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What iOS4.1 means for the iPhone 4

What iOS4.1 means for the iPhone 4

Apple’s iOS4.1 update has been announced for the iPhone, but what will it bring that’s new and what is it still missing?

Published on Sep 2, 2010

Apple has just announced the iOS4.1 update for the iPhone and it’s offering a number of refinements including some of Apple’s new media streaming service, iTunes Ping and Game Center.

But there’s also some features that we think it’s still missing. Take a look at what’s good, and not so good with iOS4.1.

Bug fixing

Like most firmware updates, iOS4.1 will fix many bugs. Although Apple hasn’t exactly revealed what all those bug fixes will be, or what the bugs were in the first place. One thing it will definitely rectify is the signal strength calculation that displays more strength than it should do in the signal bar.

Issues with the proximity sensor will also be corrected, as confirmed by Apple.

Let’s hope other bugs will be ironed out too, such as reduced battery time and discolouration in some photos taken on the device too.

TV rentals

You’ve always been able to buy movies, music videos and TV shows from iTunes to view on your computer, but now a revamped iTunes on iPhone allows you to buy TV shows and movies straight from your device.

Although only US pricing has been revealed (from 99¢), we can expect prices to be about the same in UK currency, so expect to pay 99p per episode of a TV show and £2.49 for a movie.

The best thing about downloading TV shows onto your iPhone? They’re all ad free!

iTunes Ping

With iTunes 10 comes Ping, a new social networking music function from Apple.

Although the idea seems pretty far-fetched, Ping allows you to follow your favourite artists, view their photos, what they’re listening to, tour dates and read their comments about other artists.

It’s a mixture between Twitter and Facebook fan pages, with a twist of MySpace too.

Ping also allows you to create your own profile to let your friends know who you’re following, what you’re listening to and which concerts you’re going to.

Although Ping is a great idea, the proof will be in the pudding. How many people will join when there is already a plethora of social networking sites out there?

HD Video uploads

Apple has always excelled with YouTube integration, but it’s been a little irritating that previously videos would only upload to YouTube in standard definition.

Now, you can upload videos in their true HD quality, via Wi-Fi, but networks haven’t made it clear as to whether you’ll be able to use 3G to upload them too.

HDR

HDR, or high dynamic range, allows you to get perfectly exposed pictures by merging three snaps - one over exposed, one under exposed and one at correct exposure. When merged, you’ll see some pretty dramatic effects.

Although this is already available in more advanced photo editors such as Photoshop, it’s an added extra to the iPhone’s camera and certainly shows that after years of having pretty rubbish imaging, Apple wants to make an impression.

Game Center

Game Centre is probably the most exciting thing to appear on iOS4.1, mainly because Apple’s games are so amazing.

Game Center will allow you to play games against your friends or even people you don’t know. To make sure you don’t completely bomb out, competitors are suggested by their ability.

Community score boards allow you to see just how well you’re doing and track your achievements.

Along with Game Center, Apple also previewed Sword, a stunning game that makes use of Game Center’s talents. From here, it looks very, very good.

No Flash support

One of the massive foibles of the iPhone over Android is that there’s no Flash support. This means websites can’t display in their full glory.

Apple will not be bringing Flash to sites any time in the near future apparently because of massive arguments with Adobe. Fail!

Still no full multitasking

With iOS4.1 comes no full multitasking, so we still can’t have full applications running in the background. Sure, it’s nice for apps to save where you are before opening up another, but we’d rather not have to start up from the beginning when we swap apps.

Please Apple, 1GHz is surely enough memory for full multitasking - even Windows Mobile can do it!

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

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