Apple has made available the latest version of its iOS mobile device platform, iOS 4.1. Among the new features supported by the platform are: support for Game Center, which is intended to deliver social gaming capabilities to the iPhone; support for iTunes Ping, a music-based social networking service;  support for video rentals from iTunes; and enhanced imaging capabilities and support for HD video uploads (using Wi-Fi only) to YouTube and MobileME for iPhone 4 owners.

Pocket Gamer noted that while Game Center is intended to allow developers to create social networking enabled gaming apps, it is not supported by the iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G and first-generation iPod touch devices, and iPad support will not come before the introduction of iOS 4.2 in November 2010. It has been widely suggested that a significant number of games downloads are made by iPod touch users, meaning that a major part of the potential user base may be locked-out of Game Center. In addition, games need to be updated to enable features such as global leaderboards, challenges and peer-to-peer multiplayer gaming.

Shortly after the platform was released, The Register reported that hackers had already identified a way to “jailbreak” devices. It was suggested that because on this occasion the exploit targets a low-level part of the operating system, it will be difficult for Apple to stop without the company making “significant hardware changes”. In contrast, previous jailbreaks have relied on weaknesses in the iOS software, which have been easily patched by the vendor – ironically, the current hack exploits weaknesses in the iOS boot ROM, which was updated to close an earlier jailbreak option.