Apple is suppose to officially release iOS 4.2.1 by 10am Pacific. This free update brings the features of iOS 4 to the iPad. I have been waiting for this day for quite some time. Many wonder why these features weren’t included with the iPad’s initial release. All I know is today is going to be a day to remember.
iOS 4.2.1 Features
- Multitasking – Double click the Home button to bring up a shelf that lets you swtich between apps.
- Foldering of Apps – Folders can hold up to 20 apps
- Unified Inbox – Multiple email account inboxes are unified in one area.
- Orientation Lock – The hardware switch has been repurposed into a mute button. The software orientation lock has been added to the right fo the multitasking shelf.
- Brightness Control – A slider control added to the left of media playback controls.
- Safari – Display the number of pages open. Searching text on the page by entering your text into Safari’s search box and tap the entry under the “On This Page” at the bottom.
- Apple AirPlay – Ability to stream media to compatible devices (Ie. Apple TV)
- Apple AirPrint – Wirelessly print
Apple released iOS 4.0.1 for the iPhone and released iOS 3.2.1 for the iPad yesterday. The iOS 4.0.1 update for the iPhone appears to be solely focussed on updating the formula for how many bars of signal strength display on iPhones.
The main item that iOS 3.2.1 for the iPad addressed was focussed on improving Wi-Fi connectivity issues. I have noticed with my Wi-Fi iPad that sometimes the last network I had connected to stays selected as my network connection even after leaving the location of that network, requiring a reboot of the iPad to connect to a different network.
Several small iOS 3.2.1 updates for the iPad include:
- Fixed an issue that could prevent copy and paste of single-page PDF attachments in Mail
- Addressed an issue that could cause video playback to freeze
- Improved reliability of video-out when using iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter
- Added Bing as an option for Safari’s search field
The Apple iOS 4 upgrade has been available for a few days. If you’re like me you clicked on the “Check for updates” button in iTunes numerous times before it was finally made available.
What are the new features with iOS 4? The easiest way to answer this is to list out the new features for iPhone 3GS owners and separating features out for iPhone 3G owners. There is an obvious reduction in features for the iPhone 3G. This is largely due in part to the older and slower processor and less memory.
iOS 4 New Features for iPhone 3GS
- Multi-tasking for 3rd party apps
- Unified email inbox
- Email message threading
- Folders for app organization
- iBooks app
- Wireless keyboard support
- Homescreen wallpaper
- Screen orientation lock
- Data protection
- SMS character count
- Tap to focus video
iOS 4 New Features for iPhone 3G
- Unified email inbox
- Email message threading
- Folders for app organization
- iBooks app
So how did the update do?
Unfortunately, for me the update did not do so well and it failed on the first attempt. Luckily, the restore option from iTunes worked great and completed the update. The entire process was about two hours, over double what I had originally thought it would take.
So was the update of iOS 4 worth it on my 3G phone?
I wish I never updated my phone. The unified email inbox, email message threading, and folders for app organization are fantastic features that I use. However, the trade off for these couple of new features is great. My phone feels like it is running at half speed, sometimes even slower. Opening apps pause for multiple seconds before opening. Texting is slower. Waiting to pull up the keyboard is painful. And if battery life wasn’t bad enough before this, it’s even worse now.
So, if you have an iPhone 3G, and if you can forego the couple of new features, I’d just wait it out.
Steve Jobs announced the new iPhone 4 at the WWDC keynote today in San Francisco. In addition to the next generation iPhone, the new operating system has been renamed from iPhone 4 OS to iOS 4 and was was demonstrated with new apps including Netflix for the iPhone, FarmVille, and Guitar Hero. Personally speaking, I won’t be using any of those apps. Well, maybe Netflix while waiting for a flight, but more than likely I’ll watch it on my iPad. The iPhone 4 camera is being updated to 5 megapixels and now includes a flash. The entire body will be 24% thinner and made entirely from stainless steel and glass. The screen will be of higher resolution and will be much shaper than previous generations. Lastly, one of the major surprises is that the iPhone 4 will include FaceTime, video conferencing using the iPhone calling functionality. The front-facing camera is designed especially for video calls and the technology is being released for developers to add FaceTime in 3rd party applications, such as IM clients.
More important with the iOS 4 are the new features that like true multi-tasking (including 3rd party apps) and folders for apps organization. Email is being updated which will allow you to view messages from all of your email accounts in a single, integrated inbox. Messages will be threaded (similar to Gmail and Google Apps mail).
Some very large and very exciting news for the iPhone/iPad community. The iOS 4 will be made available for iPads later this year and since the iPad release in April 2010 there have been 2,000,000 sold to date.
Recent Comments