So the much awaited iOS 4.2 from Apple has been released an hour ago today. No it's not just an OS upgrade which will give you nothing but break your jailbreak and unlock, but its a full flagged OS update which will actually add more features to your iPhone, iPod, and iPad. So which new features actually Apple has for you in iOS 4.2? Let's take a look.
First of all, what is iOS 4.2?
Well, iOS 4.2 is the latest firmware released by Apple today on 22nd November.
On which devices iOS 4.2 will work?
iOS 4.2 has been developed to work with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation and iPad.
What is new for me exactly in iOS 4.2
The following features are newly added by Apple in iOS 4.2
Multitasking on iPad
Now this is one of the feature everyone who owned an iPad was waiting for. Yes. Multitasking finally comes to iPad. Multitasking feature was initially released by Apple in iOS 4.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch but it was not available for iPad. And Apple is really good at this feature. You can easily switch between apps with this feature. One thing I would wish in multitasking will be a dock either on right or left side, which will show me the apps running in background. For now, it shows these apps in a dock-kind of bar at the bottom.
Folders on iPad
Another great feature for iPad. Folders. Amazing. Now you can easily put your apps in different folders. Different folders for Games, Music apps, Reference apps etc etc. And its too easy to create folder. Just hold any icon for a sec and drag it onto another app's icon, and a folder is created. Name it as you like it to be and you're done. Same thing can be done in iTunes too. This feature was also available for iPhone and iPod touch since iOS 4.0 so nothing new for them in this.
AirPrint
Without stealing words of Apple - AirPrint makes it simple to print email, photos, web pages, and documents right from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. A few taps is all it takes to go from viewing it onscreen to holding a printed copy. There’s no software to download, no drivers to install, and no cables to connect.
AirPlay
Now you can stream digital media from iPhone, iPod and iPad to Apple TV and AirPlay enabled speakers - wireless! Hm. Good feature. So I can watch my favorite movie or music videos on my TV through Apple TV!
Find My iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Now this featire is something I would call 'new' and 'useful'. As the title suggests, it helps you 'find' your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad's location. It shows you where your iDevice is located. Also, you can remotely lock [passcode] your device, or wipe out [delete] all data on it. You can also display a message on it's screen or play sound on it. Very useful if I lost my iPhone and want no one to access my private data. Also, if I found my iDevice, I can restore my data back to it even if I remotely deleted it. This feature is available for free on iPhone 4, 4th gen iPod touch or iPad. No luck for iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS yet? Ugh! [not available in all countries]
Available in previous iOS since iOS 4.1, Game Center is now bundled with iOS 4.2.
iTunes TV show rentals
Rent TV shows commercial in HD and start watching them in minutes on your device.
Even better Mail
Apple claims to have optimized the default mail app. Now it allows to open mail attachments in third-party apps.
Find text on web pages
Ever wished you could search for a word or phrase in a web page while using Mobile Safari on your iDevice and cursed Apple for not having a search feature? Well no more. Apple adds search feature in Safari which will allow you to search and highlight word in any web-page. Really very useful.
Notes with fonts
Fonts comes to notes... Whoa! Now customize notes with different pre-installed fonts like Marker Felt, Helvetica, and Chalkboard. Change the appearance of notes text.
Reply to calendar invitations
Now you can reply to event invitations using popular calendar services like Yahoo!, Google, and Microsoft Exchange from the default calendar app.
Keyboard and dictionary enhancements
iOS 4.2 includes support for over 50 languages and dialects, with more than 30 new international keyboards and dictionaries for iPad.
Accessibility enhancements
Now control VoiceOver using a wireless keyboard. Also output in braille to over 30 supported wireless Bluetooth refreshable braille displays in more than 25 languages.
Enhanced enterprise support
Apple claims to have new device management capabilities, and improved enterprise integration.
Messaging with text tones
Know who’s texting without looking at your screen. Choose from 17 new alerts and assign custom tones for people in your contact list. Available for iPhone only.
I think these are some nice and much-awaited features for iDevices. Apple could have made these changes way before for iPad though. iPads coul have folders and multitasking even before. I like the Find My iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and Find text on web pages features. And AirPlay is also an amazing feature. Other features are so so I don;t know when I would open any mail attachments in a third-party app but may be useful in feature though.
See The Post Here To Know About iOS 4.2.1 (4.2) Jailbreak And Unlock Details - iOS 4.2 Jailbreak and Unlock
