Apple releases iOS 4.3 beta 2

One week after posting the first beta of iOS 4.3, Apple has published a second beta. This seed is 8F5153d, replacing last week’s 8F5148b. Like before, there is no support for the iPhone 3G or second-gen iPod touch.

Interestingly, according to Mac Stories, the new gestures are going to be staying in beta for some time:

This beta release contains a preview of new multitasking gestures for iPad. You can use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen, swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, and swipe left or right between apps. This feature will not be enabled in iOS 4.3 for customers, but we are providing this preview to gather input on how these gestures work with your apps.

My guess it that the iPad 2 and iPhone 5 will include hardware support for these features, and that Apple is just preparing developers for them a little early.

The Apple TV build has been updated as well, for developers to test AirPlay with their apps.

As always, updating a device to a beta version of iOS is a one-way street, with downgrading not possible.

Stephen Hackett, formerly a Lead Mac Genius at Apple, now spends his days running the IT department of a large non-profit in Memphis, TN. He writes about Apple, design and journalism at forkbombr.net. Like all twenty-somethings, you can find him on Twitter. Oh, and he has a dogcow tattoo.