The most anticipated release date for the iOS 5 is the release date of the new iPhone 5, and fans expect not only improved features from older versions, but new features that are characteristic and compatible only with the technology on the iPhone 5, like the iPhone 4 had the FaceTime feature, for example. Although there is no confirmation available, there is already a list of speculations and possibilities regarding the features that the new iOS will bring to the table.
A huge number of applications have been released, and the IM and networking apps got pretty standard. Also, iTunes features like Ping and Push have changes the way people use the iPhone. It is obvious that the infrastructure needs to be a bit upgraded as well, so applications like Push Notifications would become more important to the OS, and adopt a much more specific form. Currently, Push has a binary format from the early days of the iOS. Another discussed subject for the iOS 5 is multitasking. Multitasking was great in theory when announced for the iPhone 4, but turned out to be not so impressive. The iOS 5 is a great chance for the people at Apple to work on this feature and make more multi tasking options available, like being able to read a text message withing the app you were working on when received, without having to switch. It is almost sure that Apple will face this subject in the upcoming major iOS, now that they had the chance of hearing the general opinion after implemented in iPhone 4.
As we could see on iPhone 4, Apple is trying to integrate as many feature as they can, so they can interact with the services that identify with those features. For example, when there is a weather delay, it would be nice for Push notifications to pop up and inform you, and then let you edit the calendar dates. Another example would be integrating networking applications with all other features, so everything on the iPhone would have options like sending to various networking places like Twitter or FaceBook. This integration would be great with the Maps application which should have the option of being linked to any other app. Such a feature integration has already started on iPhone 4, and we can expect from Apple to continue it with the iPhone 5.