There are a couple of nice surprises on the way with iOS 4.1. Seems the next major software upgrade for Apple’s mobility devices holds a few fixes that the company didn’t actually officially state. Nonetheless, hands-on time with this build seems to indicate that there are some improvements for stuff like the proximity sensor and bluetooth connectivity.

Developers have been working with this third beta (or pre-release version) for some time, so let’s a quick look at what’s on the way.

Proximity Sensor: Several users have been reporting that the proximity sensor was so buggy, they experienced facepresses mid-call, resulting in random hang-ups, dialing into separate phone numbers and other issues. But this glitch isn’t limited to iPhone 4 users alone, which hints that it is a software issue, not a hardware problem. That’s good news, since software patches are presumably easier to address and distribute. There was no sign of this in the previous 4.0.1 and 4.0.2 updates, but devices with the iOS 4.1 beta have a more reliable proximity sensor.

iPhone 3G performance: Looks like much of the lag and glitches that iPhone 3G users have experienced with iOS 4 have been addressed here. Performance appears to be much improved with the 4.1 betas.

Bluetooth connection: Also improved and more stable under OS 4.1.

Game Center: This was one of those features Steve Jobs singled out when announcing iOS 4, so it’s good to see that development for this didn’t fall by the wayside. Game Center, which is slated to launch later this year, will act pretty much like a social network for iOS gamers — players will be able to pick nicknames, “friend” people, change their status, set how other users can find them, compare scores, compete online and more. The latest version will also let device owners (like mom or a boss)restrict users’ certain functions.

Spell Check deactivation: You’ll be able to manage the spell checker separately via toggles in Keyboard Settings! That’s going to be super handy. Imagine keeping “Check Spelling” on (with underlined misspelled words), but “Auto-Correction” off (so it doesn’t substitute its own words for your text shorthand or slang). It’s a great start, but I hope it’s only the beginning — I’m still waiting for a user-friendly way to add words to the built-in dictionary.

FaceTime via email address: Possibly the most exciting new feature of the iPhone 4/iOS 4 is FaceTime, so the mere thought that vid chat will likely extend to iPod Touch or iPad 2 users would be an exciting development. As you know, neither tablets nor iTouches have phone numbers associated with them — which current FaceTime functionality uses for making video calls. An email address–based FT would mean these non iPhone devices can get in on the action. There’s solid evidence in iOS 4.1 that supports this, and if those rumors of an iPod Touch front-facing camera come true, there may be lots of new contacts out there soon to chat with your face.

Camera controls: Switch between portrait and landscape, and the flash and camera selection buttons (for front/back) flip around pretty much in place. So they’re on top in portrait mode, but off to the side in landscape mode. IOS 4.1 will keep these at the top of the screen, no matter which way you hold it.

.

Developers also have new ways to:

• identify the BSSID or SSID of the Wifi hotspot a user is on.
• save images to a user’s photo album.
• allow apps to control fonts.
• access contact thumbnail pictures.

Modem firmware: The new version will be 2.10.01.

So do these enhancements address your primary concerns? Is there anything that you feel is missing from the list? (For me, that would be a user-definable dictionary and more elegant notifications. What about you?) Weigh in below.

Via: AppleInsider

View full post on TodaysiPhone.com

There are a couple of nice surprises on the way with iOS 4.1. Seems the next major software upgrade for Apple’s mobility devices holds a few fixes that the company didn’t actually officially state. Nonetheless, hands-on time with this build seems to indicate that there are some improvements for stuff like the proximity sensor and bluetooth connectivity.

Developers have been working with this third beta (or pre-release version) for some time, so let’s a quick look at what’s on the way.

Proximity Sensor: Several users have been reporting that the proximity sensor was so buggy, they experienced facepresses mid-call, resulting in random hang-ups, dialing into separate phone numbers and other issues. But this glitch isn’t limited to iPhone 4 users alone, which hints that it is a software issue, not a hardware problem. That’s good news, since software patches are presumably easier to address and distribute. There was no sign of this in the previous 4.0.1 and 4.0.2 updates, but devices with the iOS 4.1 beta have a more reliable proximity sensor.

iPhone 3G performance: Looks like much of the lag and glitches that iPhone 3G users have experienced with iOS 4 have been addressed here. Performance appears to be much improved with the 4.1 betas.

Bluetooth connection: Also improved and more stable under OS 4.1.

Game Center: This was one of those features Steve Jobs singled out when announcing iOS 4, so it’s good to see that development for this didn’t fall by the wayside. Game Center, which is slated to launch later this year, will act pretty much like a social network for iOS gamers — players will be able to pick nicknames, “friend” people, change their status, set how other users can find them, compare scores, compete online and more. The latest version will also let device owners (like mom or a boss)restrict users’ certain functions.

Spell Check deactivation: You’ll be able to manage the spell checker separately via toggles in Keyboard Settings! That’s going to be super handy. Imagine keeping “Check Spelling” on (with underlined misspelled words), but “Auto-Correction” off (so it doesn’t substitute its own words for your text shorthand or slang). It’s a great start, but I hope it’s only the beginning — I’m still waiting for a user-friendly way to add words to the built-in dictionary.

FaceTime via email address: Possibly the most exciting new feature of the iPhone 4/iOS 4 is FaceTime, so the mere thought that vid chat will likely extend to iPod Touch or iPad 2 users would be an exciting development. As you know, neither tablets nor iTouches have phone numbers associated with them — which current FaceTime functionality uses for making video calls. An email address–based FT would mean these non iPhone devices can get in on the action. There’s solid evidence in iOS 4.1 that supports this, and if those rumors of an iPod Touch front-facing camera come true, there may be lots of new contacts out there soon to chat with your face.

Camera controls: Switch between portrait and landscape, and the flash and camera selection buttons (for front/back) flip around pretty much in place. So they’re on top in portrait mode, but off to the side in landscape mode. IOS 4.1 will keep these at the top of the screen, no matter which way you hold it.

.

Developers also have new ways to:

• identify the BSSID or SSID of the Wifi hotspot a user is on.
• save images to a user’s photo album.
• allow apps to control fonts.
• access contact thumbnail pictures.

Modem firmware: The new version will be 2.10.01.

So do these enhancements address your primary concerns? Is there anything that you feel is missing from the list? (For me, that would be a user-definable dictionary and more elegant notifications. What about you?) Weigh in below.

Via: AppleInsider

View full post on TodaysiPhone.com