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Topic: Hardware

iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for iPhone 4 users (updated)

Summary: Apple today announced iOS 4.2.1 bringing iOS 4 features to the iPad for the first time. Apple is also offering its Find My iPhone service free of charge, for the first time.

Jason D. O'Grady

By for The Apple Core |

Apple today announced iOS 4.2 for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, bringing iOS 4 features to the iPad for the first time.

iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features from iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 to iPad including Multitasking, Folders, Unified Inbox, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint.

iPad users can now run their favorite apps and switch between them instantly, while preserving iPad’s legendary battery life. Users can organize their apps with drag-and-drop simplicity using Folders, and Mail now features a Unified Inbox, fast inbox switching and a threaded message view.

The surprise in the announcement is that with iOS 4.2 Apple is offering its Find My iPhone service free of charge. The service, previously only available to paid MobileMe subscribers, allows users to locate/track lost iOS devices via the Web. According to Apple, the free version of Find My iPhone, is limited to current-generation hardware (i.e. iPhone 4, iPad and new iPod touch, 4th generation).

Don't run to plug your iPad into iTunes just yet though, Macworld reports that iOS 4.2.1 will drop at 10am PT/1pm ET.

Topics: Hardware, Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mobility, Smartphones

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10 comments
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  • Good News

    I've heard it's already jailbroken.
    Mac Hosehead
    Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for all

      @Mac Hosehead It is. Hurray Jailbreak!
      nix_hed
      Reply Vote

  • RE: iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for all

    Nook Color has been picked as the editors choice by PC Magazine. Pro reviewers of other sites (CNET, ZDNet, Engadget, AllThingsDigital, etc.) mentioned that it tested to be pretty fast for apps and PDF's, has a beautiful screen, and is a great value for the holiday season for $249.
    Nook Color's screen is better (less reflective) for reading than iPad's thanks to new LG screen with anti-glare coating, and it is better performing in sunlight than iPad's. Also, as it's smaller in size than iPad, the text appears sharper on Nook's screen.
    Barnes & Noble special Nook SDK runs on top of the standard Android one and gives developers access to exclusive extensions and APIs for the Nook and its interface so porting Android apps is not difficult. B&N says it is more like optimising them for Nook than porting them.
    eco733
    Reply Vote

    • Which is fine if you are reading books

      @eco733
      My boss uses an office suite app married with DropBox to edit Word documents, update spreadsheets, etc... from his iPad. You can't do that on a Nook. I won't even go into the other entertainment options (movies, games, etc...) that are available.

      My point is that if you want an e-book reader, then the Nook seems to be a great item. If you want greater functionality though, it's not a competitor to iPad or Galaxy Tab, or any number of products yet to come.
      use_what_works_4_U
      Reply Vote

  • Too bad you can't use AirPrint with Mac OS X or Windows shared printers...

    ... yet.

    (Unless you have the AirPrint hack in 10.6.5.)
    nix_hed
    Reply Vote

  • RE: iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for all

    Sounds like the Find My iPhone will be quite useful for the dumb bl___es and dumb bl___es wannabees except that they won't know how to use the service. :-)

    Oh ya. what? Apple isn't charging? Shocking! :-)
    Gis Bun
    Reply Vote

  • RE: iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for all

    forget apples eat Tang
    Dada1111
    Reply Vote

    • RE: iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for all

      @Dada1111 & Gis Bun

      The intelligence level of the blogging is really up there :)

      Makes me wanna be just like you!
      richardw66
      Reply Vote

  • RE: iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for all

    Not free for all! Once again Apple is dissing iPhone 3 owners.
    hmshapiro
    Reply Vote

  • RE: iOS 4.2 released; Find My iPhone free for all

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