Update: iOS 5 is now available via iTunes and iCloud is now live. You will need to update your Mac to OS X 10.7.2 and update iOS devices to iOS 5 to use iCloud.
Today sees the availability some of the most significant new software tools in Apple’s recent history. Both iCloud and iOS 5 are due to arrive in the next few hours and there are updates to add compatibility with them to OS X, iTunes and many Apple apps.
At the time of writing, iCloud has had its beta tag removed but still won’t allow anyone without a developer account to either sign-up or switch from a MobileMe account. iOS 5 hasn’t appeared on Apple’s servers yet either, but based on recent history should be available around 6pm UK time.
Apple announced on Monday, the first day that the iPhone 4S was available for pre-ordering, that it had had over a million pre-orders. ‘We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S,’ said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. ‘The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do.’
That figure is an increase of two-thirds on the figure for the iPhone 4, which had 600,000 pre-orders in one day. Apple is now quoting a wait time of 1-2 weeks on its online store, but will start selling the iPhone 4S in its retails stores on Friday.
