"New" Operating System

We'll know shortly after 10AM PST today.

Welcome to the forums!

When OS updates come out you should be able to update your iPad in the usual manner through iTunes. Do be aware that whatever Apple announces today will likely be a preview and not be available immediately -- it may be a few weeks or even months before the software is actually ready.

You need to do nothing at all.

Apple are announcing the new version of the operating system today, 8th April, BUT it will not be released until later in the year (we don't know when yet).

When it is released you will be able to upgrade your iPad to the new version for free!

Any new software updates for the iPad will be provided to you via an iTunes update. When you go to sync your iPad, you will be prompted to install the update.

Features of the new software are to be discussed at an event later today, so any features being reported by the news right now are speculation. Many hope that multitasking will be a part of this new operating system, but we will know for sure later today.

The only problem related to multi-tasking is 3rd party apps cannot run in the background, but the iPad, the iPod Touch, and the iPhone are capable of multi-tasking and do multi-task.

I have also purchased the “extended” maintenance package….

If you mean the AppleCare extended warranty - this extends the standard one year warranty by an additional year and provides free telephone support for the entire period.

Ian Parkinson wrote:
When it is released you will be able to upgrade your iPad to the new version for free!

I would advice caution about that statement. Unless you've seen an announcement I've missed, Apple's not yet said whether OS upgrades would follow the iPhone model where updates are made available at no charge, or whether the iPod touch model of charging for major upgrades will be followed.

I would guess that this will be announced as part of Apple's coverage today.

PJHII63 wrote:
...or will I automatically have my operating system upgraded by Apple when this "new” system comes out?

Yes — upgrades will be offered semi-automatically. From the _iPad User Guide_ - Appendix B Tips and Troubleshooting:

*Updating iPad*
Make sure your computer has an Internet connection and that you’ve installed the latest version of iTunes from www.apple.com/itunes.

Update iPad:
1 Connect iPad to your computer.
2 Select iPad in the iTunes sidebar, then click the Summary tab.
3 Click “Check for Update.” iTunes tells you if there’s a new version of the iPad software available.
4 Click Update to install the latest version of the software.

Also, Apple has posted the terms of its firmware licensing agreement for the iPad, which restricts free operating software updates to the current major reference release:

_iPad licensing agreement specifies paid annual OS updates_

Some think this indicates 4.x will likely be free, but today will hopefully clarify the situation.

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/03/29/future-apples-ipad-os-upgrade-pricing-polici es-revealed-as-apple-seeds-gm-ipad-sdk-firmware-and-licensing-agreement/

Dave Sawyer wrote:

Ian Parkinson wrote:
When it is released you will be able to upgrade your iPad to the new version for free!

I would advice caution about that statement. Unless you've seen an announcement I've missed, Apple's not yet said whether OS upgrades would follow the iPhone model where updates are made available at no charge, or whether the iPod touch model of charging for major upgrades will be followed.

I would guess that this will be announced as part of Apple's coverage today.

Read the iPad licensing documentation and it states that the next major upgrade is free.

They say :-

"Apple will provide you any iPad OS software updates that it may release from time to time, up to and including the next major iPad OS software release following the version of iPad OS software that originally shipped from Apple on your iPad, for free.

For example, if your iPad originally shipped with iPad 3.x software, Apple would provide you with any iPad OS software updates it might release up to and including the iPad 4.x software release. Such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models."

Message was edited by: Ian Parkinson

Thanks, Ian; I indeed hadn't seen that. Good news, at least for anything Apple might announce today that will apply to the iPad.

Cheers.

I believe the agreement said that the first major upgrade would be free, ie, 4.x and subsequent minor point updates. After that, apple is unclear on whether they will charge.

Glor

it looks like the OS update will be available sometime in September and will include multitasking among other things... if the info about the next major update being free is true that's great news...

According to the announcement:

Not all features are compatible with all devices. For example, multitasking is available only with iPhone 3GS and the third-generation iPod touch (32GB and 64GB models from late 2009).

Have a nice day.

I can't imagine that multitasking will not be available for the iPad. In the preview presentation, Steve said the limitation in bringing multitasking to the older model iPhones and iPod touches was their hardware, and the iPad certainly has more modern hardware than those models.

iPad gets OS 4 in the "fall"