After the iPad 2 introduction, Scott Forstall, senior VP of iOS software, took the stage to discuss some of the new features and enhancements in iOS 4.3.
- increased Safari performance, particularly in Javascript where you’ll see a 2x improvement in speed
- iTunes Home Sharing
- improvements to AirPlay, including video sharing from App Store apps and websites
- user selectable iPad switch function for mute or rotation lock
- personal hotspot (iPhone 4 only) sharing your 3G connection over Wi-Fi to other devices
- new Photo Booth App
- Facetime between iPads and iPhone 4
iOS 4.3 will be available on March 11 as a free download.
Steve Jobs then introduced Randy Ubillos, chief architect of video, to talk about the new iMovie for iOS. This new video editing app features a precision editor, multitrack audio recording along with new themes, AirPlay support, and uploading to popular web sharing sites. It’s also a universal app, which means it will work on both the iPad and iPhone 4. Video clip editing is now more precise, and there is support for up to 3 audio tracks plus background audio. Audio clips now also feature waveform views, and you are able to record directly into the timeline with the built in camera.
Following up was Xander Soren, director of music marketing, to demonstrate the new GarageBand for iPad. Featuring compatibility with the Mac version, the new iOS version of GarageBand includes virtual instruments, guitar amp effects, 8 track recording and mixing, and over 250 loops you can work with. Uniquely, the GarageBand piano keyboard has touch sensitivity, using the accelerometer of the iPad to measure the force of your taps on the screen. Tap it harder and the notes will be louder. Soren also demoed virtual drumkits, and the new Smart Guitar which allows you to choose the chords and strum your fingers across the screen. GarageBand for iPad also features 8 tracks of recording for both virtual instruments and live instruments. When your song is finished, you can take your mixes and email an AAC, or send it to your iTunes library next time you sync.
Apple is really going after the critics who say that the iPad is not a content creation device. As the iPad becomes more powerful, more and more content creation will move away from traditional computers and on to the tablet, and for average consumers, the iPad may indeed be all the ‘computer’ they need. Welcome to the post-PC era.
Both iMovie and GarageBand for iPad will be available on the App Store on March 11th for $5.
Article and PhotoVia Macworld
