Apple iOS4.2: Top Features
Since it introduced the iPhone and turned the mobile world on its head, Apple has worked tirelessly to perfect the operating system that made the device such a hit and in its latest iteration, version 4.2, we're really starting to see what its capable of.
As with many software updates though, a lot of the good stuff is buried beneath a mire of marketing blurb and one or two bullet points, so we've waded through the banal in search of what makes iOS 4.2 the most cutting edge of mobile operating systems.
AirPrint - Apple listened to the masses when putting together it's to-do list for the iOS update, and printing was what the people wanted. Thanks to AirPrint you can really begin to appreciate the amazing camera on the iPhone 4 with direct print functionality. No more messing around sharing documents with iTunes, simply print direct from your iPhone or iPad. Simple!
AirPlay - Consuming media is what having a smartphone is all about and AirPlay makes the process headache free. You can share any of your media wirelessly with your Apple TV or AirPlay enabled speakers (and a host of third party devices) at the touch of a button. There's no need to bother with a dock or any complicated networking procedures. Meaning that you can shoot and share with your iPhone and make more of your iPad than just a web tablet!
iPad Multitasking - iPhone got given its dose of multitasking capability back with version 4.0 of iOS but owing to its more complex nature the iPad has had to wait, but the wait is over with 4.2.1! With a double click of your home button you can switch between open apps, share data and generally stay more productive with your iPad.
Faster Browsing - iOS 4.2 comes with a host of speed refinements but one of the most noteworthy is to Safari. Thanks to some smart coding by Apple's brainiacs web browsing is faster than ever before in iOS 4.2, and users of Apple's iPhone 3G have been particularly impressed with how the new software brings out the best in their hardware.
Remote Device Management - If your iPad is used for work you can let your IT people take care of all the hard work with this new function. Remote management API's included in the firmware update allow IT technicians to roll-out new software to your device, remotely manage security and even wipe the device in case of an emergency, meaning that you can worry less and work more.
Game Center for iPad - Version 4.2 brings the hugely popular Game Center to iPad, which will allow you to maintain bragging rights over your friends with leader boards, records of your achievements and dedicated matchmaking for multi-player sessions. Productivity's good but sometimes downtime needs to take top billing!
Search In Page for Safari - It may seem like a trifle but the ability to find text within a web-page is integral to some people's surfing experience and thankfully iOS 4.2 rolled out that small, but incredibly important function, showing once again that Apple listens to its users, which is no mean feat in today's market.
Language Support - iOS 4.2 comes with support for 50 languages and the 4.2 update saw an additional 30 keyboards and dictionaries added giving users more opportunity than ever before to use their iPad or iPhone in their native language.
Enhanced Security - Your security comes first with iOS 4.2 and thanks to the addition of more advanced encryption and security functionality, and added support for remote monitoring of devices your device is every inch the business smartphone.
Device locate - Thanks to Find my iPhone or iPad you can locate a misplaced device within minutes. With a few screen presses the location of your device is displayed on a map and options to manage data remotely are offered, giving you the opportunity to wipe sensitive data. Don't panic though, when you get your device back you can restore your last backup through iTunes!
So there you have it. Version 4.2 of Apple's iOS is more than just a few eye-candy improvements, it's a top-class firmware update that implements a host of new features and amends and improves on existing ones. This list is by no means exhaustive though and you'll find plenty more important, intuitive and fun stuff included in your iOS 4.2 device!