Apple Releases iOS 5 Beta 2 to Developers, Now with Wi-Fi Sync

Screen Shot 2011 06 24 at 6
As noted by ItsAllTech, Apple has released the first followup beta release to iOS developers. iOS 5 Build 9A5248d was just released this evening. The first changes noted include:

- Wireless syncing has been enabled for Mac OS X computers

WiFi Syncing

In iOS 5.0 beta 2, wireless syncing is now available for the Mac. It requires iTunes 10.5 beta 2 and OS X 10.6.8 or Lion. You will see an option to enable wireless syncing when you connect your device to iTunes with the USB cable. It is recommended you perform your initial sync with a cable after restoring your device.

Wireless syncing is triggered automatically when the device is connected to power and on the same network as the paired computer. Or, you can manually trigger a sync from iTunes or from Settings -> General -> iTunes Sync (same network as paired computer required). Be sure your device is plugged into a power source when performing Wireless syncs.
If you find issues with apps, media and/or photos synced to your device, you can reset then resync. From Settings -> General -> Reset, choose Erase all Content and Settings. Then reconnect to iTunes and sync again.

In this beta, iTunes may incorrectly report Photos as "Other" in the capacity bar. Photo syncing otherwise works as expected.

iTunes 10.5 beta 2 and Apple TV Software beta 2 has also been released.

iFans has release notes. Summarized here:

- iTunes 10.5b2 can’t sync iOS 5 Beta 1 devices
- iOS5 Beta 1 devices can’t iMessage iOS5 Beta 2 devices and vice-versa
- WiFi sync now works with OS X computers; it has to be enabled in iTunes 10.5 beta 2 first
- OTA updates have been released, though none are currently available
- iCloud has a new logo in the Settings.app
- You can now backup to iCloud or the computer when setting the device up
- If no notifications are available, Notification Center shows the text “No New Notifications”
- Stock widget in the Notification Center is now off by default
- Stock wallpapers are back, but are the same that were in iOS 4
- General speed improvements, kills bugs that were present in iOS 5 beta 1

Video of Wi-Fi Sync from iPhoneDownloadBlog:


We'll post updates as we hear more.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...

Top Rated Comments

aristotle Avatar
185 months ago
Your point of view has absolutely no testing needed on PC's.
Argument aside, no I will not relax, I need to know whether or not iOS 5 plays nice with Windows, and that's not possible until the next beta is released, which should be 3 weeks from now.
Dude. Stop it before you start looking like a troll. You obviously are not a software developer so let me explain how software development works.

Apple has a QA department (quality assurance) with QA engineers who are obviously testing each build of iTunes for windows and OS X long before the beta build even reaches the developers.

As others have explained, because the iOS SDK is OS X only, there is no need to release a beta to the general iOS developer community and the primary feature set for this release of iTunes is to support iOS 5 so if it works with windows right now then it should work with windows in the future.

Basic functionality and integration with windows is going to be tested by the QA engineers at Apple so you can rest assured.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
125037 Avatar
185 months ago
Why the HELL does the device need to be plugged into a power source? The only advantage of wireless syncing is that you can sync even if you're not charging it, i.e. wirelessly, when your device is already charged! I hate having to plug in an already charged device just to sync it, if it could do all of that wirelessly! What a useless feature. Disappointing and lame!

Um, it doesn't.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
voidptr Avatar
185 months ago
Why? The entire point of wireless syncing is to do it without a cable, which is why it's called "wireless". If you have to charge it to plug it in, you might as well sync it on USB while you're at it.

I think the great thing with wireless syncing is that you have your device on your desk and all you need to do is press a button. No fiddling with cables, chargers and whatever.

A lot of people, myself included, charge their iPhone at night with the wall charger. In that case, it'll sync at night even though the iPhone and charger is in my bedroom, and the computer it syncs against is somewhere else in the house. I charge it nightly, but almost never bother to sync it.

And from what's reported, you can still press a button and sync it if it's not plugged in; plugging it in triggers it automatically.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiRez Avatar
185 months ago
You will see an option to enable wireless syncing when you connect your device to iTunes with the USB cable.
OK, am I the only one seeing the irony here? :)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dethmaShine Avatar
185 months ago
I hope I'm not breaking the NDA by posting this:

WiFi Syncing
In iOS 5.0 beta 2, wireless syncing is now available for the Mac. It requires iTunes 10.5 beta 2 and OS X 10.6.8 or Lion. You will see an option to enable wireless syncing when you connect your device to iTunes with the USB cable. It is recommended you perform your initial sync with a cable after restoring your device.
Wireless syncing is triggered automatically when the device is connected to power and on the same network as the paired computer. Or, you can manually trigger a sync from iTunes or from Settings -> General -> iTunes Sync (same network as paired computer required). Be sure your device is plugged into a power source when performing Wireless syncs.
If you find issues with apps, media and/or photos synced to your device, you can reset then resync. From Settings -> General -> Reset, choose Erase all Content and Settings. Then reconnect to iTunes and sync again.
In this beta, iTunes may incorrectly report Photos as "Other" in the capacity bar. Photo syncing otherwise works as expected.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
radiogoober Avatar
185 months ago
You kind of lost me there, did you mean to say "If you have to plug it in to charge it"? If so, I get your point, wireless syncing isn't a great advantage if you still have to connect the wire once every couple of days to charge. However, for some people it's easier just to connect to a power outlet rather than have to connect to their Mac/PC.

Of course, when inductive charging is incorporated into the iPhone at some point down the line...

You guys wouldn't be having these discussions if you read the release notes.

YOU DONT HAVE TO PLUG IT IN TO WIFI SYNC!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)