Apple
announced this morning that the 4.2.1 update will be made
available for iOS devices later today. IOS
4.2.1 brings the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad together when it
comes to OS releases -- previously, the iPhone and iPod touch were
using the 4.x branch of iOS while the iPad used 3.x.
IOS
4.2 finally gives iPad users the ability to multitask with
applications and create folders among other things. Other features
that will be rolled out to all iOS devices include AirPlay and
AirPrint.
“iOS
4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the
holiday season,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. “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.”
Another
bonus that Apple announced is that the Find My iPhone service will
now be made available for free for select iOS devices. Previously,
the service required a MobileMe subscription from Apple. Find My
iPhone allows users to track down a lost or stolen iOS device and
locate it on a map using Me.com or an iOS app (which be available for free from the App Store).
Unfortunately,
the service will only be made freely available for users of the
iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G, and iPad.
Updated 11/22/2010
The iOS 4.2.1 update is now live. It can be obtained using the "Check for Update" feature within iTunes.
