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New iOS 4.3 Feature: iTunes Home Sharing

At today’s iPad 2 event, Apple said iOS 4.3 will be available next Friday, March 11. A new feature mentioned was iTunes Home Sharing, so let’s dig in.

iTunes currently has Home Sharing between Macs or PCs on the same Wi-Fi network, but now iOS 4.3 is letting you stream all your music, movies and TV shows from your Mac or PC to any iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. After installing iTunes 10.2, tap and enjoy all your media in your iTunes library anywhere in your home. Imagine, you can stream a movie from your Mac to your iPad anywhere your Wi-Fi range can reach. Want to listen to an excellent new podcast, connect and go!

Current iOS 4.3 GM users, the iTunes Home Sharing feature is now in the beta. Others, it will definitely be in the public release on March 11.

UPDATED WITH SCREENSHOTS BELOW: Read more

Apple Releases iTunes 10.2 with iOS 4.3 Support, New Home Sharing

Just as we expected after seeing a brief mention of iTunes 10.2 on Apple’s website, the update is now available for download. You can find it on Apple’s iTunes page or Software Update on your Macs. The new version of iTunes officially introduces support for iOS 4.3 and brings an improved home sharing feature to share libraries with iOS devices running iOS 4.3.

Changelog below:

What’s new in iTunes 10.2

• Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.3.

• Improved Home Sharing. Browse and play from your iTunes libraries with Home Sharing on any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.3.

iPad 2 Gets A New Apple Dock

As noted by iLounge, Apple announced a slightly modified version of the iPad dock to fit the new model unveiled today. What’s changed since the first version? Well, the iPad 2 dock seems to have a “small lip at the front” (perhaps to hold it better as it’s so thin?) that makes it a little bit different from the previous one. The usual 30-pin dock connector is included with support for charging and other accessories, as well as a 3.5mm audio line-out port.

It’ll look gorgeous next to a white iPad 2. [via iLounge]

iPad 1: Available at $399, For Now

With the iPad 2 about to hit the shelves, what’s going to happen to the original iPad? Well, Apple is apparently getting rid of remaining stock with a discounted price. In the “clearance” section of the Apple Online Store, you can see the 16 GB base model is now available at $100 off the original price. Other models come with a similar discount.

Again, this seems to be a temporary offer until iPad 1 stock runs out. So if you really want one, be quick! [Thanks, Luke]

iPad 2 Requires iTunes 10.2

Straight from Apple’s just-updated website, here comes a screenshot that confirms the iPad 2 needs a new version of iTunes, 10.2.

iTunes 10.2 still isn’t available for download and will likely be released in the next few days.

Update: and iTunes 10.2 is out.

iPad 2 Gets GarageBand

The second app Apple announced for the iPad 2 is GarageBand. It’s got touch instruments (but apparently you can plug in a guitar if you really want to), more than 250 loops and multitrack recording and mixing. Finally Apple has deployed its own app to turn the iPad into a music instrument, following the runaway success of music app developers in 2010.

An interesting detail: the piano demoed on stage recognize pressure on keys thanks to the iPad’s accelerometer. That’s very neat. The graphics looks really beautiful and you can switch between lots of instruments including organs and synths. You can toggle octaves and the sustain pedal on the piano. Engadget also reports you can tweak the vibrato with your finger as you slide on screen. Plus, drums!

Apple Announces iMovie for iPad 2

The iPad 2 isn’t just about new hardware and Smart Covers (which we already love). Apple has been busy building some exclusive apps for it, and a new version of iMovie is the first one. A precision editor with multi-track audio recording, AirPlay streaming to the Apple TV, universal app for iPhone and iPad (free upgrade for existing customers!) and new themes. The new iMovie takes advantage of the iPad 2’s faster processor and RAM to do some crazy video editing and HD sharing.

Over 50 new sound effects are available and music automatically switch with themes. The UI looks completely new and redesigned for the bigger screen which, we assume, should bring way better portable video editing. New sharing options for Facebook and Vimeo as well.

$4.99 0n March 11.

iOS 4.3 To Be Released on March 11

At Apple’s iPad 2 event, Scott Forstall just confirmed that together with the iPad 2, customers will also get iOS 4.3 on March 11. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as the new iPad runs iOS 4.3 by default with FaceTime and Photo Booth capabilities. We assume a GM build will be released shortly.