iPad Users: The Main New Features in iOS 4.2
People keeping track of these things will remember that when Apple released iOS 4.1 back in September, it said that iOS 4.2 would be released this November. True to its word, the Cupertino-based software developer rolled out iOS 4.2 for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch earlier this week. iPad users in particular will want to get this update because, as Apple explained, it comes with “00 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad.”
Here’s what Apple CEO Steve Jobs had to say about the release of iOS 4.2 and what it means for the iPad: “iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season. Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit.”
Here are the main features of the iOS 4.2 update:
Multitasking – you can run multiple apps at the same time and switch from one app to another. Say you want to play with two apps at the same time. When you are focused on one, the other runs in the background; you can switch from one app to the other.
Folders – you can sort apps into folders. A folder is automatically created when you drag one app icon onto another. The folder is also named automatically – the name depends on the App Store category of that app.
New Mail App - The new mail app features the following: unified inbox, fast inbox switching, multiple Exchange accounts, and threaded message view.
Game Center – multiplayer games, challenge your friends, automatically find someone to play against (feature called Auto matching by Apple, but affectionately called matchmaking by everyone else), compare scores.
AirPlay – replacing AirTunes, this new feature is meant for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly to an Apple TV.
AirPrint – you do not need drivers to print on AirPrint enabled printers like the HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet. You can wirelessly print from your iOS device as long as you have an AirPrint enabled printer.
TV show rentals for 99¢ - You have a 30-day window to watch the TV episode once it finished downloading and a 48-hour window to finish watching an episode once you’ve started watching it. Find My Phone is free – you no longer need a MobileMe Subscription to use this feature.
Better language support – support for an additional 25 languages, including Korean, Portuguese and Traditional Chinese, has been added.
To get iOS 4.2 all you have to do is sync your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch with iTunes 10.1.
Here’s what Apple CEO Steve Jobs had to say about the release of iOS 4.2 and what it means for the iPad: “iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season. Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit.”
Here are the main features of the iOS 4.2 update:
Multitasking – you can run multiple apps at the same time and switch from one app to another. Say you want to play with two apps at the same time. When you are focused on one, the other runs in the background; you can switch from one app to the other.
Folders – you can sort apps into folders. A folder is automatically created when you drag one app icon onto another. The folder is also named automatically – the name depends on the App Store category of that app.
New Mail App - The new mail app features the following: unified inbox, fast inbox switching, multiple Exchange accounts, and threaded message view.
Game Center – multiplayer games, challenge your friends, automatically find someone to play against (feature called Auto matching by Apple, but affectionately called matchmaking by everyone else), compare scores.
AirPlay – replacing AirTunes, this new feature is meant for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly to an Apple TV.
AirPrint – you do not need drivers to print on AirPrint enabled printers like the HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet. You can wirelessly print from your iOS device as long as you have an AirPrint enabled printer.
TV show rentals for 99¢ - You have a 30-day window to watch the TV episode once it finished downloading and a 48-hour window to finish watching an episode once you’ve started watching it. Find My Phone is free – you no longer need a MobileMe Subscription to use this feature.
Better language support – support for an additional 25 languages, including Korean, Portuguese and Traditional Chinese, has been added.
To get iOS 4.2 all you have to do is sync your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch with iTunes 10.1.
