Apple has announced that it will make iOS 4.2 available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch today at around 10am Pacific time (6pm London). iOS 4.2 is the first version of iOS 4 to be able to run on the iPad bringing the major enhancements to the iPad that have been present on the iPhone and iPod touch since the summer. The main features of iOS 4.2 on the iPad include folders, app multitasking, AirPlay (and AirTunes), AirPrint and the ability to search a webpage in Safari.
“iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “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.”
Folders on the iPad can hold up to 20 apps, giving the iPad the ability to store 520 apps on an individual screen. Apple has also changed the hardware switch from an orientation lock to an alert volume mute switch. The orientation lock of the iPad can now be changed by entering the multitasking dock and swiping to the right, the screen brightness can also be adjusted here.
Apple also announced that AirPrint will be the name of the technology that will allow iOS devices to print wirelessly to printers.
AirPrint automatically finds printers on local networks and can print text, photos and graphics to them wirelessly over Wi-Fi without the need to install drivers or download software. HP’s existing and upcoming ePrint enabled printers will be the first to support printing direct from iOS devices.
Apple has also included AirPlay and AirTunes with iOS 4.2. AirPlay allows video to be sent from an iPhone or iPad to another device such a new Apple TV for output. Users with an old Apple TV will be unable to use AirPlay as the device is only AirTunes compatible.
