One of the questions we’re getting asked increasingly often is how many betas Apple will put out before the official iOS 5 release. There’s no way to know, of course, because Apple is a secretive company that almost never pre-announces anything. However, with past behavior being a fairly good indicator of future behavior, we can look at previous iOS beta cycles and try to determine a rough schedule.

From 2008 through 2010 — or iOS 2 (iPhone 2.0) through iOS 4 — Apple held an iOS Preview Event in March or April, announced a bunch of new software features for iOS, and seeded a beta to developers. They seeded additional betas roughly every 2 weeks thereafter. From 4 to 8 betas were seeded, sometimes with no new betas for up to a month before WWDC, where Apple showed off a few more features. Final features were usually tied to whatever new hardware they were announcing for the next-generation iPhone, which historically debuted at the WWDC event. At the same time, Apple would make a Gold Master (GM) seed of iOS available to developers, and announce a date for the final iOS release — typically around the same time as the next generation iPhone release — late June or early July. Then the big day would come and everyone would hover their mouse pointers over the iTunes update button, and wait for Apple to pull the trigger.

This year, however, there was no March/April iOS Preview Event and iOS 5 was announced at WWDC 2011 instead. So all bets are off.

There will probably still be around 8 betas, and there will probably still be a few more features shown off at Apple Fall Event, to coincide with the expected iPhone 5 announcement. There will probably be an iOS 5 GM seed released that day for developers, and then assuming everything goes well, an official iOS 5 general release for everyone around the same time iPhone 5 goes on sale.

We’ll only know for sure when Apple sends out invitations for their Fall Event and we get an actual date. It could be as early as mid August or as late as mid September. Last year it was September 1. The two years before that it was September 9. In 2007 it was September 5.

So iOS 5 beta 5 could be the last beta, and Apple could go silent until early September, or we could see another beta or two between now and then as they continue tweaking and testing. Here are the timelines past:

• iOS 2: previewed March 6, 2008, 8 betas, released July 11, 2008
• iOS 3: previewed, March 17, 2009, 5 betas, released June 17, 2009
• iOS 4: previewed, April 8, 2010, 4 betas, released June 21, 2010
• iOS 5: previewed June 6, 5 betas to date, released ?

We’ll expect more only if and when we see it.

Apple has released iOS 5 beta 5 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to developers. Like the previous update, iOS 5 is being offered over-the-air (OTA) so tap Settings on your device, go to General, and hit Software Update, and watch it do its magic.

As mentioned in the comments, Apple is officially recommending you wipe your device before updating:

To install iOS 5 beta 5 using over the air software update, you must first erase all content and settings on your device by choosing Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Over the air software update can be initiated on devices running iOS 5 beta 3 and later by choosing Settings > General > Software Update.

Be sure to backup your devices using iTunes 10.5 beta 4 or through iCloud backup prior to installing iOS 5 beta 5. After installing iOS 5 beta 5, you can restore your device using either iTunes 10.5 beta 5 or through your iCloud backup.

We’ve had a couple of successful updates without wiping, however. Apple may just want to have devices returned to a known state prior to update as a best practice. Ignore it at your own risk.

No word on changes yet.

[developer.apple.com]

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they're iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they're fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Photosync – @Alli_Flowers

Every night before going to bed, I place my iPhone on the charger and watch the little sync icon come alive. Yes, iOS 5 will sync your iPhone or iPad to your computer without wires, and without any user input. It's all automatic. I have not plugged my iPhone into my Mac in several weeks now, and it's an easy thing to get used to.

And then I needed a photo I'd taken with my iPhone camera. Surely I didn't have to plug my iPhone into my Mac just to transfer the photo? So I emailed it to myself. But there had to be a better way since you can't actually retrieve photos from your iTunes backup/sync.

A short while later, I discovered PhotoSync. Everyone is going to have to get this app: it's the perfect solution for our new untethered world. There are options for everyone. Do you only want to sync your photos from your iPhone to your iPad? PhotoSync can do this. Happy using Dropbox and don't want to change? PhotoSync has you covered here, too. What's that? You're a pc, not a Mac? No problem!

