Download Firmware Apple iOS 4.2.1

Apple on Monday released version 4.2.1 of iOS, the operating system for the iPhonethe iPod touch and the iPad. Updating the software is easy; all that needs to be done is pair the device with a Windows or Mac OS X computer with at least version 10.1 of iTunes installed. Version 4.2 adds several new features, such as AirPrint and AirPlay. The first allows wireless printing to a limited number of HP models and the second offers the possibility to stream digital content to an Apple TV media player. Below is the full changelog for the iPhone/iPod touch and the iPad:

iOS 4.2.1 for iPhone includes the following:

• AirPrint
  • Print mail, photos, web pages, and more directly to AirPrint compatible printers on a local wireless network
• AirPlay
  • Wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos to Apple TV
  • Wirelessly stream music to AirPlay compatible speakers and receivers, including AirPort Express
• FaceTime improvements
  • Initiate calls with Voice Control
  • Initiate calls from an SMS conversation
  • Support for Bluetooth accessories
• Find text on the web page in Safari
• New fonts setting available for Notes
• New SMS/MMS text tones and the ability to set custom tones per contact
• Additional restrictions (parental controls) available:
  • Account settings
  • App deletion
  • Game Center friends
  • location settings
• Ability to import .ics files into Calendar
• Bug fixes, including:
  • Eliminates sound artifacts occasionally captured in recorded audio with 4th generation iPod touch
  • Improves audio playback to car stereos via USB

iOS 4.2 for iPad includes the following:

• Multitasking support for third-party apps
  • Multitasking user interface to quickly move between apps, adjust screen brightness, control playback, lock screen-rotation, and manage print jobs
  • Support for audio apps to play in the background
  • VoIP apps can receive and maintain calls in the background or when device is asleep
  • Apps can monitor location and take action while running in the background
  • Alerts and messages can be pushed to apps using push and local notifications
  • Apps can complete tasks in the background
• Folders to better organize and access apps
• Email improvements
  • Unified inbox to view emails from all accounts in one place
  • Fast inbox switching to quickly switch between different email accounts
  • Threaded messages to view multiple emails from the same conversation
  • Import .ics files into Calendar
  • Open attachments with compatible third-party apps
  • File or delete search results
  • Option to select size of photo attachments
  • Messages in the Outbox can be edited or deleted
• Game Center
  • Send and receive friend requests
  • Invite friends to multi-player games over the Internet
  • Play multi-player games by auto-matching with other players
  • View Leaderboards and Achievements
  • Discover new games from friends
• AirPrint
  • Print mail, photos, web pages, and more directly to AirPrint compatible printers on a local wireless network
• AirPlay
  • Wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos to Apple TV
  • Wirelessly stream music to AirPlay-enabled speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express
• Find text on web pages in Safari
• Use Spotlight to search the web and Wikipedia
• Suggestions and recent searches appear during a web search
• Support for TV show rentals using iTunes
• Create and edit iTunes playlists on device
• Support for iTunes gifting or apps
• Send and accept calendar invitations wirelessly with supported CalDAV servers
• Support for MobileMe calendar sharing
• Enhanced location privacy
  • A Location Services icon appears in the status bar to indicate when Location Services are being used
  • Location Services can be enabled and disabled per app
  • Indication of apps that have requested your location within the last 24 hours
• Additional Parental Controls
  • Prevent adding friends in Game Center and deletion of apps
  • Restrict changes to Accounts and Location Services settings
• New languages, dictionaries and keyboards
• New fonts available in Notes
• Wirelessly sync notes using IMAP-based mail accounts
• Automatic spell check
• Silence background sounds using the Silent switch on the side of iPad
• Improved support for Bluetooth AVRCP
• Persistent WiFi connection to receive push notifications
• Support for Bluetooth braille displays and International braille tables, control VoiceOver using an external keyboard, and other accessibility enhancements
• Wireless delivery of carrier settings updates for iPad WiFi + 3G
• Improved enterprise support
  • Support for third-party Mobile Device Management solutions
  • Enables wireless distribution of enterprise applications
  • Exchange Server 2010 Compatibility
  • Support for multiple Exchange ActiveSync accounts
  • Support for Juniper Junos Pulse and Cisco AnyConnect SSL VPN apps (available from the App Store)
• More than 1,500 new developer APIs
• Bug fixes