Apple seeds iOS 4.3 beta 3 as release date rumors grow

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) released the third beta version of its iOS 4.3 update to registered developer partners, fueling speculation that the computing giant will issue its latest mobile operating system update to users later this month. Available for download from the Apple Developer website, iOS 4.3 beta 3 touts new capabilities including live video streaming to Apple TV via AirPlay, full-screen iAd banners and HTTP Live Streaming statistics.

Apple released its first iOS 4.3 beta last month, introducing a series of new bells and whistles highlighted by Find My Friends. Details on Find My Friends are scarce, but the name portends a mobile social networking solution to rival Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Latitude or check-in services like foursquare and Gowalla. iOS 4.3 beta 2, seeded days later, introduced new features including Photo Stream, a MobileMe-based image sync solution that appears to be part of a larger service dubbed Media Stream. "Photo Stream uploads and stores the last thirty days of your photos on MobileMe and downloads them to all of your devices," according Apple. it appears Media Stream will allow third-party developers to leverage iOS media sync and sharing features, similar to how they can access MobileMe contact and calendar data sync.

Citing a reliable source, MacStories reports Apple will release iOS 4.3 to iPhone and iPad users at 1:00 p.m. EST on Feb. 14. Apple typically issues new iOS updates on Mondays.

For more:
- read this MacStories article

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