Apple releases iOS 4.1 for iPhones, iPod Touches

As promised at last week's event, Apple on Wednesday released iOS 4.1, its first significant update to the iOS platform that was introduced with the iPhone 4 earlier this summer. The update includes several new features including HDR photos, HD video upload, and a working Game Center.

Several bugs were also fixed in this latest update, including the highly-publicized proximity sensor issue and security issues involving FaceTime, GIFs and TIFFs, and at least 20 bugs in the WebKit framework of the Mobile Safari browser. The fourth generation iPod touch runs iOS 4.1 natively, thus upgrading the device is unnecessary.

While the security updates and bug fixes would be available for all models 4.1 supports -- iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4, and second generation and newer iPod touches -- some of its highly publicized features would only be available to iPhone 4 users.

For example, CEO Steve Jobs showed off HDR photo capture, which is intended to improve the exposure of photos taken with the iPhone. This functionality would only work with the newest iPhone: older models would need to use third-party applications. The same goes for HD video uploading -- that too is an iPhone 4-only feature.

While the iPhone 3G would stand to gain the least from this latest update, it does fix performance problems that were the most common issue. iPhone 3G devices with iOS 4.1 should see a substantial improvement in performance.

Game Center and the ability to view rented TV shows would be supported across all three compatible models, however. iTunes Ping would also make its debut appearance in the iTunes app.

The size of the upgrade would vary based on model. To upgrade, connect the device to iTunes and click "Check for Updates."