The newest little step forward for iOS just dropped – and while it’s nothing dramatic (or unexpected), it adds a nice little pinch of new functionality and performance. Here’s what just got a little better about your iPhone/Pad/Pod:
• Better AirPlay: You’re now able to shoot videos from your iOS device to your Apple TV. If you have an Apple TV. If you don’t, tough nards.
• Faster Safari: The pocket version of Safari is getting a speed boost, sticking the desktop version’s “Nitro” JavaScript engine under the hood – Apple’s claiming double performance.
• iTunes Home Sharing: Stream music and videos from your computer’s iTunes library to an iOS device over your Wi-Fi network. Ke$ha eeeeeeverywhere!
• iPad Switch Choice: We won! You can now decide whether you want your iPad’s toggle switch to flip on mute or activate orientation lock. YES WE CAN.
And finally (and most mysteriously!)…
• Personal Hotspots: Hey, finally! When you’re in the wilderness, out of Wi-Fi range, and internet freakout anxiety starts to creep in, you’ll be able to share your phone’s 3G signal with whatever other gadgets you’ve got with you (iPad, Windows laptop, whatever). It gets a little tricky though! Apple itself says “up to five” devices can be linked up via the iPhone’s own Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a USB connection. Though in a footnote, the site claims hotspotting “works with up to three devices over Wi-Fi, three devices over Bluetooth, and one device over USB”. Does this mean you’ll be able to split up your carrier’s 3G stream into a seven-way data gangbang? We’ll have to test and see. Even if not, the notion of sharing a single 3G connection seven ways sounds like a garbage sandwich. Particularly if you’re the one stuck using Bluetooth. [Apple]