Apple has released the first beta of iOS 4.3 to developers, hot on the heels of the Verizon iPhone announcement. While it's probably too late in the game to expect 4.3 to come on the Verizon iPhone, chances are it'll reach the general public sometime after that. All of the demo phones that the tech press got to play with are running iOS 4.2.5, which is probably going to be a VZW only version, coming all back into sync with the release of 4.3. If Apple could get away without releasing betas of their operating systems, they'd probably do it, because it's the first chance many of us outside of their private layer get to have to look at what's coming down the pipe. What you should know:

• Apple has not seeded an update for the second generation iPhone (3G) or iPod touch. Only the iPhone 3GS and 4, iPad and Apple TV. This could mean one of two things --

1. It's just not out yet. Apple is either lazy or they're going to hold off until the next beta release.
2. There will never be a version released. In which case 4.2.1 will be the end of the line for those devices.

• The Personal Hotspot feature of the Verizon iPhone 4 is integrated into 4.3 for all models including those on AT&T, however it's going to cost you extra on your plan.
• FaceTime has it's own icon.
• iPad users can now get a choice between the physical side switch being a mute switch or an orientation lock. In iOS 3.2, which was iPad only, the switch functioned as an orientation lock. When the code tree was unified under iOS 4.2, it was changed to a mute switch. Users complained (rightfully so) and now Apple is giving people an option. Frankly I prefer it as an orientation lock on the iPad and a mute switch on the iPhone.
• On the iPhone, when in silent mode a text message will generate three quick vibrations and an email will generate one. This allows you to quickly distinguish the difference when it's in your pocket. Personally, I turn email notifications off completely because I get too many.
• There are some new font choices as well as some new multi-touch gestures on the iPad. The gestures seem to enable a lot of functionality that would negate the need for a home button. Perhaps a clue to the future of the iPad 2?
• AirPlay for video in applications is a welcomed addition for AppleTV users. Soon you'll be able to stream just more than the built in videos application. This will open the door for VLC (if it returns to the App Store) and others to enable this functionality.
• There have been reports on Twitter about applications not being allowed to update with the beta installed. While I've not confirmed this myself use caution before trying out the beta on your primary device.

Really, if you're not a developer, or a bleeding edge kind of person, stay away. Honestly, if you're not a developer or testing things for a developer you shouldn't have access to this anyway (why people risk installing operating systems from public torrents is beyond me) -- also, if you're someone who exercises their ability to jailbreak or unlock the phone, don't update, because there is no telling if you'll ever be able to go back to 4.2.1, or if an exploit for 4.3 will even be released.

Apple has posted the gold master version of the iOS 4.2 firmware to the Apple developers website. With this release, the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch will all be unified under one code base and have more feature parity. However the most important part of this release is that the iPad will gain the much coveted mutlitasking abilities that have been present in the iOS firmware since version 4.0 on the iPhone and iPod Touch. As Engadget points out:

if you've got a friend with an iPhone Developer Program subscription, now would be a greattime to get cozy

Indeed. Typically the gold master will run on any device, not just ones which are registered to a developer account. Also, the gold master is typically released to the public within a week or so of hitting developers, so expect this to be finalized very soon. Apple promised 4.2 would be out in November and they seem on track to deliver. And just in time for me to buy an iPad this week.

It seems like this was news last year (it was) but in an interview with The New York Times, Melinda Gates confirmed that Apple products are forbidden in the Gates household. Want an iPod? Zune for you. Want an iPhone? How about a shiny HTC 7 Pro instead?

Do you own an iPod, which is made by Apple? No, I have a Zune. What if one of your children says, “Mom, I have to have an iPod?” I have gotten that argument — “You may have a Zune.” Do you have an iPad? Of course not. Is it true that Bill works on an Apple laptop? False. Nothing crosses the threshold of our doorstep. Isn’t there room in this world for both Apple and Microsoft? Microsoft certainly makes products for the Macintosh. Go talk to Bill.

Also, if you were concerned for Bill's mental health with the news that he's no longer the richest man in the world (partly because he's giving most of his fortune away, and partly because Microsoft's stock has gone south) you have no reason to worry. The only person it really bothers is his daughter.

By the way, I see he fell this year back to No. 2 on the list of the world’s wealthiest people. How did he feel when the Mexican businessman Carlos Slim overtook him? The only person that teases him about that is our youngest daughter, our 8-year-old. He couldn’t care less.