14 DAY TRIAL // Developers enrolled with Apple’s annual program are being handed a new iOS 6.1 beta for testing. The build, identified as 10B5126b, brings only a handful of changes, according to people who are familiar with the software.
Apple instructs developers to back up their devices using iTunes 10.7 or later through iCloud backup before attempting to install iOS 6.1 beta 4.
After iOS 6.1 beta 4 is installed, testers can restore their device using the same version of iTunes, or a newer one.
A bug affecting push email in iOS 6 causes Mail.app to work inconsistently with Exchange clients.
This issue was usually related to moving between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, Apple tells developers. According to the seed note accompanying iOS 6.1 Beta 4, this bug has been addressed.
As reported by developers since the release of the first iOS 6.1 betas, the Map Kit framework introduces new classes that can be used by third-party apps to perform map-based searches for addresses and points of interest.
Apple informs developers that search results from these APIs may not be available in Russia, Japan, and other countries.
Social networking is also improved. Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, now shows up in the Settings app only if a Chinese keyboard is enabled.
Another note for developers reveals that iOS 6.1 delivers changes pertaining to the way an app with a valid state restoration archive starts up.
iOS 6.1 Beta 4 is available as an OTA (over-the-air) update to all registered Apple developers with a compatible device.
The beta works with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and most iPad models.
The seed is also available for download over at Apple’s Developer site.