iOS 5 Beta 3 Brings Enhanced Location Controls and Other Tweaks - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 5 Beta 3 Brings Enhanced Location Controls and Other Tweaks

It's All Tech posts an extensive list of changes discovered so far in the third beta version of iOS 5, which was seeded to developers just a short time ago. Among the interesting new features and tweaks are:

ios 5 beta 3 location
- Enhanced location services controls: Aside from a prominent new screen in the iOS 5 setup process outlining how location services work, the new beta also includes finer granularity of controls, allowing users to specify whether such functions as cell network searching, diagnostics, iAds, time zone setting, and traffic information may make use of the device's location information. This is of course in addition to the per-app location controls that are already available.

- Speed enhancements: User reports indicate that performance is significantly improved under the new beta, with a considerable reduction in lag.

- Voice roaming: In addition to the existing ability to turn off data roaming in order to avoid hefty data charges, the new beta adds a "voice roaming" toggle that will allow users to prevent their phone from connecting while on roaming networks not included in their carrier's service package and thus subject to extra fees.

- Prompt for moved video content: With iOS 5, Apple has rebranded the "iPod" app on the iPhone and iPad as "Music", in line with what is found on the iPod touch. The new beta now issues an initial prompt informing users that video content such as movies, TV shows, and music videos have been moved to the "Videos" app.

- Safari preferences: The ability to clear cookies and data has been restored in the new beta, and a new "Advanced" page has been added with additional tools for removing data and debugging.

- Other assorted tweaks: A new icon for the "Reminders" app that is being added in iOS 5, an iTunes Store button in the "Music" app, the Wi-Fi Sync setting renamed to "iTunes Wi-Fi Sync", and mailbox creation from within Mail.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....

Top Rated Comments

198 months ago
did u really just say "in steve jobs we trust"? im sorry but steve jobs isnt even considered human to some of us.....more like the devil
Yes, damn him and his company that gives us high-quality electronics and software. The devil indeed.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Voidness Avatar
198 months ago
They fixed one major annoyance with Notification Centre. Previously, in a full-screen game like Cut the Rope where the status bar is hidden, swiping from the top of the screen would pull down Notification Centre immediately. This was really annoying and interrupted the flow of the game. Now, swiping from the top in an application without a status bar will pull down the Notification Centre "handle" without interrupting the game. To pull down the Notification Centre completely, you pull down the handle. Here's a screenshot:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
198 months ago
Mail in iOS5

STEVE!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!

I have been asking for this since before iOS4... Please can we have separate signatures for the separate email boxes? It is a royal pain to either have to type out my professional signature block on professional emails or erase it for emails from my personal box.

I have sent this suggestion numerous times through Apple's website and it seems so silly to even be an issue!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
198 months ago
Sweet, now they just need to separate gps functionality from "Airplane Mode" since GPS is passive technology.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gemütlichkeit Avatar
198 months ago
I like everything except the extra "Music" and "Video" apps. Video's were fine being a tab in iPod.

At least take away the Youtube app and add it to "video"
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
198 months ago
I hope that the battery life has improved.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)