Apple releases iOS 5 Beta 4 with Wi-Fi syncing for iPhone and iPad

Apple has released the fourth beta of the highly anticipated iOS 5 software, activating more key features as the firm prepares to launch the final version this autumn.

IOS 5 Beta 4 allows developers to update their iPhone, iPad or iPod software over the air for the first time, avoiding the need to manually connect to iTunes.

Additionally, Wi-Fi syncing has been enabled for Windows, Mac OS X 10.6.8 and Lion users. Apple recommends that the initial sync is performed with a cable.

Wireless syncing is triggered automatically when an iOS device is connected to a power source and when it is on the same Wi-Fi network as the PC or Mac.

Wi-Fi syncing appears to be one of the most sought after new features. Some 49 per cent of respondents to a V3 poll said that wireless syncing is the feature they most look forward to using.

Meanwhile, 14 per cent of V3 readers are looking forward to wireless device set-up and over-the-air updates. Surprisingly, just 16 per cent said that BlackBerry Messenger rival iMessage is the service they most want to use, and 15 per cent voted for the cloud storage platform iCloud.

IOS 5 is expected to debut in September on the fifth-generation iPhone. Little is known about the iPhone 5 hardware, but it is expected to have the same 1GHz dual-core A5 processor found in the iPad 2 and the Retina display.

Apple also activated the Assistive Touch feature in the third iOS 5 beta earlier this month, so the iPhone 5 could be Apple's first device to launch without the 'Home' button.