Along with iOS 5 Apple has added OTA (over-the-air) operating system updates. This means smaller, targeted updates can be downloaded directly to the iPad instead of dealing with large IPSW files on iTunes. Only the parts of iOS that need to be improved are downloaded and replaced.

To update the iPad OTA, iOS 5.0 or later must already be installed. The iPad battery must be at least 50 percent charged or the tablet should be plugged in before starting the OTA update process.

Follow these steps to update the iPad operating system OTA:

1. Connect the iPad to a Wi-Fi network

Apple released the iOS 5.0 update on Wednesday October 12, 2011. On your computer, right-click the link below to download the official IPSW file to restore firmware on the iPad 2.

iPad 2 Wi-Fi 5.0: Pad2,1_5.0_9A334_Restore.ipsw
iPad 2 Wi-Fi 5.0.1: iPad2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw

Apple released the iOS 5.0 update on Wednesday October 12, 2011. On your computer, right-click the link below to download the official IPSW file to restore firmware on the AT&T iPad 2.

iPad 2 AT&T (GSM) 5.0: iPad2,2_5.0_9A334_Restore.ipsw
iPad 2 AT&T (GSM) 5.0.1: iPad2,2_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw

Apple released the iOS 5.0 update on Wednesday October 12, 2011. On your computer, right-click the link below to download the official IPSW file to restore firmware on the Verizon iPad 2.

iPad 2 Verizon (CDMA) 5.0: iPad2,3_5.0_9A334_Restore.ipsw
iPad 2 Verizon (CDMA) 5.0.1: iPad2,3_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw

Apple released iOS 5.0 for the iPad on Wednesday October 12, 2011. On your computer, right-click the link below to download the official IPSW file to restore firmware on the original iPad.

iPad 5.0: iPad1,1_5.0_9A334_Restore.ipsw
iPad 5.0.1: iPad1,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw

iPad owners can look forward to the next Apple iOS firmware update, as iOS 5.0.1 beta has already been seeded to developers. The update should be available for the general public within a few short weeks and will provide bug fixes and new features to iPhone and iPad users alike.

When it comes to the original iPad, multi-finger gestures originally included in the iOS 4.3 beta update that were never deployed have finally made their way into the iOS 5.0.1 update. These gestures include 4 and 5 finger gestures that perform different functions including returning to the home screen without pressing the home button, app switching and multitasking dock access.

Apple is not likely to charge for the iOS 5 update, however there has been no official word from the company. Original iPad owners were promised that the update to iOS 4 would be free of charge.

In contrast, earlier iPhone OS updates to the iPod touch had a price of $10. Recent updates from Apple on these devices have been free.

Apple has yet to charge iPhone, iPad or iPad 2 owners for an iOS update. It seems that Apple is moving away from charging for the mobile operating system as most of the profits come from other sources such as hardware sales and the App Store.

Apple has announced that both the original iPad and iPad 2 will be compatible with iOS 5 firmware.

Reports based on beta developer versions of iOS 5 have indicated that Apple may reserve some functions such as new multi-finger gestures for the iPad 2 only. Also as is the case with iOS 4, any software having to do with the cameras on the iPad 2 will not function on the original iPad.

iOS 5 will be released in fall 2011 and brings over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates to the iPad and iPad 2.

So far, Apple has released a major update to the iOS mobile operating system every time a new iPhone hits stores. Release dates so far have typically been seen every summer, with the exception of the iPhone 4S, released in October 2011.

iOS / iPhone OS Release Dates
(iPhone OS) iOS 1.0: Friday June 29, 2007
(iPhone OS) iOS 2.0: Friday July 11, 2008
(iPhone OS) iOS 3.0: Wednesday June 17, 2009
iOS 4.0: Monday June 21, 2010
iOS 5: Wednesday October 12, 2011

iTunes downloads iOS firmware files and stores them to a default directory on your computer automatically. These Apple firmware files have an .ipsw extension and are located in the following folders:

On Mac computers:
~/Library/iTunes/iPad Software Updates (where ~ is your home directory /Users/<Username>)

On Windows XP:
Documents and Settings\<Username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPad Software Updates

On Windows Vista and Windows 7: