After all the rumours, we have formal confirmation that iOS 4.2, the latest update of the operating system that runs on the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad, will be released later today (plug your device into a computer, start iTunes and check if it is available yet). While the update will be available for all three devices, it is its impact on the iPad that is attracting the greatest attention. The iPad, it must be remembered, had missed out on previous iOS updates, depriving it of functions like multi-tasking, which were available for the iPhone and the iPod touch.Well, with iOS 4.2, the iPad will get more than a hundred features including multi-tasking, folders, unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay and AirPrint.
“iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, never known to understate matters. “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.”
We do not know about that but this is the update that could actually blow a hole in the biggest advantage that Android tablets have over the iPad – that of multi-tasking. The benchmarks have been changed again. Let the tablet wars resume. Your play, Android.
