Gallery: Apple's Next iOS Improves Interface, Adds New Gestures
01iOS 4.3
Apple this week released a beta version of its next mobile operating system, iOS 4.3, for app developers. We got an early look at the OS, which has not been released to the public yet. Among a pile of minor interface modifications, there are a few major new features under the hood. Some new multitouch-gesture controls on the iPad are the biggest goodie. In the developer release we saw, at least, the feature is hidden until you use a Mac app to enable it. This new feature is awesome, and it's definitely something to look forward to when iOS 4.3 officially ships. (Apple has not disclosed a release date, but we're guessing soon). The rest of the changes we found were interface-related — modifications to the iPad keyboard and the iOS multitasking tray, a new notebook font and more. Here's a rundown of what's new in iOS 4.3 beta.
02Multitouch Gestures
Multitouch Gestures ------------------- The multitouch gestures in iOS 4.3 feel very natural. Using four (or five) fingers to swipe, you can control the iPad's multitasking drawer, app-switching and returning to the home screen. <script src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <object class="BrightcoveExperience" id="myExperience749689968001"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"></param> <param name="width" value="660"></param> <param name="height" value="423"></param> <param name="playerID" value="3698508001"></param> <param name="publisherID" value="1564549380"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <param name="isVid" value="true"></param> <param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true"></param> <param name="@videoPlayer" value="749689968001"></param></object><script type="text/javascript"> runMobileCompatibilityScript('myExperience749689968001', 'anId'); </script><script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script> Swipe up with four fingers to load the multitasking drawer, as shown in the top photo.  Swipe left or right (with four or five fingers) to switch to the next or previous app, respectively. Finally, pinch with four or five fingers to return to the home screen. My first reaction to this experience was, "Wow." This makes switching between apps much quicker: It's like a new-and-improved Alt+Tab or Command-Tab. Returning to the home screen with the five-finger pinch feels super slick. I love this. *Video: Michael Lennon/Wired.com*
03Bigger Keyboard
Bigger Keyboard --------------- On the iPad's soft keyboard, Apple reduced the size of the right numerical key by about 40 percent to create more room for the space bar. This is a minor change and a good one: There's already a numerical key on the left side anyway, and we use the space bar far more frequently.
04Screen-Lock Switch
Screen-Lock Switch ------------------ Back by popular demand, the physical switch on the right side of the [iPad can lock the orientation of your screen](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/ipad-screen-lock/) in landscape or portrait mode. This capability existed on Day One, but Apple later turned the switch into a mute button — an unpopular move that got many nerds complaining. Now the iPad control settings allow you to choose between using the switch to mute volume or to lock the screen. I'm guessing most people will choose to use the screen lock, because I imagine most of people use the iPad to read and view videos more often than for listening to music.
05Events
Events ------ The iPad has a picture-frame mode to automatically play a slideshow of all the photos in your album. New in iOS 4.3 is the ability to select a specific event to play as a slideshow, such as your photo roll from your trip to Europe.
Image: John Weinstein06Hot Spot
Hot Spot -------- As Wired.com reported Wednesday, iOS 4.3 reveals a menu item for a ["Personal Hotspot" item for AT&T iPhones](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/iphone-hotspot/). That means it's possible that you'll be able to turn an AT&T iPhone into a Wi-Fi network that multiple devices can connect to, whereas currently you can only tether the iPhone to one computer. Whether you'll actually get this feature will depend on AT&T, of course. But the possibility exists within Apple's operating system.
07Location Services
Location Services ----------------- The Location Services menu has been streamlined with its own control pane in the Settings app, so you can easily enable or disable geotracking in apps that pinpoint your location. This setting was harder to find in previous versions, so this is an improvement. Presumably the location services were made more visible for those with concerns for privacy.
08Tweaked Multitasking Tray
Tweaked Multitasking Tray ------------------------- File this under "extremely minor," but in the multitasking drawer, there's a built-in control deck for media playback. Before, this control panel contained a quick shortcut to the iPod player by default. Now, the shortcut displayed in the playback panel shows your most-recently opened media app.
