Apple has released a new iPad User Guide for iOS 5 app. It's free and worth the read (316 pages, total!) It includes all the new features, plus all the original ones.

NOTE: Before upgrading your devices to iOS 5, be sure to run a backup sync. In some cases, people have had to restore a device from backup, in others, the apps/info simply load back on. It's a bit of a crap shoot at the moment, it seems, which will happen!  Here's an article with five other steps that are recommended you take before upgrading. Also, here's a post from the Apple support site about how to back up your device and preserve the data.

NOTE: Some users are reporting apps not appearing once the device is updated to iOS 5. You may need to go into the home page for the device in iTunes and make sure the box for syncing apps is checked. Run a sync again and your apps should reappear.

ALSO: After updating, your device will restart and will work fine, as if the process is finished. i.e. you can send and recieve mails. At this point you will not see the apps you had installed, also your photos and movies will not be on your device. (I was fooled buy this one at first too!)  Do not disconnect your device or quit iTunes! In the background iTunes is still restoring the rest of your data! (Switch to iTunes and you'll see the progress.) This can take some time, depending on how much apps you had installed. One by one you'll see apps appearing on your device. DO NOT DISCONNECT THE DEVICE UNTIL THE WHOLE RESTORE IS FINISHED! BE PATIENT!  It may take an hour or more to get all your info restored, depending on how many apps, videos, photos, etc you originally had. Finaly, there are new Apple-apps added to the homescreen. They're 'pushed' to the second screen by your own homescreen apps, which may leave your second screen almost empty. You can rearrange the apps by tapping and holding on one until they wiggle and then move them around.

If all turns out bad, because you unplugged your device too early, go back to your restore file you made yourself before upgrade. (You did do that, didn't you?) and start the process all over.

iOS 5 Accessibility Features for Students with Disabilities 

This is an excellent article from Luis Perez who provides Technology Integration Assistance at the University of South Florida. Luis who has a visual impairment himself has used his own situation as an opportunity to assist others with impairment or who teach students with impairments to make the most of available technology. In his article Overview of New Accessibility Features in iOS 5 Luis steps us through some of the features we should be taking advantage of.

CNET.com has a handy video highlighting 4 of the coolest new features in iOS 5 (you will have to suffer through a short ad, first, though.) I highly recommend you view related iPad videos that are also on the same page.

A summary of just some of the new iOS 5 features that I found of interest follows:

iCloud

Note: if you're using iCloud to store your contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and notes, don't also sync them using iTunes.You'll duplicate your info. 5 gb of total storage comes free. Your purchased music, apps, TV shows, books and your Photo Stream don't count against free space.

You can purchase more storage: (go to Settings>iCloud>Storage & Backup, then tap Buy More Storage.)

$20/yr = 15 GB total storage

$40/yr = 25 GB  "        "

$100/yr = 55 GB "       "

Note:  iCloud is not available in all areas, and iCloud features may vary by area. For more information about iCloud, go to www.apple.com/icloud.

• To sign in or create an iCloud account:  Go to Settings > iCloud. If you have a MobileMe subscription, you can migrate it to iCloud at me.com/move.
• To choose info to store in iCloud, Go to Settings > iCloud.
• To turn Automatic Downloads on or off, Go to Settings > Store, then tap On or Off.
• To view and download previous iTunes Store purchases, go to the iTunes Store app, then tap Purchased.
• To view and download previous App Store purchases, Go to the App Store, then tap Purchased.
• To turn Photo Stream on or off, Go to Settings > iCloud > Photo Stream, then tap On or Off.

For more information about iCloud, go to www.apple.com/icloud. For support information, go to www.apple.com/support/icloud.

Safari (Browser)

Tabbed browsing is now available--no more pages sliding up and back! YAY! You can have up to ?? pages open at once 

Web Clips: to create a short cut when using Safari, open the webpage, click on the black square icon with the arrow to select "add to homepage" option.

Safari also has a new "reader" option and an option to send a Tweet directly from the browser. All are accessed under that same option.

Camera--new options: pinch the screen to zoom in or out (back camera, in camera mode only); Turn on the grid;

NOTE: if you have locations services on for the camera and upload them to any Internet site, the location data will be included. Turn location data on or off for the camera in Settings>Location Services>Camera. If you choose to use iCloud for sync/backup, you can turn Photo Stream on under Settings>Photos>Photo Stream or Settings>iCloud>Photo Stream. This will automatically upload new photos to iCloud and downloads them to all of your device when connected to wifi. You can also post a Tweet with a picture. You'll need to log in to your Twitter account to do so by going to Settings>Twitter.

Once you take your photo, there are a number of new photo editing options you can access when viewing a photo full screen. Tap edit then choose a tool including red-eye (tap each eye to correct), crop (drag the corners of the grid, reposition photo, then tap crop) and Auto Enhance to improve the overall quality of a photo.

You can also trim frames from the beginning and end of a video you recorded. While viewing, tap the screen to display the controls. Drag either end of the frame viewer at the top, then tap Trim.

Find my iPad/iPod/iPhone

This free service from Apple can help you locate a lost or misplaced device. You can find it on a map, display a message or sound, remotely lock or completely wipe your device. Before you can use this service, you must turn on "find my iPad" either in iCloud or in MobileMe in settings. (iCloud--Settings>iCloud>Turn on Find my iPad; MobileMe--Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendar>tap MobileMe account, then turn on Find my iPad) This service uses wifi to locate your iPad, so it won't work if your device isn't connected to a network.

Twitter

Enable Tweets with attachments from the following apps:

• Camera or photos
• Safari
• Maps
• YouTube

 Go to Settings>Twitter and enter your user name and password (or tap Create New Account.) Tap the black square with the arrow in it to view the Tweet option. If that icon isn't showing up, tap the screen.

Notifications

The Notification Center displays all your alerts in one place including:

• Reminders
• Calendar Events
• New mail
• New messages (from Facebook and Message center)
• Friend Requests (from Game Center) 

To see the Notification Center, swipe down from the top of the screen.

Keyboard Layouts (on iPad only)

Type with a split keyboard or an undocked one that's in the middle of the screen.

To split it, touch and hold the Keyboard key on the right bottom side of the keyboard; slide down to Split, then release

To move the keyboard, touch and hold Keyboard key, slide down to Undock, then release. Keyboard will move to middle of screen

To return the keyboard to the bottom of the screen, touch and hold Keyboard key, slide down to Dock and Merge, then release.

Siri-Voice Recognition Software (iPhone 4GS only)

If you're lucky enough to own a new iPhone 4GS, iSmashPhone has a great tutorial on setting up "Siri" the iPhone's "personal assistant. And here's a list of 5 things Siri can't do  and one thing Steven Colbert would like it do, but can't... ;-)