I have tried several sync methods with PhotoSync, and they are all easy, and successful. PhotoSync offers both a Mac and Windows desktop companion (at no charge!) with setup taking no time, no effort, and almost no thought.

[$1.99 - iTunes link]

Peppa Pig’s Party Time – @chrisoldroyd

Keeping my little girl entertained is always a challenge. Luckily she absolutely adores a little pig cartoon called Peppa Pig. This week a new app called Peppa Pig’s Party Time hit the App Store and she loves it.

You get to design the party invitations, make the birthday cake and create the party bags. Once done, all your friends arrive and you can play Pass the Parcel, Musical Chairs and Pinata time. It is a lot of fun for the young ones.

It is a well designed app that uses the power of the iPad touch-screen in a way that small children can master without too much effort! Unfortunately it appears that this is only available in the UK App Store at the moment!

Peppa Pig’s Party Time is not available in the US App Store.

[£2.99 - iTunes link]

Southwest Airlines – @llofte

This past Tuesday, I flew from Denver to San Jose, CA on Southwest Airlines. It was really convenient to check-in and check my flight status on the my iPhone with the Southwest Airlines app. In fact, we were nearly late for our flight, so I was using the app to look up when the next flights were.

I always fly Southwest when I travel and this app always makes it a more pleasant experience.

[Free - iTunes link]

Sid Meier’s Pirates! – @CrackBerryKevin

Last weekend was a long weekend where I live, so I went out to a friend’s cabin. I had my PlayBook and iPad with me but didn’t plan on using them. Then my buddy showed me Sid Meier’s Pirates! for iPad. Now that was my original computer game on my original Tandy over 15 years ago. I wasted hours on that game, and on the 2D, trackball version they put for BlackBerry. But the iPad version? Oh. My. God. Awesome. I played 7 hours straight. Ms. CrackBerry got all dressed up to go out, but I kept playing Pirates all through the evening. Yeah. Huge, massive fight.

I’ve sworn off Pirates! now, but seriously, this game is so good it almost cost me my relationship. I hate you iPad and Pirates.

[$3.99 - iTunes link

Barista - @reneritchie

I played around with Barista for iPhone a couple of years ago and have recommended it before, but now that I'm once again trying to take my coffee up a notch, I looked around the App Store for an assist and ended up right back with Barista.

The design is impeccable (it's by Graham Clarke of Glasshouse Apps, so that stands to reason), the instruction clear and concise, and it's just the thing any beginner needs to start pouring latte, cappuccino, and other beverages with quality and style that'll make an overly stale, overly caffeinated, overly frothed Starbucks weep with envy.

If you want to learn how to make better, stronger coffee with silkier milk and high order swagger, check out Barista.

[$2.99 - iTunes link]

iAllowance – @skeetobite

My pick of the week is iAllowance. After seeing Leanna post a blurb about it online, I decided to try it out for my daughter. After looking over a “sample” child, we created a profile for my daughter, including her allowance, “stars” for specific tasks, as well as various rewards she can “spend” the stars on. Not only was the app a easy to use, but it was a hit with my daughter as well (she gets very excited when we register that she has completed a task). It can sync with other devices, so my wife has it on her iPhone as well. My daughter even has it on her iPod so she can check out her reward and bank status. This is a great app for tracking allowances and rewards, and can encourage children to participate in their chore tracking.

[$3.99 - iTunes link]

Notes Plus – @RedWhiteAndJew (Reader’s Choice)

My choice for Picks of the Week is Notes Plus. Notes Plus is an advanced note taking app. In addition to the customizable notebook folders and freehand note taking you find in other similar apps, Notes Plus includes plenty of handy extra features that make it stand out above the rest.

