Scott Forstall, senior VP of iOS Software, talking about iOS 4.3 during yesterday&39's iPad 2 event.

Apple has given developers the Gold Master copy of iOS 4.3, which is slated to go out to users as a free download at the end of next week. The Gold Master is typically the same build users get when the software is released.

The software update was formally unveiled during yesterday's iPad 2 event. Developers had first gotten their hands on it in mid-January.

Among the new features that come with iOS 4.3 are support for Home Sharing (which lets you play your iTunes library from anywhere in the house), the capability to turn your iPhone into a Wi-Fi hot spot, improved AirPlay support, and a new JavaScript engine for Safari that Apple says brings Safari mobile up to speed with its Mac OS X counterpart.

Other iPad-specific improvements include a software toggle to turn the switch on the right side of the device into either a mute button, or the screen orientation lock switch--functionality Apple had changed with a previous software update.

Apple said yesterday that only the iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and third- and fourth-generation iPod Touch devices will be eligible for the software update.

To read more about some of the additions and see them in action, you can take a look at our roundup from yesterday.

Download links from Apple&39's iOS developer page.