Apple releases iOS 4.3 beta for developers

Hot on the heels of Verizon's long-awaited iPhone announcement, Apple on Wednesday released a new beta of iOS to developers. One of the major features included in this iOS 4.3 beta is third-party access to AirPlay, the much-touted media streaming feature that arrived in iOS 4.2. The iOS 4.3 beta covers the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad; there's also a pre-release version of new software for the second-generation Apple TV.

The iOS 4.2 update introduced AirPlay support on iOS devices, but the feature was then only available to some of Apple's built-in apps, such as Safari and YouTube. In iOS 4.3, developers will be able to harness AirPlay in their own apps, extending the potential of the feature. The pre-release version of the Apple TV software will allow developers to test streaming to Apple's little black box.