Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) finally released the iOS 4.2 update for the iPad yesterday. This much-anticipated upgrade brings a number of capabilities to the iPad that were previously given to the iPhone and iPod Touch via the release of iOS 4.0 last summer. Among others, the new features include the ability to create folders, multitasking and support for AirPlay--which lets users stream videos directly from their iPads.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs could not resist a swipe at competing browsers either. In a statement about the release of iOS 4.2, Jobs noted that:"iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season...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."

This iOS 4.2 update is also available for the iPhone 3G and better, as well as the iPod Touch 2G and better. Upgrading took an hour for me, and I have posted a list of all the updated components here.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at CNET News

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