Apple releases iOS 4.3 with faster JavaScript, support for AirPlay in apps

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Apple on Wednesday released iOS 4.3 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, bringing new features like Personal Hotspot, AirPlay support for third-party apps, and JavaScript Web browsing speeds twice as fast.



iOS 4.3 was initially scheduled to launch on Friday, alongside the iPad 2, as per an official announcement from Apple last week. But Apple decided to pull the trigger two days early, and less than a week after the golden master was issued to developers.



One of the highlights of iOS 4.3 is improved performance with JavaScript in the mobile Safari Web browser. Apple has ported the Nitro engine from Mac OS X, bringing JavaScript speeds twice as fast to the iPhone and iPad.



Another major feature is Personal Hotspot, which allows iPhone 4 users to share their 3G data connection over Wi-Fi. Personal Hotspot will work with supporting carriers -- including AT&T -- with the appropriate monthly data plan.



The Personal Hotspot feature was first introduced on the Verizon CDMA iPhone 4 introduced in February. But while Verizon users had early access to Personal Hotspot, those customers will have to wait for iOS 4.3, as the CDMA iPhone 4 has a different baseband chip than its GSM counterpart.



iOS 4.3 also features improved iTunes Home Sharing, which allows users to access all of their content directly over Wi-Fi. With Home Sharing, music and movies can be streamed from a Mac or PC to an iOS device over a local home wireless network.



And iOS 4.3 also adds the ability for third-party applications to support AirPlay, Apple's wireless streaming standard. Applications that add the feature will be able to stream both audio and video to the new Apple TV, or audio to an AirPort Express. In addition, sharing of photos over AirPlay can use the built-in slide show options of iOS, and videos recorded on an iOS device can be streamed to the Apple TV.



With iOS 4.3, users can change the purpose of the hardware switch on the right side of the iPad and iPad 2. The switch can now mute audio from the device, or it can serve as an orientation lock, as it originally did when the iPad first shipped last year.



The iOS 4.3 update is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, first-generation iPad, iPad 2, and the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch. Users will need iTunes 10.2.1, released by Apple on Tuesday, to sync and update their mobile device.
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Comments

  • Reply 2 of 93
    nasseraenasserae Posts: 3,167member
    No news about AppleTV update!
  • Reply 3 of 93
    Woohoo! Downloading now.
  • Reply 4 of 93
    Down Loading now.....
  • Reply 5 of 93
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Apple on Wednesday released iOS 4.3 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, bringing new features like Personal Hotspot, AirPlay support for third-party apps, and JavaScript Web browsing speeds twice as fast....



    If only there was a way to update the phone without using a computer (mine's currently busted).
  • Reply 6 of 93
    Downloading, but is there any gestures like the five finger one?
  • Reply 7 of 93
    macrrmacrr Posts: 488member
    They only included the gestures in the beta SDK for 4.3 but removed them for the public release.



    sucks! I would love to ditch double clicking that dippy home button every time i want to switch an app. at least it's on the horizon, eh?
  • Reply 8 of 93
    Bummer... When are we getting one?
  • Reply 9 of 93
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Prof. Peabody View Post


    If only there was a way to update the phone without using a computer (mine's currently busted).



    A genius at the Seattle Apple Store told me last summer that some of the updates can be done on any computer with iTunes, not necessarily with just your own with which you sync. Might be worth a try.
  • Reply 10 of 93
    yuusharoyuusharo Posts: 311member
    "This version of the iPhone software (4.2.6) is the current version."



    ....tell me why the Verizon iPhone is better than AT&T's version, again? 0.o;
  • Reply 11 of 93
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ipodguy.1804 View Post


    Bummer... When are we getting one?



    iOS 5 at the earliest.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by yuusharo View Post


    "This version of the iPhone software (4.2.6) is the current version."



    ....tell me why the Verizon iPhone is better than AT&T's version, again? 0.o;



    It makes calls.
  • Reply 12 of 93
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by NasserAE View Post


    No news about AppleTV update!



    I suspect that you get the official AppleTV update through the AppleTV.



    Is the NDA for the 4.3 beta lifted?
  • Reply 13 of 93
    damn, i was hoping too much... thnx
  • Reply 14 of 93
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by NasserAE View Post


    No news about AppleTV update!



    It's there!
  • Reply 15 of 93
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post










    It makes calls.



    That's just mean. Funny, but still mean!
  • Reply 16 of 93
  • Reply 17 of 93
    cvaldes1831cvaldes1831 Posts: 1,832member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JamesJpn View Post


    A genius at the Seattle Apple Store told me last summer that some of the updates can be done on any computer with iTunes, not necessarily with just your own with which you sync. Might be worth a try.



    They will actually do this for you.
  • Reply 18 of 93
    sacto joesacto joe Posts: 895member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Apple on Wednesday released iOS 4.3 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, bringing new features like Personal Hotspot, AirPlay support for third-party apps, and JavaScript Web browsing speeds twice as fast.



    I am SO going to be downloading the new GarageBand for my iPad!
  • Reply 19 of 93
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


    I am SO going to be downloading the new GarageBand for my iPad!



    I'm a little worried that they didn't release iMovie and GarageBand for iPad early, as well.



    (insinuating they might not work with the 1st gen iPad)



    Not TOO worried, mind, but a little. I wouldn't put ANYTHING past Apple.
  • Reply 20 of 93
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum View Post


    .



    ...speaking of AppleTV:



    Apple TV Now Has MLB.TV Live Baseball Streaming



    http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions...?&vbID=appletv



    ...whatever happened to GoogleTV...



    yep



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