Apple has announced the next version of its operating system for the iPad and iPhone, iOS 4.3
Among the new features are the ability to share music, movies, and TV shows from a Mac on your network with an iOS device, using Home Sharing. Apps can now use AirPlay to play video as well as audio to supported devices. And in a move that will please many iPad owners, the switch on the side of the device which used to lock the screen orientation and became a mute switch in iOS 4.2, can now be used as either.
One of the most welcome new features in iOS 4.3 is sure to be Personal Hotspot. This allows you to share an iPhone 4′s 3G connection over wifi, so, for example you could access the Internet from a wifi-only iPad when you’re not within range of a wifi network.
PhotoBooth makes an appearance on the iPad, to take advantage of its new cameras. And FaceTime is now available for iPad 2. “This is not a toy, you can really edit movie on this thing,” said Jobs.
iOS 4.3 will be available on March 11.
In addition to iOS 4.3, Steve Jobs announced iMovie for iPad 2. The new version of iMovie takes advantage of the iPad’s screen size and includes precision editing, waveform audio views, and 50 sound effects. There are eight themes, and support for up to four audio tracks, including background audio. A Share button allows you to publish video on YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, CNN iReport, and iTunes. iMovie will cost $5 and be available on March 11.
GarageBand is now also available on the iPad. GarageBand features guitar amps and effects, allowing you to plug-in a guitar and start playing. It’s compatible with the Mac version, has support for eight-track recording and has 250 loops. GarageBand’s piano has a sustain button and uses the iPad’s accelerometer to enable velocity sensitivity in the keys: the harder you tap the louder it sounds. The built-in synth uses gestures to alter the sound in the same way as synthesisers use wheels or joysticks. Sliding your finger up or down a key can also vary pitch, vibrato etc – new ways to play expressively. It also has virtual drum kits.
More to follow…
