MacRumors

As had been rumored yesterday after a false start, Apple has just released iOS 4.3 to the public, two days ahead of schedule. Updates are available for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, and users should be able update their devices by connecting them to iTunes and clicking the "Check for Update" button.

iOS 4.3 brings a number of enhancements including AirPlay video compatibility for third-party apps and websites, Safari speed improvements, Home Sharing to stream media from any iTunes library to an iOS device via Wi-Fi, and a new option for customizing the iPad's side switch to serve as a mute toggle or screen orientation lock. Finally, iOS 4.3 brings personal hotspot functionality to the GSM iPhone 4 following the feature's debut on the Verizon iPhone last month.

This update contains new features and improvements, including the following:

* Personal Hotspot
- Share iPhone 4 cellular data with up to 5 devices (combination of up to 3 Wi-Fi, 3 Bluetooth, and 1 USB)

* iTunes Home Sharing
- Play music, movies, and TV shows from a shared iTunes library on a Mac or PC (requires iTunes 10.2)

* New AirPlay features
- Play videos from the Photos app including the Camera Roll album, iTunes previews, enabled third-party apps and websites on Apple TV
- Play slideshows from Photos on Apple TV using transitions available on Apple TV

* Faster Safari performance with Apple Nitro JavaScript engine

* HD video out using the Apple Digital AV Adapter
- View 720p HD videos from Videos app, iPod app, Photos, YouTube, Safari, Keynote, and enabled third-party apps on an HDMI display

* Ping features
- Push notifications for comments and follow requests
- Post and Like songs directly from the Now Playing screen
- Parental controls

* New Settings
- Messages setting for number of times to repeat an alert
- iPad side switch setting to lock screen rotation or mute audio notifications and sound effects

* Single tap conference call dialing with a pause to send a passcode

* Bug fixes

Update: The iOS 4.3 update is the same 8F190 build that was seeded to developers last week as the golden master build. A separate 8F191 build has also been posted for the three new iPad models (Wi-Fi and two 3G models) being released on Friday.

Apple has also released an Apple TV software update known as iOS 4.3 Build 8F191m, although it it reportedly registering as software version 4.2 on Apple TVs themselves, similar to earlier versions where software version numbers have been one behind the corresponding iOS versions.

AppleInsider reports on comments from Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming that Apple's manufacturing partners will finally begin ramping up production of the white iPhone sometime this month, with a launch expected to occur in early April. According to the report, sources have limited their information to the GSM version of the iPhone 4, with no information available on whether the CDMA iPhone now available on Verizon in the United States will also see a white version.

Apple is expected to begin production of its long-awaited iPhone 4 sometime this month, with shipments no later than early April, according to one analyst's checks.

Manufacturers will initiate production of the GSM-based iPhone 4 version in white enclosures and begin dispatching them to Apple ahead of general availability planned for next month, Concord Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told AppleInsider. Apple has made changes the "film material to solve the full-lamination problem that [was] the reason why white iPhones [were] delayed," he added.

Originally announced alongside the black iPhone 4 in June 2010, the white iPhone 4 was quickly pushed back to a late July release. As that date approached, Apple again announced a delay to later in the year before moving in October to push the launch back once more to "spring" 2011.

Despite claims immediately following the October delay that Apple planned to cancel the white iPhone 4 entirely, hints of the white iPhone 4 began appearing earlier this year at Best Buy and AT&T. Those appearances almost certainly occurred, however, as retailers made changes based on Apple's previously-announced timeline rather than on any actual availability.

Apple has remained quiet regarding the white iPhone 4 in recent months, although Steve Jobs did make it a point to note at the iPad 2 introduction last week that the white version of Apple's popular tablet will in fact ship at the same time as the black version later this week.

Word of an early April launch for the white iPhone 4 comes just as a rumor of an iOS-focused media event surfaces for around the same time. If that rumor proves accurate, the event could provide an opportunity for Apple to announce the white iPhone 4 launch if it chooses not to simply release the device quietly on its website at some point.

EE Times reports on recent rumors that Apple has parted ways with Samsung for production of the A5 chip used in the iPad 2, instead reaching an agreement with foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

Rumors are running rampant that Apple Inc. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) are expanding their foundry ties-a possible blow for Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

With little or no fanfare, Apple and TSMC have recently entered into a foundry relationship, sources said. As reported, TSMC will make the A5 dual-core processor on a foundry basis for Apple's iPad 2.

While the rumor had been initially reported by DigiTimes several weeks ago, it appears that the agreement may be more substantial than originally thought, spanning multiple generations of chips.

Apple will use TSMC's 40-nm process for the A5, according to a source. "Apple will also work with TSMC on 28-nm" processes, according to a source.

According to the report, TSMC offers the highest yields and capacity for the 40-nanometer process used for the A5, with the added bonus of Apple being able to shift production away from Samsung, which has become increasingly competitive against Apple's iOS products.

Just last month, a report surfaced indicating that Apple was set to become Samsung's biggest customer with $7.8 billion in contracts for 2011 for a variety of components for iOS devices. Shifting A5 production to TSMC appears to make technological sense for Apple, but also serves to make the company less reliant on Samsung, particularly in the key area of processor technology.

Earlier today photos of a possible prototype 64GB iPhone were posted to M.I.C gadget. At the time, the site wasn't sure if the prototype was real or if it was a clever counterfeit. M.I.C gadget has since gotten access to the device and believes it to be real:

Apparently, this 64GB iPhone 4 is not for sale in grey markets of Hong Kong. The owner of this engineered prototype told us that he got it from a source who has a small quantity of these prototypes. They are definitely leaked from Foxconn's factory in Shenzhen. What's more, according to the owner, he believes that the next iPhone will bring 64GB storage capacity to users. Well, we think Apple is planning to update the iPhone 4 with small upgrades, at least featuring a new 64GB model.

The device shares many physical characteristics of the "lost" Gizmodo iPhone 4, which was also labeled with "XXGB" on the back. Other shared findings include no "+" or "-" markings on the volume switches and no silver ring around the rear camera lens.

This engineering prototype reportedly leaked directly from Apple's manufacturing partner, Foxconn. Apple presently ships only 16GB and 32GB models of the iPhone 4, and has never shipped a 64GB model. The device owner seems to think Apple may introduce a 64GB model for the next iPhone. Apple, of course, may have made any number of different engineering prototypes of the iPhone 4, so it may or may not indicate their future plans for mass production.

Update: The serial number indicates that this particular prototype was produced in early 2010. So, while Apple may be working on a 64GB iPhone in the future, this particular one was an old prototype that pre-dated the launch of the iPhone 4.

A new iTunes 10.2.1 update has appeared in Software Update, superseding the iTunes 10.2 update released just last Wednesday to support iOS 4.3. The new update can also be obtained from Apple's iTunes download page.

The update description is exactly the same as for iTunes 10.2, so it is unclear what has been changed since last week's release at this time. Changes are presumably minor, however, although they may include important bug fixes.

After an initial report this morning claiming that iOS 4.3 would appear today, three days ahead of schedule, The Loop has reported that users should expect the public launch to occur tomorrow.

German site Macerkopf.de claims [Google translation] to have received word from a source that Apple is planning an early April media event to introduce iOS 5 and revamped MobileMe services. The report seems to indicate that the event would take place on Apple's campus in the 14th or 15th week of the year, which would be the first or second full week in April.

An early-to-mid April developer event to show off the next-generation iOS version would be in line with Apple's pattern in recent years as it seeks to get third-party developers on board ahead of a public release in June or July alongside new iPhone hardware. For example, last year's iOS 4 event took place on April 8th at the company's headquarters in Cupertino. We do not, however, have much of a track record for Macerkopf.de when it comes to rumors, so it is difficult to assess a level of confidence in the claims.

Previous claims had "almost guaranteed" that last week's media event would see a preview of iOS 5 and cloud-based services, but those topics were not included with the iPad 2 unveiling.

Earlier today, BGR reported that Apple will release iOS 4.3 today, three days ahead of the previously-announced Friday launch date. But according to The Loop, the early release will actually occur tomorrow.

The speculation of iOS coming early seems to be solid, it's just the day that's off. If I were sitting waiting for iOS 4.3 to hit, I'd be ready tomorrow.

Potential support for the notion of a release tomorrow comes from a MacRumors reader who just asked an Apple chat representative about the release and was informed that it will indeed be tomorrow.

While Apple's sales staff is usually not kept up to date on the company's product and software release plans, it is possible that Apple has provided the information about the upcoming free update in order to assist its customers. Not all chat support representative are offering the same information, however, as one representative we just asked claimed that the release is coming on Friday as originally scheduled.

Regardless, BGR's report claimed a release time of 1:00 PM Eastern / 10:00 AM Pacific today, the company's usual time for iOS releases, so we should know in less than half an hour whether iOS 4.3 is coming today.

Alongside its "Wallaby" Flash-to-HTML5 converter, Adobe has also released a beta version of Flash Player 10.3, introducing a number of new features. Among the most notable are enhanced privacy and setting controls that integrate with System Preferences in Mac OS X and with browser preferences.

- Integration with browser privacy controls for managing local storage -- Users now have a simpler way to clear local storage from the browser settings interface - similar to how users clear their browser cookies today. Flash Player 10.3 integrates control of local storage with the browser's privacy settings in Mozilla Firefox 4, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and higher, and future releases of Apple Safari and Google Chrome.

- Native Control Panel -- Flash Player 10.3 provides users with streamlined controls for managing their Flash Player privacy, security and storage settings. Windows, Mac, and Linux users can access the Flash Player Settings Manager directly from the Control Panels or System Preferences on their computers.

Also new for Mac users is an update notification system to help users ensure they are running the most up-to-date version of Flash Player. Other general improvements include video measurement analytics and acoustic echo cancellation for improved audio quality in collaborative environments.

Pioneer today announced its new VSX-1021 receiver, the first of eight receivers from the company scheduled to be released this year with support for Apple's AirPlay technology. The VSX-1021, which carries a suggested retail price of $549, can be easily configured to join a home network and automatically appears as an output option via AirPlay on iOS devices.

Once the VSX-1021 is connected to a home network through Ethernet or Wi-Fi using Pioneer's optional AS-WL300 wireless LAN adapter (sold separately), AirPlay lets consumers stream their favorite songs to the receiver from iTunes on Mac and PC, or their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. AirPlay requires iTunes 10.1 or later and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.2.

To use Airplay, users can simply choose a song or playlist on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and then tap the AirPlay icon. The VSX-1021 will appear as an available device, and once selected, the receiver automatically turns on or switches to the Airplay source to start music playback.

Pioneer also announced the release of several new iOS apps to support the VSX-1021, offering similar functionalities found in Apple's Remote app for navigating iTunes libraries, although with additional features and Pioneer-specific implementations.

Pioneer Air Jam allows users to contribute songs from multiple iOS devices to a single playlist via Bluetooth, with all users being able to see the common playlist and access links to the iTunes Store and YouTube for more information on tracks from others.

Pioneer's new iControlAV2 app for iPad and iPhone/iPod touch is a revamp of the company's original iControlAV app that offers full remote control of certain Pioneer components such as the new VSX-1021.

Pioneer's iControlAV2 App enables VSX-1021 owners to put away the included remote control and utilize an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as their main home theater controller, enabling direct control of the receiver's volume, bass, balance and room settings.

The app is further enhanced when used on an iPad, with most major functions combined into a single, intuitive screen. Additional features include detailed graphic representations of before and after MCACC room calibration, and sound adjustments that enable users to create their own equalizer settings with a simple "touch and draw" on the screen. The iControlAV2 App also includes Blu-ray player control when connected to a compatible Pioneer Blu-ray player.

All apps require a minimum of iOS 4.2 and are available from the App Store free of charge.

Last October, Adobe demoed new conversion software that could allow Flash developers to port their content to a combination of HTML5 and related non-Flash technologies, making it considerably easier for developers to make their content available for platforms such as iOS that do not support Flash.

While at the time the conversion software was not promised for a public release, Adobe has now published a prerelease version of the technology known as "Wallaby".

"Wallaby" is the codename for an experimental technology that converts the artwork and animation contained in Adobe Flash Professional (FLA) files into HTML. This allows you to reuse and extend the reach of your content to devices that do not support the Flash runtimes. Once these files are converted to HTML, you can edit them with an HTML editing tool, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, or by hand if desired. You can view the output in one of the supported browsers or on an iOS device.

As detailed in the release notes, not all features are currently supported, but Adobe has clearly made significant progress in moving many basic Flash features such as buttons, fills, layers, and text to HTML. The current focus of Wallaby is on converting Flash-based banner ads to non-Flash, as that is one of the most-requested features with a rather straightforward implementation generally requiring only a subset of supported features.

Wallaby is currently available as a free download as Adobe seeks to gain feedback on its performance and utility. As refinements continue, the company will consider whether or not to include the functionality in future versions of Flash Professional.

BGR reports that Apple is preparing to release iOS 4.3 today at the company's usual 1:00 PM Eastern / 10:00 Pacific timeframe for iOS releases. A release today would be a bit of a surprise, given that Apple announced last week that the update would launch on Friday alongside the iPad 2 debut. BGR does, however, have a strong track record of pinpointing iOS build numbers and releases.

Apple seeded the golden master version of iOS 4.3 to developers last Thursday.

Today's report also addresses the issue of personal hotspot device limitations, following considerable discussion around the fact that Apple's iOS 4.3 pages for some markets mention that users may only utilize the hotspot via Wi-Fi with up to three devices simultaneously, while pages for other markets place the limit at five devices.

According to BGR, iOS 4.3 supports three devices via Wi-Fi by default, but can support up to five if requested by carriers.

As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, Apple yesterday seeded a seventh build of Mac OS X 10.6.7 to registered Mac developers. The new 10J868 build comes nearly two weeks after the previous seed.

As with the last several builds, Apple lists no known issues and asks developers to focus their testing on Safari, Mac App Store, AirPort, Bonjour, SMB, and Graphics Drivers. The new build also remains at nearly the same size as the previous one, suggesting that Apple may be primarily tweaking things at this point rather than making substantial additions to the update.

Apple began seeding Mac OS X 10.6.7 builds in late January, two weeks after the public launch of Mac OS X 10.6.6 to support the Mac App Store.