What will iOS 4.3 bring?
iOS 4.3: it'll be better than our photoshopping
So now we are over the excitement of the arrival of the Mac App Store, lets turn our updating addiction towards the next iteration of iOS: 4.3.
Apple has just seeded the beta of this to developers, which basically means that an early version of it has been given to software developers of iOS apps in order that they can ensure they're apps will work without hitch on the latest update.
As it's a minor revision (a major change would mean a 5.0 onwards number) we shouldn't expect major changes but mostly bug fixes and (hopefully) performance improvements.
They're are these items to look out for though:
3rd Party support for AirPlay Video
AirPlay video already allows you to stream video from your iPad or iPhone 4 to Apple TV from Apple's own Movies app. iOS 4.3 will allow developers of 3rd Party apps in the App Store to take advantage of this.
It will be interesting to see if Hulu in the US and Sky TV in the UK take advantage of this with their on demand and live streaming apps respectively. Sky currently charge extra for viewing its channels on the larger iPad, so perhaps they'll leave AirPlay out, or charge even more for it.
Airplay for Photos
Just as AirPlay will allow you to stream videos from your palm to your TV, we expect this feature to do the same with your photo albums. So instead of turning your iPad into a slightly over specced Digital Photo Frame, you can now do the same with your 1080p 3D 60" LCD TV. Joking aside this is a nice addition to the Apple ecosystem, so it makes sense that it is all tied up. An even easier way to show off the holiday pics.
Wifi Hotspots
This will bring the ability to create a Wireless Hotspot from your 3G data connection (catching up with Android 2.1 devices). iPhone's can already 'Tether' to Mac's and PC's but only via USB or Bluetooth currenty.
I can see this being a feature that users will love as it potentially means 1 less gadget to carry around again: your Mobile Broadband dongle. You can simply switch on Hotspot and use the phones 3G connection to get online via your own Wifi hotspot. Got an iPad Wifi? well that's covered as well. iPod Touch? Yep that's online too. In fact anything else Wifi only. Just remember though that this will all come off your Data Allowance.
Oh and there is one potential downer to this: we may not all get it. Yep, Mobile Networks may decide to charge you more for this, with you having to pay extra to get the option. Certainly O2 removes the option but we know from experience that Three and T-Mobile let you tether without extra charge.
More MultiTouch on the iPad
Now this is interesting for iPad users. There are currently rumours abound on the interweb that Apple are planning to remove the Home button from the (presumably named) iPad 2 and iPhone 5. We don't buy this for a number of reasons: both the iPhone & iPad (and of course iPod Touch) are incredibly intuitive to use. We seem to work out and get the Home button and how it integrates with the overall experience very quickly without prompting. It's these design elements which have helped iOS become such a mainstream success. In addition it just wouldn't be practical trying to hold an iPhone in 1 hand and try to use Multitouch gestures alone. That Home button comes into its own for that. The iPad and iPhone have interestingly become very popular for people with accessibility issues and I can't see the removal of the button helping them.
However perhaps it is a potential change on the iPad. After all most people will hold and use it with 2 hands. This is how the Multitouch gestures could work:
- Four finger swiping left and right to switch between Multitasking apps
- Five fingers to swipe up to reveal the Multitasking Bar. We like this. Looks really natural.
- Five fingers to pinch at the screen to take you back to the Home Page. This looks slightly less useful than the previous two but the, er, animation looks good.
These are a nice development of the interface and the multitouch.
The iPad Switch
Ah this caused some consternation with the last major update. Originally the physical switch on the side of the iPad turned the Orientation Lock feature on and off. With iOS 4.2, Apple decided to bring it in line with the iPhone and changed it to a Mute switch. Not everyone was happy with this so Apple have been rather un-Apple like and give us a choice. Yep in the Settings Menu on the iPad you can choose between either Mute or the Orientation lock. Lovely. Although now I can't decide what I want it to be. Damn you choice!
