settings, LED flash alerts, increased camera functionality which includes the ability to take photos with the volume keys and the ability to activate the camera from the lock-screen, the option to set up a device without a computer, delta updates over the air, and iMessage – Apple’s BBM style messaging feature.

And, there’s just one more thing.

One of the biggest, and as of yet unannounced, features in iOS 5 will be new system-wide voice recognition technology powered by Nuance. Apple’s voice recognition app is rumored to be called “Assistant” and will likely incorporate Siri style functionality.

via MacRumors