Two Small (But Awesome) Changes in iOS5

The amount of new features that Apple has introduced in iOS 5 is astounding. This is by far the largest and most impressive update to the iOS operating system. There are a lot of new features to dig through, and Steve and Co. covered the big one at Monday’s keynote. Let’s take a minute to look at two small, but interesting changes.
1. Switch the Switches
The first change, although superficial, is fun to look at. The oft-used toggle switches used to control settings in iOS have been redesigned. They’ve gone from the old square looking toggle to a rounded, more streamlined design.


Although this is seemingly minor design change, it does make the OS feel much newer and more modern. This is also the first change to this particular UI element since the original iPhone launched in 2007. The subtle gloss highlight on the new style also makes things feel shinier and ads some depth.
As always with Apple, it’s all about the details.
2. Concurrent App Update Installs
The second change has to do with installing app updates. In iOS 4, app updates would install one at a time, each waiting their turn to download and install. For a long list of updates, this could often take a while. Now, with iOS 5, updates will install concurrently, up to three at once (much like iTunes downloads).

This means that a list of updates will install much more quickly on iOS 5 than in previous versions. Something else to look forward to!