iOS 5 Blocks Settings Shortcut Icons

The development of a workaround to put nifty Settings icons at the tip of your fingers in iOS has prompted Apple to block the scheme, thwarting the efforts of several programmers whose solutions brought joy to many iPhone users.

It is unclear why Apple is bothering with such trivial aspects of the iOS when there are numerous other issues that should be at the top of their priority list, but as iSpazio points out, solutions like the cool Icon Project no longer work.

Several sources have been able to independently confirm the roadblock, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be similar solutions in the future, enabled by jailbreaks of course.

Besides giving well intended developers a hard time, iOS 5.1 beta also brings new things to the table.

For example, there is a new “geofencing” setting for the Reminders app that should help reduce battery drain. There’s also a new iTunes Match setting that lets you ‘Use Cellular Data’ to sync music.

Registered Apple developers can download the iOS 5.1 Beta IPSW from the company’s iOS Dev Center.

Separate versions are available for all supported iDevice models, including iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation, and the first-gen and second-gen iPad tablets.

Apple was initially rumored to be working on an incremental iOS 5.0.2 software update to address the widespread battery drain issues. It was believed that Apple testers were also working on iOS 5.1 in tandem with the smaller increment, but recent developments indicate the latter is the only build currently being tested.

There is no ETA for the public launch, but Cupertino is likely planning a rapid release.