Apple released the new beta of its mobile operating system earlier today – iOS version 5.1.0 – to developers. Following iOS 5.0.1 which fixed some bug issues reported by users immediately following the release of the iPhone 4S (most importantly, the battery-drain bug which still hasn’t been completely fixed), this new version of iOS is expected to make some fixes to the battery life issues and work on increasing stability of the built-in apps. It may also include some Safari fixes, as Safari 5.1.2 was released today as well (but I don’t know who uses that browser… just kidding).
Oddly enough, the announcement of the Beta wasn’t the big news here – it was what was contained within the Beta that really piqued people’s interest.
First, there are specific references to yet-unreleased Apple products in the source code (someone always forgets to take that out for some reason):
One of these things just doesn't belong here...
Most obvious is the iPhone 5,1 reference to the yet-unreleased iPhone 5. Expected this summer or this fall, the iPhone 5 will probably (heck, it follows the same pattern – it WILL) be redesigned from the iPhone 4 and 4S, most likely with a 4″ Retina Display and a new aluminum backing – plenty of mock-ups have already been made. Moreover, the iPad 3,2 and 3,3 could reference a new iPad – presumably the iPad 3 – currently in development (though the iPad 3,2 has been seen before).
Finally, 9to5Mac found some source code that has a new Apple TV reference – the supposed J33 tag – that confirms a new Apple TV product. It’s pure speculation that this could be the new Apple TV – or the “iTV” – that is supposedly just around the bend. Would you like a 42″ Retina Display television running Apple TV’s version of iOS? I’d like to see it, but it could be a new implementation of the little black box currently known as the Apple TV as well – we’ll have to wait and see what comes of these finds in the future. For now, it’s speculation, but it sure gets you excited, eh?
What do you think? Given the history of Apple products, this seems pretty convincing. Post a comment about what you think about the smarts of Apple’s software engineers – do you think they let these things leak on purpose?
