iPhone News Updated

Apple issues betas of iOS 4.2, iTunes 10.1 to developers

Apple Tuesday evening supplied developers with the latest betas of two major upcoming software releases, with iOS 4.2 and iTunes 10.1 available for testing.

Tuesday’s release of iOS 4.2 marks the second beta of the software update, due for a public release in November. It is available for the iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, and second-, third- and fourth-generation iPod touch.

People familiar with the latest iOS beta said it is known as 8C5101c.

The first beta of iOS 4.2 was release earlier this month, and marked the debut of AirPrint, Apple’s new wireless printing standard for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. AirPrint will allow iOS device users to print to a shared printer connected to a PC or Mac, or directly to some printers that are compatible with the format.

The previous beta also packed a number of small fixes, including improvements to YouTube and FaceTime. Its release in November will also be the first time iPad owners have had access to the iOS 4 features iPhone and iPod touch users already enjoy, including multitasking and home screen folders.

A beta of iTunes 10.1 was also issued for testing Tuesday, and people familiar with the build said it also supports printing. Just this past weekend, iTunes 10.0.1 was publicly released, bringing improvements to Ping.

[Thanks: http://www.appleinsider.com]

Italian Tourism official not too happy with iPhone travel app

iPhone travel app What Country describes Italy as “Pizza, Mafia, Pasta and Scooters.” That isn’t sitting too well with Italian Tourism Minister Michela Vittoria Brambilla, who says the app’s description of her country is offensive and is threatening legal action against the developers, Apalon of Belarus.

The US $0.99 app is rated pretty highly by users in the App Store, and is described as having “a light-hearted and funny view of the world.”

The Minister, for her part, says that “Italy is a beacon in the world for its history, culture and style, and as a citizen and minister, I cannot allow that our country is discredited by the use of a criminal organization as its testimonial.” But Italy isn’t the only country with a less-than-complimentary description. The app describes Germany as “Beer, discipline and autobahns.”

I can’t see a lawsuit in a case like this getting too far, but the publicity probably won’t hurt the app any, either.

[Thanks: http://www.tuaw.com]