iOS 4.2 available to download

Major update finally goes live, plus details...

Hold on to your hats fanboys, because iOS 4.2 has finally arrived.

If you plug your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into iTunes now, it should automatically prompt you to download the latest software for your iOS device - but if not you can always click "Check for Update" on your device page. You'll need to be running the latest version of iTunes as well (10.1).

So what exactly does iOS 4.2 mean?

Well, apart from AirPlay, AirPrint, new device management capabilities and support for 25 additional languages, iOS 4.2 is also the first time that you've been able to multitask, create folders and get involved in all of the other iOS 4 goodness on your Apple tablet (the previous updated iPad software was version 3.2.2).

So, whilst you wait for iOS 4.2 to download and do its stuff on your iDevice, why not check out our guide:

iOS 4.2 for iPad: What's new, detailed and explained

The full list of fixes and changes (for the iPad version) are:

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 the 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 organise 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 programme rentals using iTunes (US only)

Create and edit iTunes playlists on your 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 Wi-Fi 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 with Wi-Fi + 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

Tags: Apple iOS 4.2 Tablets iPhone Phones Mobile phones iPad

iOS 4.2 available to download originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:05:00 +0000

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