This morning we told you that Apple would release iOS 4.2 today, bringing over 100 new features to the iPad and improvements to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Many users couldn’t download the update this morning, but Apple has finally released the actual update.
If you plug your iPad (or iPhone or iPod Touch) into iTunes and click on your iPad on the left hand side you should see a “Check for updates” button. push it and you will begin downloading the iOS 4.2 update. It is a large file so it may take a few minutes to download, after which it should install itself.
Want to know what the new iOS 4.2 features are and how to use them? Check out our iOS 4.2 user guide series:
- Folders on iOS 4.2
- Multitasking on iOS 4.2
- AirPlay on iOS 4.2
- AirPrint on iOS 4.2
- Orientation Lock on iOS 4.2
The iOS 4.2 Software Changelog as shown when updating to iOS 4.2 in iTunes:
iOS 4.2 Software Update for iPadThis update contains over 100 new features for iPad including support for multitasking, folders, unified mail inbox, Game Center, AirPrint, AirPlay, and many system improvements. It is highly recommended for all iPad users.iOS 4.2 for iPad includes the following:• Multitasking support for third-party apps– Multitasking user interface to quickly move betweenapps, adjust screen brightness, control playback,lock screen-rotation, and manage print jobs– Support for audio apps to play in the background– VoIP apps can receive and maintain calls in thebackground or when device is asleep– Apps can monitor location and take action whilerunning in the background– Alerts and messages can be pushed to apps usingpush and local notifications– Apps can complete tasks in the background• Folders to better organize and access apps• Mail improvements– Unified inbox to view emails from all accounts in oneplace– Fast inbox switching to quickly switch betweendifferent email accounts– Threaded messages to view multiple emails from thesame conversation– Import .ics files into Calendar– Open attachments with compatible third-party apps– File or delete search results– Option to select size of photo attachments– Messages in the Outbox can be edited or deleted• Game Center– Send and receive friend requests– Invite friends to multi-player games over the Internet– Play multi-player games by auto-matching with otherplayers– View Leaderboards and Achievements– Discover new games from friends• AirPrint– Print mail, photos, web pages, and more directly toAirPrint compatible printers on a local wireless network• AirPlay– Wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos toApple TV– Wirelessly stream music to AirPlay-enabled speakers orreceivers, including AirPort Express• Find text on web pages in Safari• Use Spotlight to search the web and Wikipedia• Suggestions and recent searches appear during a websearch• Support for TV show rentals using iTunes• Create and edit iTunes playlists on device• Support for iTunes gifting of apps• Send and accept calendar invitations wirelessly withsupported CalDAV servers• Support for MobileMe calendar sharing• Enhanced location privacy– A Location Services icon appears in the status bar toindicate when Location Services are being used– Location Services can be enabled and disabled per app– Indication of apps that have requested your locationwithin the last 24 hours• Additional Parental Controls– Prevent adding friends in Game Center and deletionof apps– Restrict changes to Accounts and Location Servicessettings• New languages, dictionaries and keyboards• New fonts available in Notes• Wirelessly sync notes using IMAP-based mail accounts• Automatic spellcheck• Silence background sounds using the Silent switch onthe side of iPad• Improved support for Bluetooth AVRCP• Persistent WiFi connection to receive push notifications• Support for Bluetooth braille displays and Internationalbraille tables, control VoiceOver using an externalkeyboard, and other accessibility enhancements• Wireless delivery of carrier settings updates foriPad WiFi + 3G• Improved enterprise support– Support for third-party Mobile Device Managementsolutions– Enables wireless distribution of enterprise applications– Exchange Server 2010 compatibility– Support for multiple Exchange ActiveSync accounts– Support for Juniper Junos Pulse and CiscoAnyConnect SSL VPN apps (available from theApp Store)• More than 1,500 new developer APIs• Bug fixesProducts compatible with this software update:• iPad• iPad WiFi + 3GFor feature descriptions and complete instructions, see the user guides for iPad at:<https://support.apple.com/manuals/ipad>For more information about iPad, go to:<https://www.apple.com/ipad>To troubleshoot your iPad, or to view additional support information go to:<https://www.apple.com/support/ipad>For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:<https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222>iOS 4.2 Software Update for iPad
This update contains over 100 new features for iPad including support for multitasking, folders, unified mail inbox, Game Center, AirPrint, AirPlay, and many system improvements. It is highly recommended for all iPad users.
iOS 4.2 for iPad includes the following:
• Multitasking support for third-party apps – Multitasking user interface to quickly move between apps, adjust screen brightness, control playback, lock screen-rotation, and manage print jobs – Support for audio apps to play in the background – VoIP apps can receive and maintain calls in the background or when device is asleep – Apps can monitor location and take action while running in the background – Alerts and messages can be pushed to apps using push and local notifications – Apps can complete tasks in the background• Folders to better organize and access apps• Mail improvements – Unified inbox to view emails from all accounts in one place – Fast inbox switching to quickly switch between different email accounts – Threaded messages to view multiple emails from the same conversation – Import .ics files into Calendar – Open attachments with compatible third-party apps – File or delete search results – Option to select size of photo attachments – Messages in the Outbox can be edited or deleted • Game Center – Send and receive friend requests – Invite friends to multi-player games over the Internet – Play multi-player games by auto-matching with other players – View Leaderboards and Achievements – Discover new games from friends • AirPrint – Print mail, photos, web pages, and more directly to AirPrint compatible printers on a local wireless network• AirPlay – Wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos to Apple TV – Wirelessly stream music to AirPlay-enabled speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express • Find text on web pages in Safari • Use Spotlight to search the web and Wikipedia • Suggestions and recent searches appear during a web search • Support for TV show rentals using iTunes • Create and edit iTunes playlists on device • Support for iTunes gifting of apps • Send and accept calendar invitations wirelessly with supported CalDAV servers • Support for MobileMe calendar sharing • Enhanced location privacy – A Location Services icon appears in the status bar to indicate when Location Services are being used – Location Services can be enabled and disabled per app – Indication of apps that have requested your location within the last 24 hours • Additional Parental Controls – Prevent adding friends in Game Center and deletion of apps – Restrict changes to Accounts and Location Services settings • New languages, dictionaries and keyboards • New fonts available in Notes • Wirelessly sync notes using IMAP-based mail accounts • Automatic spellcheck• Silence background sounds using the Silent switch on the side of iPad• Improved support for Bluetooth AVRCP• Persistent WiFi connection to receive push notifications• Support for Bluetooth braille displays and International braille tables, control VoiceOver using an external keyboard, and other accessibility enhancements• Wireless delivery of carrier settings updates for iPad WiFi + 3G• Improved enterprise support – Support for third-party Mobile Device Management solutions – Enables wireless distribution of enterprise applications – Exchange Server 2010 compatibility – Support for multiple Exchange ActiveSync accounts – Support for Juniper Junos Pulse and Cisco AnyConnect SSL VPN apps (available from the App Store)• More than 1,500 new developer APIs• Bug fixes
Products compatible with this software update:• iPad• iPad WiFi + 3G
For feature descriptions and complete instructions, see the user guides for iPad at: <https://support.apple.com/manuals/ipad>
For more information about iPad, go to: <https://www.apple.com/ipad>
To troubleshoot your iPad, or to view additional support information go to: <https://www.apple.com/support/ipad>
For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: <https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222>