iOS 4.2 Released: New Features

Apple has finally released iOS 4.2 and we are loving it on our iPads, as well as our iPhones at MacApper. There are a bunch of new features in the new update, but rather than focus on the one that Apple has headline on their website, you probably haven’t noticed some of the other things Cupertino has decided to polish up.

Searching For Text on Webpages

Most of you may be familiar with this feature of Safari on your Mac or PC. Apple has extended it to the iOS for the iPhone, iPod and iPad. While the feature is pretty self-explanatory, we have surprisingly been receiving email from people on how to use it. To use text search in Safari, simply go to the search field in your Safari mobile toolbar (faintly labeled Google, Bing, or Yahoo! depending on which service you are using for search) and start typing for a word that you might be looking for. Then, when the prediction list is populated, scroll to the bottom and you will see the suggestions that Safari gives for finding text on a web page

Refreshed Keyboard and Voice Memos Look

Apple has took sometime to evolve the look of their software keyboard. The keyboard in iOS 4.2 appears to have a tactile look to it. The Voice Memo icon smiles differently now on your home screen.

Notes

We have been getting a lot of questions about Notes and changing the font. Apple has added two more font options for the Notes application. To change between fonts, go to “Settings” and just scroll down to “Notes”. There you’ll see the three fonts presented to you: Chalkboard, Helvetica, and the original Markerfelt. Notes now syncs over the air as well, so anything you begin typing on your iPad, you can pick up on your Mac and finish on your iPhone.

Wikipedia and Web Search in Spotlight

Like it’s iPhone counterpart running iOS 4.0, the iPad now has Wikipedia and Web Engine search. Type anything you have interest in and the options will present themselves under anything on your device that may also be oriented with what you are looking for.

Rotation Lock to Mute Switch, Virtual Volume Control, Backlight Brightness

The rotation lock has moved from the switch above the volume buttons and is now a software button. Replacing it’s previous function, the switch on you iPad is now used to toggle the mute function, opposed to holding the volume down button to activate mute (which is still operable at the moment). Volume control has also went virtual and can be managed through the task switching interface. Aside from navigating to the iPad’s settings or iBooks, users can now adjust backlight brightness in the iOS task switching interface as well.

Built-in Support for MobileMe Calendars

For those of you who had your to configure your MobileMe calendar separately, 4.2 on the iPad now brings full support for syncing calendars over the air. We have been getting the most emails about this as some people have been seeing all of the events in their calendar double  Simply go to your iPad’s settings and navigate to “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” and delete the MobileMe account created separated for the syncing of calendars on the 3.x iOS software. After doing that, you’ll see all of your duplicates removed.

VoIP and Messaging Apps

With the addition of the multitasking features of iOS 4.x, many VoIP and messaging applications have taken this head on. This essentially means that you can use your iPad to make free phone calls and send free SMS and MMS while doing other things on your iPad, again, like the iPhone brethren of the iOS platform.

Correct Cellular Formula, Taller Readings

Like the iPhone back in it’s 4.0 and earlier days dating to it’s birth, the way iOS calculated cellular signal in a device was an incorrect formula. In addition to applying the correct formula, Apple also made the reception bar indicators taller so it is easy fro the user to see. The same treatment has been given to the iPad (with 3G of course)

Find my iPhone, iPad, or iPod

Originally made exclusive for MobileMe subscribers, Cupertino has made one of the premium functions of the web software accessible to everyone with an iPhone 4, iPad, or the new iPod touch for free. They have updated their Find my iPhone application as well.

What’s New in Version 1.1

- iPhone 4, iPad, or 4th generation iPod touch owners can use Find My iPhone for free with their Apple ID (iOS 4.2 required)

- Support for 30 additional languages

- Important: this update is required for users of the previous version of Find My iPhone app (v1.0 and v1.0.1)

3D Effect to Menus

Apple has added some three dimensional treatment to the menus for the iOS platform.

Toggle Volume Controls

Now users of the iOS software can toggle on and off the ability for the hard volume button controls to effect system sound .

Shortcut to FaceTime in Messages.

Now users can initiate a FaceTime call right within a text message thread of the person they would like to have a FaceTime conversation with.

Volume Controls

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