Apple Gives Devs Third iOS 5.1 Beta

Apple released third beta version of the iOS 5.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. The update is a pre-release version which is meant for developers only. It includes some bug fixes and a new Enable 3G toggle feature that allows users to manually on and off 3G data connection on their iPhones.

The 3G toggle for iPhone 4S users is a feature spotted by Macrumors, which was not present when the phone shipped. This meant users did not have the option to turn off the faster data tier to conserve battery life. While Apple never explained why this was the case, the Siri voice assistant was considered the culprit since it required 3G or Wi-Fi, and would not work on Edge.

The release suggests Apple is one step closer to bringing the software to customers, who are expecting the company to improve battery life in this update. Reports from users with earlier versions of the software reported having mixed results. Eyes are also on 5.1 to see if features like panoramic photos and the autocorrect menus found by developers end up as readily accessible features.