The most innovative and different feature this app features is Shape Detection, which recognizes basic shapes and redraws them in precise polygons. This is helpful for students in Math and Engineering courses where notes include diagrams, graphs, and vectors. You can add voice notes to your pages, which can either be audio recorded of a professor or client’s conversation, or commentary from yourself later on. One of the coolest features is the handwriting box which zooms in on the area where you are writing and automatically moves along the page and to new lines as you write giving you a larger area to write on. This app also features a palm pad that can be pulled up from the bottom which serves as a place to rest your hand while writing in the middle of the page without worrying about relocating your cursor or drawing nonsense at the bottom of the page. You have the standard toolbox of drawing utensils in different colors and thicknesses to make key points stand out more. You can also mix handwritten notes with text typed from the keyboard with multiple font options included.

Overall, Notes Plus has every feature you could want in a note taking app and a few features you didn’t know you wanted. The app is only $4.99, which is less than the price of a high quality 5 subject paper notebook except that this will never run out of paper and takes up considerably less room. If you are a student, this needs to be on your must-have list.

[$4.99 - iTunes link]

Your pick?

You're part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on [twitter](http://www.twitter.com/llofte] or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

FX Photo Studio, the popular iPhone photo editing app that comes loaded with nearly 200 filters, is on sale for the weekend!

• Almost 200 high quality effects and filters
• All effects are 100% customizable
• High-Res masking: apply effects to any part of the image
• Enhanced editing tools
• Import from Facebook
• Share to Instagram & more cutting-edge features

Since the addition of the Masking Studio, FX Photo Studio has become one of my favorite photography apps on the iPhone. It makes a great pair with Instagram.

FX Photo Studio for iPhone is on sale for $0.99. Screenshots after the break.

[iTunes link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

If you are a fan of Batman, you are going to love this Batmobile. It is a real road car which has been built by Casey Putsch of the Putsch Racing facility. What's more, it is powered by a turbine which sounds absolutely awesome and has an in-dash GPS and audio system powered by an iPad. What more could any Batman loving iPad geek want?

This is the only Bat car created that makes fiction reality. It is powered by a military spec turboshaft engine driving the rear wheels through a semi automatic gearbox. It features a custom tube frame/monocoque chassis with fully independent suspension, disc brakes, and a sequential shifter. It runs on kerosene, diesel, or Jet fuel and has a power to weight ratio comparable to a Dodge Viper. The car is registered and insured for the road in the United States. Built in 2011 by Casey Putsch. Casey Putsch has the Putsch Racing facility.

Take a look at the car driving around the streets and listen to the sound of that engine in the video after the break. There are also a lot more pictures too. I want one now!

[The iPad Fan]

Duplicate Remover and Merger Pro, by Alittera, is a productivity iPhone app that removes duplicate contacts from your address book.

Duplicate Remover and Merger PRO will remove and merge duplicate contacts in just one tap. Even if thousands of duplicates are spotted, they all will be thoroughly analyzed and removed. All identical duplicates will be deleted and similar ones will be merged automatically ensuring that no data is ever lost. Use Duplicate Remover and Merger PRO after each sync to remove and merge new duplicates in seconds and make sure your address book is duplicate free.

• Removal of identical duplicate Contacts in one tap.
• Automatic merge of similar contacts.
• Support for MobileMe, Exchange and contacts groups or any non-local contact sources.
• Cleanup of Contacts in seconds.
• Lost Data prevention.
• Search and delete duplicates separately in each Contact source group to avoid accidental data loss. I.e. If you have the same contact in Exchange and on your iPhone, this feature will prevent removing contact data from the Exchange source.
• Trash Can. Restoration of accidentally deleted Contacts. All original contacts will be recycled during merging, so that you could restore them if needed.
• Unique algorithm of duplicate detection and removal scan of all contact properties, automatic search, merge or removal of all possible duplicates. Tested with the help of tens of thousands of users of 4Team Outlook Duplicate Remover desktop software.
• Eliminates the need of manual contacts comparison.
• Simple one-action-button User-friendly Interface.

Duplicate Remover and Merger Pro is available on the iPhone for $2.99.

[iTunes link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.