Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta, SDK to developers

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Apple on Tuesday began widespread testing of iOS 4.1, the first update to the company's new mobile operating system shipping on the iPhone 4, delivering changes to the way the handset displays signal strength.



Build 8b5080c of iOS 4.1 beta 1 began making its way to developers alongside iOS SDK 4.1 build 10M2304. People evaluating the software say one visible change is the new signal bar, which presents taller bars at the low end of the scale to make it easier to read. They also report the signal bars seem to better exaggerate signal drop off, with fewer bars visible when in an area of with limited reception.



Responding to widespread criticism over reception problems with the new touch-screen handset, Apple earlier this month penned an open letter to iPhone 4 users, in which it claimed that the formula used to calculate bars of signal strength on the device is inaccurate, and would be corrected in the coming weeks through a free software fix.



"Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength," the company said. "For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars."









Apple added that users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone 4 in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don?t know it because their handset is erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. "Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place," said the company, which maintains that the iPhone 4?s wireless performance "is the best [it has] ever shipped."



For their part, wireless experts and well-regarded product research firm Consumer Reports have disputed Apple's claims through their own research which alleges that the iPhone 4 suffers from reception issues when held by a user in a particular manner.



In a dizzying blow to Apple, Consumer Reports announced on Monday that it would no longer recommend the iPhone 4 to potential buyers due to reception problems that it believes to be a result of the design of the handset. The research firm issued the statement on its official electronics blog, stating that it reached that conclusion after testing three iPhone 4 handsets that were purchased from three separate retailers in the New York area inside a controlled environment of a radio frequency isolation chamber.



While iOS 4.1 beta appears to deliver Apple's controversial 'fix' to the reception issues, there's yet to be reliable word on wether the beta also addresses inaccuracies in the phone's proximity sensor, which have similarly helped to sour the iPhone 4 experience for many customers.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 48
    outsideroutsider Posts: 6,008member
    Whoa, just noticing this. Downloading is fast so this must have just gone up.
  • Reply 2 of 48
    ghostface147ghostface147 Posts: 1,629member
    Well without knowing the details of this beta release, it must be something big to jump from 4.0 to 4.1 I would think the current issues would be 4.01.
  • Reply 3 of 48
    anonymouseanonymouse Posts: 6,857member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Apple has sent a notice to developers informing them that a new iOS 4.1 beta is now available for download, along with an updated SDK for the new release.



    I would point out, before anyone gets excited, that this is not the "fix" for iP4 signal bar display and any other issues that release will contain. That will be v4.0.1 (or something like that), not v4.1.
  • Reply 4 of 48
    joe hsjoe hs Posts: 488member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anonymouse View Post


    I would point out, before anyone gets excited, that this is not the "fix" for iP4 signal bar display and any other issues that release will contain. That will be v4.0.1 (or something like that), not v4.1.



    Maybe it fixes the switching languages glitch that when you switch to another language the default apps remain in the previous language for a few seconds before changing.
  • Reply 5 of 48
    ghostface147ghostface147 Posts: 1,629member
    I've seen the beta and the signal bars have changed from 4.0. Changed display wise, who knows if it's the actual "fix".
  • Reply 6 of 48
    vrkiranvrkiran Posts: 110member
    I wish there was a feature to automatically turn on soothing Genius music on iPod.app when the call drops! At least a saving grace for some unfortunate users!



    Let the firing begin!!!
  • Reply 7 of 48
    anonymouseanonymouse Posts: 6,857member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Joe hs View Post


    Maybe it fixes the switching languages glitch that when you switch to another language the default apps remain in the previous language for a few seconds before changing.



    iOS 4.1 is likely the version expected in the Fall that will provide iPad support.
  • Reply 8 of 48
    shadashshadash Posts: 470member
    What or how did it specifically change?



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ghostface147 View Post


    I've seen the beta and the signal bars have changed from 4.0. Changed display wise, who knows if it's the actual "fix".



  • Reply 9 of 48
    haggarhaggar Posts: 1,568member
    Still waiting for the ability to use a more readable font such as Helvetica for Notes.



    And the ability to sync notes with Exchange server.



    How about putting a silent mode indicator on the status bar, so you don't have to keep checking the side of the phone to see if the switch has been moved?



    Why is the orientation lock feature only available for IPhone 3GS and higher? Exactly what extra processing power is required to disable screen rotation? Wouldn't the ability to prevent screen rotation be a benefit for older, slower phones?
  • Reply 10 of 48
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anonymouse View Post


    iOS 4.1 is likely the version expected in the Fall that will provide iPad support.



    If you mean mid-August back to school for a new iPod Touch, then sure.
  • Reply 11 of 48
    ghostface147ghostface147 Posts: 1,629member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by shadash View Post


    What or how did it specifically change?



    To be honest, they are taller. That's it. Nothing else.
  • Reply 12 of 48
    mazda 3smazda 3s Posts: 1,613member
    Quote:

    Twitter user @alchemistmuffin reports iOS 4.1 (Beta 1) includes a ?new type of encryption? which allows Apple to check if a device has been jailbroken. He explains below ?



    Quote:

    Also, iOS 4.1 has new encryption technology, that will constantly check if iPhone or iPod touch, have been jailbroken. This is done by digital watermark that appears when iOS is jailbroken, and this watermark cannot be removed, even if reverted to unjailbroken status. Apple store employees will check for the watermark during iPhone service.





    http://www.razorianfly.com/2010/07/1...ally-updating/
  • Reply 13 of 48
    I'd like the ability to delete individual calls on the Recents list
  • Reply 14 of 48
    mazda 3smazda 3s Posts: 1,613member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by William 3.0 View Post


    I'd like the ability to delete individual calls on the Recents list



    Afraid your SO will see your calls to sex chat numbers?
  • Reply 15 of 48
    ktappektappe Posts: 823member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mazda 3s View Post


    http://www.razorianfly.com/2010/07/1...ally-updating/

    Quote:

    iOS 4.1 has new encryption technology, that will constantly check if iPhone or iPod touch, have been jailbroken. This is done by digital watermark that appears when iOS is jailbroken, and this watermark cannot be removed, even if reverted to unjailbroken status. Apple store employees will check for the watermark during iPhone service.





    If this is true, then I'll be using iOS4.0 for an awfully long time. \

    EDIT: A post to the site with the watermark claim now says that it is not true and was just a troll.
  • Reply 16 of 48
    abster2coreabster2core Posts: 2,501member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ghostface147 View Post


    I've seen the beta and the signal bars have changed from 4.0. Changed display wise, who knows if it's the actual "fix".



    As a developer, could you tell me, quickly, how did you make that determination?
  • Reply 17 of 48
    Sweet, does anyone know if I install the beta if I can still backup to iTunes, I remember the 4.0 beta on a 3GS I had borrowed didn't let me, was a real bummer.
  • Reply 18 of 48
    mazda 3smazda 3s Posts: 1,613member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ktappe View Post


    If this is true, then I'll be using iOS4.0 for an awfully long time. \

    EDIT: A post to the site with the watermark claim now says that it is not true and was just a troll.



    **Phew**
  • Reply 19 of 48
    Bar displays still don't address this.



    [IMG][/IMG]
  • Reply 20 of 48
    sheffsheff Posts: 1,407member
    It appears that the issue is a hardware issue on select phones. You can't really fix a hardware issue with a software update. Apple is rumored to be making new aluminum bands that are coated to not be conductive which may help the situation.



    The only thing 4.1 will do is make your bars more accurate, which really does not do much for anything.
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