Apple Ships Updated iOS and Developer Tools

Yesterday Apple released iOS 4.3 with several enhancements like the Nitro JavaScript engine to improve Safari browsing speeds, extension of AirPlay support and the Personal Hotspot used on the Verizon iPhone.

The iOS update also delivers a new feature called iTunes Home Sharing, allowing users to stream iTunes content on an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad over a local WiFi network.

These additional features are great news for iPhone application developers as well they expand the palette of possibilities with this already incredible device. To help them utilize these tools Apple also released its iOS 4.3 SDK and Xcode 4, a new version of its integrated development environment available to iPhone and iPad application developers.

A key opportunity that is sure to be utilized by iPhone application developers is the new option to allow for streaming from third-party apps through Apple TV. In addition, AirPlay allows video captured on iOS devices to be streamed back to Apple TV. With each revision, mobile application development is given the tools to take a step forward.