In a surprise move, Apple has released iOS 5 Beta 5 (build 9A5288d) to developers on Saturday. Apple typically releases new developer seeds on weekdays. Alongside the iOS 5 beta 5 release is Xcode 4.2 Developer Preview 5, iTunes 10.5 Beta 5 and Apple TV Software beta 4.
iOS 5 Beta 5 is available as an over the air update, but according to the release notes, users must first erase all content and settings by choosing Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Apple recommends backing up your device using iTunes 10.5 Beta 4 or through iCloud prior to installing iOS 5 beta 5, and subsequently restoring. That said, some users have been able to upgrade fine without going through that process.
thanks Elijah
BGR posts the release notes, which details some fixes, but no major new features. We're looking into what other changes may have occurred.
Hearing Aid Mode is said to be new in iOS 5 Beta 5:
Over the air update from Beta 4 to Beta 5 is 128MB.
NatesTechUpdate offers this video which goes over some of the new findings in iOS 5:
You'd think things would be slowing down heading into the holidays, but this week saw a whirlwind of Apple leaks and rumors while Apple started its next cycle of betas following last week's release of iOS 26.2 and related updates.
This week also saw the release of a new Apple Music integration with ChatGPT, so read on below for all the details on this week's biggest stories!
Top Stories
i...
Tuesday December 16, 2025 8:44 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with under-screen Face ID, and the front camera will be moved to the top-left corner of the screen, according to a new report from The Information's Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu.
As a result of these changes, the report said the iPhone 18 Pro models will not have a pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout at the top of the screen....
Friday December 19, 2025 10:37 am PST by Juli Clover
Since the beginning of December, Apple has been pushing iPhone users who opted to stay on iOS 18 to install iOS 26 instead. Apple started by making the iOS 18 upgrades less visible, and has now transitioned to making new iOS 18 updates unavailable on any device capable of running iOS 26.
If you have an iPhone 11 or later, Apple is no longer offering new versions of iOS 18, even though there...
Thursday December 18, 2025 3:44 pm PST by Juli Clover
Since the AirPods Pro 3 launched, there have been complaints from users who have noticed a static-like sound or a crackling issue when using the earbuds, particularly when Active Noise Cancellation is on but no media is playing. Users have also run into strange high-pitched whistling sounds that happen intermittently.
We shared the issues back in late October, and despite two subsequent...
Wednesday December 17, 2025 3:50 pm PST by Juli Clover
There's now a dedicated Apple Music app for ChatGPT, which allows ChatGPT to make music recommendations and build playlists.
Apple Music can be added to ChatGPT through the Settings section in the Mac app, website, or iOS app. Apple Music is listed under the apps option, and connecting to it requires signing in with your Apple Account for authorization purposes.
ChatGPT can be used to...
Friday December 19, 2025 3:59 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Samsung has officially unveiled the Exynos 2600, the world's first 2 nanometer mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC), built on the company's Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. The 10-core ARM-based design aims to deliver improved performance and efficiency for flagship devices like the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
The chip uses Arm's latest cores and supports new instructions for improved CPU speed and...
Tuesday December 16, 2025 4:42 pm PST by Juli Clover
There has been a whirlwind of rumors over the last few days, sourced from leaked internal software designed for the iPhone and the Mac, and news sites like The Information. Below, we have a quick recap of everything we've heard this week, which serves as a guide to Apple's product plans in 2026 and beyond.
We've organized the info by likely release date, though there are some products that...
Thursday December 18, 2025 1:31 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple Maps no longer offers a Flyover feature that provides users with automated tours of notable landmarks in major cities. The Flyover option appears to have been nixed around when iOS 26 launched, but its removal went largely unnoticed.
Flyover city tours were introduced in 2014 with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, using Flyover imagery to generate an aerial tour. Most cities with Flyover...
Camera+ (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/id329670577?mt=8) and Mashable! (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mashable/id356202138?mt=8) have both been accepted with unofficial support for iOS 5..... the update log on iTunes page has since changed
original details can be found here: http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-already-approving-app-updates-for-ios-5-%E2%80%94-launch-next-month/107598
There is a difference between being compatible with iOS 5 and having features that require iOS 5. I am the developer of an app that does not run at all on iOS 5 at the moment. However, I can fix the problem and make it work on (a.k.a. be compatible with) iOS 5 without ever touching the iOS 5 SDK. I can submit that update today. The thing I can't do is submit an update that uses an API that is only found in iOS 5. These apps that have updated for compatibility with iOS 5 are doing the former: fixing issues with running on iOS 5 using the iOS 4 SDK.
Apple: Please don't forget us lowly mac users and try to release iLion 10.7.1 before 2012. :confused:
What's an iLion?
Are your talking about OS X Lion?
Mac OS 10.7.2 released to developers... https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1196198
Apple has not yet made any mention of 10.7.1. OS X Lion was just released last week, and we expect that 10.7.1 will be delivered shortly as an initial bug fix to customers.
I agree what's the point of an OTA update if I still have to restore my device?
It's a beta. The only officially supported OTA updated with be starting with future versions of iOS 5.0 onward. They don't really care about bugs that only arise from 5.0 beta 4 -> 5.0 beta 5.
how do I get this thing installed without paying the $99 registration or whatever fee?? Any hacks?
You should definitely have googled that before asking it here. Prepare yourself for the onslaught of "You have NO BUSINESS downloading a beta if you have to ask this, NON-DEV" douchebagery.
