14 DAY TRIAL // Developers enrolled with Apple can now download the latest betas of iOS 4.2 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and iTunes 10.1, for testing purposes. The company has also made the iOS 4.1 Apple TV firmware available to the masses this week.
Those who’ve spent some time with the to pieces of software are reporting massive amounts of changes, from the addition of new multitasking animations for iPad, to hints at support for external storage, DVD players, new iOS apps, and FaceTime in the Apple TV firmware.
To be noted that iOS for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and iOS for Apple TV share a very similar codebase.
In an update to their report acknowledging the availability of iOS 4.2 Beta 2 for iOS devices, 9to5Mac points out to three noteworthy additions: refined animations for iPad multitasking; new YouTube video uploading options; and new Game Center compatibility indicators on the iOS App Store.
Details on each new addition are then given in separate reports.
For the iPad multitasking animation (visible in quick-app-switching), a demonstration video is offered (embedded below).
Talking about the new YouTube upload options in iOS 4.2 Beta 2, the site explains that YouTube fans can use a feature that allows video uploaders to choose whether their video is public, private, or unlisted.
Until now, the feature was only available for desktop computers but now, the functionality is also available in iOS.
On the topic of Game Center compatibility badges, the source informs that Apple has included these in the iOS version of the App Store, soon after the indicators had been incorporated in the desktop version of the venue, through iTunes.
For one reason or another, the feature is currently available for iPad only.
Finally, on the Apple TV front, a report by MacDailyNews cites "matthew858," who posted his "Findings From Inside the new AppleTV Firmware" in the MacTalk forums.
These are:
• The iOS app for the AppleTV interface seems to be called "Lowtide" and is the only app currently in this custom iOS build • Apple TV runs iOS 4.1. According to the requirements for Lowtide iOS 4.1 GM is required • Mobile Storage Mounter: Looks like the AppleTV might have support for mounting external storage • Tons of property list files for different types of DVDs or DVD players • FaceTime services are present
His post is available here, complete with screenshots.