First Look: iOS 4.2 beta 1

With AirPlay, you'll be able to stream media-for example, music or video-from an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to any AirPlay-compatible device. Initially, AirPlay will work with only AirPort Express units (for audio) and the new Apple TV (for audio and video), although Apple is licensing the technology to other vendors to allow them to sell AirPlay-compatible products-speakers, receivers, and the like. (iHome is one of the first companies to announce an AirPlay product.)

The iPhone before it

Orientation Lock Like the iPhone before it, the iPad now has a software screen orientation lock when you swipe to the right in the multitasking shelf. Unlike Apple's smaller devices, you can lock the screen in portrait or landscape orientations. But wait, what about the iPad's hardware screen orientation lock? Turns out it's gone, baby, gone-not the switch itself, of course, as that would be impressive for a software update, but it's now been repurposed as mute switch, as with its iPhone counterpart. At the moment, you can also still hold down the volume down button for a couple seconds to mute the iPad, which is probably a redundant feature that should be excised.