Just updated my iPad 1 and iPhone 3Gs over-the-air (OTA), wirelessly, to iOS 5.0.1.
This is the first OTA update Apple has provided to iOS devices. The updates performed smooth as silk.
I wa out driving with my iPhone 3Gs, thus I didn't know about the update until I got within WiFi range (at home) My iPad, which was plugged in on WiFi sitting at home, had already downloaded the update, so I simply went to Settings-General-Software Update and told it to install.
While update was installing, I told my iPhone to download and install the installer. The download was completed just as the iPad finished installing, then the iPhone automatically ran its install.
Auto restart on both devices and I wa up and running in less than 15 minutes--I have a fast broadband connection.
Thank you Apple! No more needing to hardwar to my MacBook and iTunes! As one commercial used to say, "You are now free to roam about the cabin!"