The release of an operating system update for all iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches might be closer than we thought and there's a big change for swipe-gestures on the iPad.
Apple has released a beta version of the iOS4.3 update to app developers to test. It appeared on the Apple developers website a short time ago.
The update includes Personal Hotspots, which will let you turn your iPhone into a WiFi hotspot to connect up to five other devices. This will bring it into line with the new Verizon iPhone announced in the US yesterday.
It's thought it could also include in-app subscriptions for newspapers and magazines, with sighing-up through your Apple ID. This is the subscription model being planned for the News Corp iPad-only paper The Daily, scheduled to be formally announced next week by Rupert Murdoch and Steve Jobs.
It's confirmed that iOS4.3 for the iPad features new screen-swipe gestures, including swipe left and right to switch apps.
This is what Apple says on the developers website:
“Test Multi-Touch Gestures for iPad This beta release contains a preview of new Multi-Touch gestures for iPad. You can use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen; swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar; and swipe left or right between apps. We are providing this preview before releasing them to the public to understand how these gestures work with your apps. Test them and give us your feedback on the Apple Developer Forums.”
And with iOS4.3 you'll be able to choose whether the iPad side-switch controls silent mode OR screen orientation lock.
But it looks like update support is being dropped for the iPhone 3G and the iPod touch 2G. There are no beta versions of iOS4.3 for those devices.
Follow IJSMblog on Twitter for all iPhone iPad and iPod news
Comments