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Apple Seeds iOS 5.1 Beta 3 to Developers, Restores 'Enable 3G' Toggle

Monday January 9, 2012 9:38 am PST by Eric Slivka
Returning from a holiday break, Apple today seeded iOS 5.1 Beta 3 to developers to allow for further testing of the next update to the company's mobile operating system. The new version arrives as Build 9B5141a, up from the previous Build 9B5127a released ad iOS 5.1 Beta 2 on December 12.


Screenshot of iOS 5.1 Beta 3 over-the-air update (Source: @CDeeRON)

So far the update appears to only be available via the over-the-air update mechanism for existing iOS 5.1 beta users, but should become available for general download through Apple's iOS developer program site shortly. We'll have more information on the new build at that time.

Update: We're still waiting for Apple to post iOS 5.1 beta 3 to the developer site with release notes, but commenters in our forums have noted that the new build restores the toggle that allows users to turn off 3G cellular data access. As Apple notes on the setting, 3G offers faster data speeds but uses more battery power than EDGE.


Update 2: iOS 5.1 Beta 3 is now available via the iOS developer program portal. Xcode 4.3 Developer Preview 3 and Apple TV Software Beta 2 have also been released today.


The full release notes for iOS 5.1 Beta 3 still have not been posted.

Update 3: The release notes for iOS 5.1 Beta 3 have now been posted, and one item of note involves a new API to help developers flag app content that should not be backed up.
iOS 5.1 introduces a new API to mark files or directories that should not be backed up. For NSURL objects, add the NSURLIsExcludedFromBackupKey attribute to prevent the corresponding file from being backed up.
The addition appears to be an expansion of the company's iOS 5.0.1 effort to help deal with content being stored for offline use that does not need to be committed to a device backup but which should not be subject to removal during the purging of caches. Apple will be replacing the com.apple.MobileBackup file attribute introduced in iOS 5.0.1 with the new API usage in iOS 5.1.

[ 244 comments ]


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Mlrollin91
98 months ago

Absolutely NOT. Edge is painfully slow. And other than battery life, it isn't like your data usage will be less on Edge. It'll just download slower.


But it can effect battery drastically. If you are in an area with poor 3G, your phone is constantly looking for that signal. If you manually switch to Edge it saves battery because its not looking for 3G.
Rating: 28 Votes
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bmms8
98 months ago
guys, we all stand corrected.. in the latest beta, you can turn off 3G! this is great for me!
Rating: 17 Votes
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MattMJB0188
98 months ago
Anyone else crossing their fingers this enables 4s users to be able to switch 3G off and use EDGE only. I'm not talking about turning cellular data off.
Rating: 15 Votes
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mms13
98 months ago

Absolutely NOT. Edge is painfully slow. And other than battery life, it isn't like your data usage will be less on Edge. It'll just download slower.


Obviously....but that's not why people turn off 3G. Sometimes 3G can be bogged down or unresponsive. For example when I attend NFL games, it's sometimes impossible to send texts or get data on 3G, but when I switch to EDGE, things go through. Ever since I got my 4S though, this hasn't been possible.
Rating: 15 Votes
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Peace
98 months ago



Anyone else crossing their fingers this enables 4s users to be able to switch 3G off and use EDGE only. I'm not talking about turning cellular data off.


Like this ?
Rating: 11 Votes
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bmms8
98 months ago

Really or fake/troll post?


is something wrong with you? why dont you read my previous posts, or at least download and install the beta 3 before you comment.
Rating: 10 Votes
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ballsop
98 months ago
heres to hoping

this build has some form of siri enhancements i.e give us brits the bloody map/business search.
Rating: 8 Votes
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5aga
98 months ago

But it can effect battery drastically. If you are in an area with poor 3G, your phone is constantly looking for that signal. If you manually switch to Edge it saves battery because its not looking for 3G.


this is true. If people dont use it they can leave it on 3G but the option should at least be there.
Rating: 8 Votes
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mms13
98 months ago

5.1 will be make or break for me whether or not I'll return the 4S. Four different units give me a battery life time of 5 hours maximum.

I don't want to able to delete photostream pictures: I want my new phone to last about as long as my old phone did.


Not sure why this is getting downvoted but I agree. While I have no intention of returning my 4S, I am dissapointed with the battery life when compared to my old iPhone 4. I get about 5-6 hours usage from the 4S, used to get at least 7 from the 4.

I'm just hoping 5.1 is out soon and offers even a minor improvement...5.0.1 did nothing for me, in fact I think it made it worse.
Rating: 7 Votes
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ktappe
98 months ago
Turning off 3G

I turn off 3G regulary but not to save battery. It's because AT&T sucks here in Wilmington, DE. As soon as 9AM rolls around, 3G data slows to a crawl or stops altogether. EDGE is the only way I can get data. As soon as everyone commutes home to PA, NJ, and MD at 5PM, 3G starts working again. The AT&T towers have plenty of bars of service but the data routers are overloaded, and have been for years. Complaints to AT&T have yielded sympathy but no solutions. So EDGE it is for me every day so I can just receive e-mail. Thus I really REALLY need Apple to keep the "3G" toggle in iOS. :(
Rating: 6 Votes

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