Apple on Monday rolled out the latest version of its mobile operating system. Apple users can download iOS 4.2 for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. But the update has the greatest impact on the iPad.
iOS 4.2 offers plenty of in-demand features for the Apple mobile world -- more than 100, to be exact. Some of the most noteworthy are multitasking folders, a unified inbox, a game center, AirPlay and AirPrint.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs was in true form in announcing the new mobile OS. He said iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a "completely new product" and promised 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."
Beefing Up iPad
With iOS 4.2, iPad users can switch between apps instantly without compromising battery life. Users can also organize apps with a drag-and-drop function using Folders. What's more, Mail now offers a Unified Inbox, faster inbox switching and a threaded message view.
"This is a major upgrade for the iPad that brings it in line with the other Apple devices -- the things that iPad users have been wanting that iPhone users have had for a while, like Universal Inbox, multitasking and Folders," said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner.
Moving on the gaming front, the Game Center lets Apple mobile-device users play games with friends or get matched automatically with new opponents. The feature also lets users brag about their scores and achievements and see what games their friends are playing.
Air Apple
Then there's AirPlay, a new feature for streaming music, video and photos wirelessly from an Apple mobile device to Apple TV. Gartenberg said anyone who's tried to get streaming content from a mobile device to a television or speakers knows it can be a daunting, complex process.
"Apple has made streaming content as simple as one click, one touch," Gartenberg said. "One minute you are watching video on your iPad, and with one click you are watching it on your Apple TV. It's simple."
AirPrint lets users print from the iPad over a Wi-Fi network with a tap on the screen. Several Hewlett-Packard printers support AirPrint. The Find My iPhone feature is also free for all iOS 4.2 users. The feature helps locate missing devices, and can even remotely wipe them clean.
"The idea of printing has historically involved installing drivers and getting it all to work over the network. Again, Apple offers one-touch simplicity," Gartenberg said. "The degree of appliance-like simplicity that Apple has brought to previously fairly complex tasks is a hallmark. Certainly, it will be interesting to see AirPrint as a feature of Mac OS and as more applications are enabled for AirPlay on devices."
Some of the other more significant updates to iOS 4.2 include the ability to rent TV episodes directly to the iPad using the iTunes app and the ability to find and highlight specific words and phrases on web pages in Safari. Apple also enhanced enterprise support so businesses can take advantage of stronger security features, new device-management capabilities, and improved enterprise integration.
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