iOS 5.1 Beta Launch Hints at Apple’s Plans for iPad 3 and 4

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Monday, January 09, 2012

Apple recently launched the third beta release of the upcoming iOS 5.1 firmware.

This software is currently available as an over-the-air update for existing iOS 5.1 beta users. Tech site, 9to5Mac reported that the new firmware contains “the obligatory bug fixes and improvements.”

It is still not available as a standalone download through Apple’s developer portal and this new beta release has launched barely a month since the company released the second beta. One feature included on the new system is that it will allow users to delete individual images from Photo Stream. Apple customers frequently complained about not being able to do this.

This new beta has restored the Enable 3G toggle in settings that was taken out of iOS 5 when it was released as an upgrade last October.

“This should help save battery by switching to Edge connection while still maintaining cellular data connectivity for apps that don’t require high data throughput instead of having only 3G cellular data turned on or off,” wrote 9to5Mac.

According to the site, the second iOS 5.1 beta revealed that Apple could be planning to ship iPads and iPhones with quad-core A-series chips created by the company. The iPad 3 is expected to include a quad-core chip and launch in March. The iPad 4 could follow it up in October.

Apple could be waiting for those new devices to officially release the next update for iOS 5. The iPhone 5 is also expected to be released with a quad-core chip.

iOS 5 hit Apple devices in Oct. of 2011, and brought with it some interesting new features including iMessage and the official introduction of the iCloud. iOS 5.1 should allow these features on the software to receive significant upgrades.