Apple is expected to release iOS 4.3 this week so we thought it might be a good idea to go through the new features and changes that have been discovered in iOS 4.3 beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 that Apple has seeded to developers of iOS developer program so you know what to expect.
Here is the list new features and changes in iOS 4.3:
Personal Hotspot (iPhone Only):
The personal hotspot feature will allow users to share their iPhone’s 3G data connection with up to 5 mobile devices.
The Personal Hotspot feature can be enabled via the Settings app.
iOS 4.3 will bring the Personal Hotspot feature to GSM iPhone users. It is already available to Verizon iPhone users.
AirPlay:
Apple had introduced the AirPlay feature in iOS 4.2. It allowed users to stream digital media wirelessly from their iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to Apple TV 2G or any AirPlay-enabled features. However, AirPlay feature was only limited to pre-installed apps like YouTube and iPod/Video app.
iOS 4.3 will allow users to stream media wirelessly from other third-party apps, Safari mobile browser and also the pre-installed Photo app, thus unlocking the full potential of the feature.
Side Switch Toggle (iPad Only):
In iOS 4.2, Apple had changed the rotation lock to mute switch like the iPhone.
In iOS 4.3, iPad users will get an option to select the side switch at the top right corner either as a rotation lock switch or mute button.
New font for Notes:
Apple had given users the option to select from two new fonts in iOS 4.2: Helvitica and Chalkboard instead of only Marker Felt.
In iOS 4.3, Apple has replaced the Chalkboard font with the Noteworthy font.
Cancel/Delete App Installations Mid-way:
iOS 4.3 finally gives users the option to cancel downloading apps and delete them mid-way. Earlier the only option, one had was to pause the download.
Customize Alerts for Messages (iPhone only):
iPhone users will be able set the number of times they want to be alerted for an unread SMS/MMS.
Repeat Alert option has changed to Play Alert Tone and you can select from Once, Twice, 3 Times, 5 Times and 10 Times.
Redesigned App Store Updates page:
The App Store gets a redesigned updates page for the iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad. It will make it easier for users to install apps that you’ve already purchased (that they had deleted previously).
Push Notification For Ping:
iOS 4.3 allows users to setup push notifications for Ping - Apple's social network for music so that they can find out what their favorite artists or friends are up to as soon as possible.
New Wait Button:
Apple has added a wait button to the Add contact extended keyboard and has moved some of the buttons around.
Tapping on the Wait button will add a semicolon to the number as opposed to pause which adds a comma.
The pause button has moved to where the ghosted 4 button used to be, the plus button has moved to where pause was, star has moved to where plus was and a new wait button has been added to where the ghosted 6 button used to be.
Below is the screenshot of the Add contact screen with extended keyboard in iOS 4.2.1:
And the Add contact screen with extended keyboard in iOS 4.3:
Parental Controls:
iOS 4.3 gets a new parental control for Ping – Apple’s social network for music.
Location Services Settings:
Location Services settings in the Settings app has been moved to the top-level instead of under General to make it more easily assesible.
Compatibility:
iOS 4.3 is compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 4th generation, iPod Touch 3rd generation and iPad. Unfortunately, iOS 4.3 will not available for iPhone 3G and iPod Touch 2nd generation, which means that iOS 4.2.1 is the last iOS software update for these devices.
It needs to be seen if all the new features and changes mentioned above makes it to the final version of iOS 4.3 and if Apple will surprise us with additional new features.
Update:
Apple gave a preview of iOS 4.3 at the at the iPad 2 media event where it revealed two more features coming to iOS 4.3:
Faster Safari:
Apple has ported the Nitro Javascript engine used in desktop version of Safari to iOS so Mobile Safari browser in iOS 4.3 loads Javascripts two times faster. Folks at iSpazio and CNET UK have carried out some tests to find out the real world performance improvements of Safari browser in iOS 4.3 GM compared to iOS 4.2.1. You can find all the details here and here.
iTunes Home Sharing:
Allows iOS 4.3 users to play music, movies and TV shows on an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch from their iTunes library on a Mac or PC over a local Wi-Fi network. This feature was previously available only on the Mac and Windows PC.
Release date:
Apple has announced that iOS 4.3 will be released on March 11th.
So are you excited about the iOS 4.3 software update? Which one is your favorite feature? Let us know in the comments below.
Nothing too big but I’m just glad we get these occasional updates to add more stuff:)
waste of time
+1
+1
+1
when is the unlock coming out? to unlock bb 3.10.1
Some time in mid june – aug when iOS 5 is realeased
Meh.
Instead of Ping options, if they added Pong, it may be worth downloading.
The “how many times to be alerted of an SMS reminds me that I’d like an option to reduce the times I’m notified that I’ve lost my network. Sucks when your in a crapper with bad reception and that pops up every time you try to play angry birds.
that indeed does suck.. thought I was the only one that
plays Angry Birds on the pot lol
The only best feature 4.3 have is third party app Airplay. most of the other features we were using via jailbreak.
I’m most excited that we’ll finally get infrastructure mode for wifi hotspot. That way I won’t have to use Internet connection sharing for getting my ps3 online. Also would work for the wii for those wondering. Just hope the rumor and talks of there being a jailbreak ready right after it comes out ends up being true. Can’t wait!
If I am reading this right .. which I may not be … But you seriously want to use your 3G hotspot to play PS3 games? Talking bandwidth hogging
LOL
I dont know how useful that will be, the 3G network has pretty high latency even at the best of times.
Won’t miss that Chalkboard font….
Unlock will come after release 4.3 two week ????
