14 DAY TRIAL // New findings in the iOS 4.3 Software Development Kit (SDK) confirm that Apple’s next-generation iPad will have at least one camera capable of both taking pictures and shooting video.
It starts with the discovery that the latest iOS 4.3 developer build contains model references to as-yet unreleased iPhone and iPad models.
New designations include iPad2,1; iPad2,2; iPad2,3; iPhone4,1; and iPhone4,2.
So, that’s three new iPad models, and two new iPhones.
While the latter designations are likely indicative of a next-generation iPhone 5, the former are also tied to what 9to5mac calls “interesting files” in the latest SDK from Apple.
The files in question are .png images depicting the camera shutter in both portrait and landscape view, as well as camera icons for toggling between photo and video, all in high 1024 x 768 resolution - precisely the resolution of the current iPad’s screen, the blog points out.
Those who were expecting to see a higher-resolution screen on Apple’s forthcoming iPad 2 may be disappointed by this finding, as the addition of a camera was a no-brainer that needed no additional confirmation.
Those who decided to dig even deeper in the iOS 4.3 SDK and IPSW developer builds have also found settings for a new feature called "Find My Friends," MacRumors reports.
The strings are reportedly associated with the Settings app, while the feature itself appears to be related to Apple’s "MobileMe" cloud service.
Based on these findings, it is assumed that Apple is planning the introduction of a location-based friend-finding service similar to Google’s Latitude.
iOS 4.3 brings additional new features (confirmed by Apple itself in the seed notes) such as: 4 or 5 finger multi-touch gestures on iPad; an option to use the hardware switch as orientation lock or mute switch on the iPad; AirPlay streaming from third party apps; and iAds for the iPad.