Multitasking comes to the iPad with iOS 4.2

iPad owners who five months ago saw services like multitasking, unified email and folder categorization come to the iPhone can now feel whole with Apple’s roll out of iOS 4.2. The software update is available today.

“iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season,” said Steve Jobs in a press release announcing the new update. “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.”

New functionality coming to the iPad includes:

Multitasking: The ability to operate multiple apps and email simultaneously.

Integrated email: Accessing email from multiple accounts in one client.

Folders: Now you can categorize your favorite iPad apps by function and type in multiple labeled folders.

Game Center: This social gaming service allows you to identify and challenge other gamers with complementary skill-sets across the globe.

Find My iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch): Just as it describes. With this service now available, is it still worth paying a hundred bucks per year for MobileMe?

Stay tuned for deeper coverage and analysis from Appolicious regarding the 4.2 update.

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