iOS 4.1 Beta was seeded to developers last night, and now we’re starting to get a feel for what’s been added and tweaked in this revision of the OS.
One of the most controversial changes is the introduction of a graphical tweak to the reception bars, making each one visually larger, but overall it will be displaying fewer bars. You can see the difference in the illustration above by Jesus Diaz of Gizmodo.
One of the features talked about when iOS 4 was first announced was GameCenter, but it wasn’t present when the OS was announced. GameCenter has found its way back into iOS 4.1 beta. The service itself is still in beta, with no official launch date.
Apple has finally added more Bluetooth controls for media. You can now skip forward, back, and adjust volume via Bluetooth devices. That took long enough.
When you add a favorite contact on your phone, you can now add it as either a FaceTime or Voice contact. Spellchecking can be turned off, if you have a grudge against correct spelling, and the camera controls now rotate when you turn your phone into landscape mode.
Written By
While that’s all fine and dandy, the real issue is that the iPhone 4 does NOT receive signal as well as previous versions OR other phones. I took my sim out and placed it in my really old Nokia 6620 and it locked in with full bars and even with the back cover off, I was not able to replicate the death grip. IF I had a way to video my iPhone in the same spot, it would have shown possibly 1 bar less, and with the death grip, I can make it go into Searching.
I am beginning to believe that the 3G is vastly different between the 2 phone, in fact vastly different between the iP4 and the 3Gs/3G. Is it possible that the new 3G radios in the iPhone 4 are not programmed correctly, or is the high speed signal really that weak over most of the country? If that is the case, just tell me. But the phone should be able to switch from edge, 3G, and high-speed 3G without a hiccup. It should be seamless. Calls shouldn’t degrade or drop, and the phone should never be “searching” in locations PROVEN to have a maximum 3G signal.
Isn’t the aim card in the new iPhone a micro sim that’s brand new, therefor making it impossible to put in an older phone, also making that comparison impossible…? I could be wrong though. I just woke up.
You can make or buy an adapter to put micro SIM cards into mini SIM slots
It will be so nice to use my Bluetooth headphones and not take my phone out of my pocket. Only 4 years late but who’s counting.