iOS 4.2 for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch now available to developers
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4.2 means different things to different types of geeks. To SciFi-geeks, it’s the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything divided by 10. To Apple-geeks, it represents the most important software update in months. Why? Because it’s the first build of iOS 4 (with its folders, multitasking, etc) compatible with the iPad.
Steve promised that 4.2 would hit sometime in November — but as is customary at this point, it just went live a bit early for developers.
Surprisingly (in a nice way, for once), this first, dev-only release of iOS 4.2 isn’t iPad only. Right off the bat, builds are available for the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, and iPod Touch Generations 2/3/4. First gen iPhone and iPod Touch owners are out of luck, but we’ve known that for a while now.
Need a refresher on what’s new? Don’t worry, so did I. Here’s a list:
- AirPrint, Apple’s wireless printing system. Works on all 4.2 devices.
- Multitasking for iPad.
- Folders for iPad
- AirPlay, which allows you to stream video from an iPad (or iPhone? Not confirmed yet) to an AppleTV with the click of a button.
- Unified Inbox and Threaded Mail for iPad
- Search within Webpages in Safari
- 30 new international keyboards
If you’re a developer — or, at least, someone who was willing to drop the money to say they are a developer, let us know how your upgrade goes down in the comments.
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