14 DAY TRIAL // Anonymous sources are telling MacStories that Apple plans to release iOS 4.3 in mid-December, primarily aiming to enable users to subscribe to News Corp's alleged tablet-only newspaper, The Daily. The update is also expected to incorporate AirPlay fixes, and other tweaks and improvements.
The Mac-centric site points out to Daring Fireball’s John Gruber who weighed in to confirm that Apple has been in talks with News Corp. to launch The Daily exclusive iPad newspaper.
According to the knowledgeable blogger, this “initiative is going to launch with a press event, with Murdoch (and perhaps other newspaper and magazine executives) joining Steve Jobs on stage”. Gruber claims the launch will be anything but quiet.
Citing its reliable source, MacStories adds that iOS 4.3 was supposed to launch in early December, but that the WiFi issues recently discovered in iOS 4.2 have pushed its launch closer to Christmas.
The source allegedly said that “when Apple didn’t know about the WiFi issues in the GM seed of iOS 4.2, the OS was scheduled to be released weeks before Nov. 22nd. Apple found out about the WiFi issues, released a second GM build and iOS 4.2 came out yesterday.”
As promised by Apple, “It came out in November, but it should have been out in the first half of November. […] before the WiFi issues were discovered, Apple was already planning to release a new build of iOS 4.x in mid-December. Most specifically, they were planning for an iOS 4.3 release on December 13th, which is a Monday,” the report reads.
Regardless of whether the iOS 4.2 delay will affect the planned release of iOS 4.3, the software update is expected to include “bug fixes and maintenance of the code,” MacStories’ source said.
This person reportedly added that iOS 4.3 will address early issues experienced by users of Aple’s AirPlay wireless technology.