Phone Scoop

Apple today announced some new features to iOS 4.1 for the iPhone. First, Apple says it has fixed a lot of bugs, including the proximity sensor and performance on the iPhone 3G. It will also introduce a number of new features, including High Dynamic Range (HDR) image capture. Basically, it takes three pictures (one normal exposure, one underexposed, one overexposed) and merges the three images to make sure all the detail is present. This feature can be turned on and off. Game Center is now also built into iOS. Game Center is where iPhone users can use multi-player games with friends or strangers. iOS 4.1 also adds the ability to upload HD video captured with the iPhone via Wi-Fi. iOS 4.1 also includes TV rentals. Last, iPhone users will able to conduct FaceTime video chats with users of the new iPod Touch. Apple says iOS 4.1 will be available for free download from the iTunes store starting next week. Apple also talked a little bit about iOS 4.2, which will be specifically targeted at the Apple iPad. Essentially, iOS 4.2 will bring all the features of iOS 4.0 and 4.1 to the iPad. It will also include wireless printing, wireless streaming of video and audio from the iPad.

Apple today announced a new version of its iTunes media player with new social networking features. The new features, which fall under the name Ping, allow users to share and like music, as well as create social circles with friends and artists. In addition to the social network being available within iTunes 10, it also works within the iTunes application on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The new version of iTunes 10 is available for download today, but Apple didn't specify when the Ping social networking feature will be added to the iPhone-based version of the iTunes Music Store.