More rumors,and another way to lock our devices once again….DO NOT UPDATE.
unlock is already to be release right after the 4.3 published
It’s Bluetooth settings that should have been moved to the top-level instead of under General to make them more easily accessible.
Btw, what is “assesible” under the Location Services Settings section above?
I 2nd this. I’d love to have BT setting at the top level!
@Lee: Dev- said that it takes two week for release Unlock after released 4.3. it too long
1 – they should focus on having a way to minimize the keyboard when writing text messages. it gets annoying when writing in landscape and can’t minimize it!
2 – the damm alarm! i wake up with the alarm on the screen but the phone doesn’t make noise
iOs 4.2.1
Patiently waits for iOS 5 (jailbreak).
You missed the iPhone 3G in the last para? Does it mean its not compatible too?
Yeah, iOS 4.3 is not compatible with iPhone 3G. Thanks for pointing it out.
You totally forgot Multitasking Gestures. iPhone gets it aswell as iPad. That’s my favourite new feature.
Apple has clarified that the four- and five-finger multitouch gestures for iPad will not be enabled in iOS 4.3 for customers, which was the reason we did not include it here.
( A LITTLE OFF TOPIC ) It’s good that there are all these jailbreaks for different firmwares, but if apple added a specific feature that would allow people to edit their themes, instead of having to jailbreak, then life would be so much cooler. Theres nothing pirated for downloading themes, your not stealing from anyone so its not really illegal, is it? Why doesn’t apple just incorporate a theme feature? That would be smarter.
Besides, Apple would stand to make money from people buying them packs, especially from theme junkies like me.
I meant THEME packs
Like texts, a multiple repeat alarm option for missed calls would be nice!
And why can’t we just type the number of repeats we want instead of picking from a short arbitrary list? What if I want 4, 6, 7, 8, or 9 repeats? this approach is especially annoying with the Calendar app, where we can set alerts for specific times frames. We can’t, for example set an alert for 3 days in advance, or 45 mins before the calendar event.
The guys at the Chronic Dev Team seem to have their hands full finding new exploits with ever new release. Seems to take longer and longer which means Apple is getting better. They got their work cut out for them. I wonder when Apple’s closed sand box will be their down fall?
Yeah. Just got iOS 4.2.1 on my locked iPhone 4 using PwnageTool after months of waiting and now iOS 4.3 coming out. Is PwangeTool gonna let us wait for months again?
help needed please……..iphone 3G.
version 4.2.1
firmware 05.15.04
how do i jailbreak this one, my contract will be over soon and the phone will be mind ,so i will ring them up to unlock it.but i want to jailbreak it now,so please help me if you can,thanks!!!!
redsn0w 0.9.6rc8 or sn0wbreeze-r3 should work for your 3G bud
Or you might want to look into Whited00r it’s a custom ipsw that gives the 3G it’s speed and battery life back.
not worth losing jb for
Crappy update, absolutely nothing in there to tempt me to update! I’m more than happy to keep my untethered jailbreak 4.2.1, until apple bring out something special. I’m waiting for iphone 5 anyway, so my iphone 4 can stay how it is now!
They talk about Bluetooth. Have tried to use it and it does not work, make some enquiries about it and get told it is only good to transfer music to another compatible iphone. Whats the use of bluetooth if you can only do one thing, and one thing only. Does anyone else have that problem??
The only time I have that issue is with my car. It has a bluetooth handsfree phone call capability, but I cannot use bluetooth to stream audio.
This has to do with the cars hardware is not compatible with iPhone.
If you’re having a similar problem, it’s probably because whatever you’re using was made for iPod, not iPhone. Otherwise, I don’t know what else might be your issue.
Nope, my iphone 4 works with headsets and my sony car stereo. Music and phone calls through the car speakers. And no add ons required.
WoooooooW….the only cool new feature is the ability to cancel an app download.
Everything else….there’s nothing new that a Jailbroken iPhone was already able to do, and STILL do more than what’s in this update. Why must Apple release new updates by tid-bits…is beyond me.
Personally, I miss the quick launch for my favorite phone numbers. I wish they would give us a choice of Spotlight search “or” Favorite list.
Just my 2 cents….
I think they should add a feature to use your iphone or itouch as some kind of mouse for your ipad. It would make navigating easier when the ipad is propped up on a stand while using a bluetooth keyboard.
There must be better notifications system.. not like the current one secondly you need some shortcuts to some of the controls…
1- bluetooth, 2- wifi, 3- hotspot, 4- enable/disable data…
etc…
Nothing new like always .Boringggg I want something new and unique !!!!.No original stuff anymore .Back 2 Cydia
I like the hot spot feature, it’d be nice to use an app thats already intergrated into the os, assuming it could be freed up using 3g unrestrictor and not be charged for tethering use, and hopefully its really wifi, not an ad hoc.
Come on you guys.. What about FLASH???
A few things the iOS could really do with:
- timestamps for all messages (I hate it how it only timestamps messages that are over 15 mins apart)
- two screens for the messaging, one: compose, the other: view. You should be able to toggle between typing your text and viewing it. Would make life so much easier!
- Allow for custom message alert tones! So sick of hearing the same one that everyone seems to have.
- an option of enabling the volume up/down buttons to act as the capture picture button when using the camera. It’s just impossible to get an accurate shot when having to twist your hand/wrist back around to touch the tiny button on screen.
* I meant you should be able to toggle between composing your reply to the message and viewing the original message. Its just too hard to do both on the one screen
Hey guys nsted of talkn on here, go 2 apple.com/feedback, they dont look at forums!!!
Very small amount of ‘useful’ features for iphone / ipod (4g) users if any at all.
In typical Apple fashion, it’s all about the hype.