Next time you sync your iPad to your computer, and after iTunes opens up, click on the iPad name under "Devices" on the left sidebar of iTunes. Then, click the "Summary" tab at the top of the window and it should show you a page that has three boxes labled: "iPad," "Version" and "Options." In the "Version" box it should tell you that "a newer version of the iPad software is available (version4.2). On the left is a button labled, "Update." Clicking on that button will start the process of updating your software from 3.2.2, to 4.2. This is a FREE update and there's no reason to fear updating. I had no problems updating and no problems with it running. Although, once you've updated your iPad software, the next time you click on the AppStore button in the iPad, you will probably have a number of apps to update because many of them have been updated to run the latest OS, themselves.
Follow the steps in the process and it may take some time because it first wants you to transfer any purchases to your computer, and next, it will backup everything to your computer. This is a good thing. Let it happen. Ultimately, you will get an alert box saying that the iPad has been successfully updated. At that point you may disconnect your iPad and enjoy the updates.
Chief among the several updates included in iOS4.2 is the ability to multitask. Although every app isn't capable of running simultaneously with other apps, there are a number of them that can play well with others. For instance, if you have Pandora running and you're grooving on some delicious music, just double-click the "Home" button (the only physical button on the front), and a tray will pop up showing you other apps that you can choose to run at the same time, such as Safari, or Mail, etc. Under the old OS, Pandora would quit playing if you left it and went to another app. Now it won't. I haven't tried too many of the app combinations, yet, so I can't tell you what will work with what, but give it whirl.
Also, a big deal with this update is the ability to create "folders" to combine apps into groups. To invoke this, simply hold your finger on an app until it starts wiggling. Then, put your finger on an app and drag it on top of another app and let go. A new icon will appear with tiny icons of the two apps that you just combined into a folder, and a window will come up asking you if you want to name the folder something different from what it suggests as the name. That's your call. But, if you drag a game app to another game app, it will create the folder and want to name it "Games," probably. "Utilities," "Productivity," "Entertainment" and so on are folders I created by dragging similar apps together. After your folder is created, touch and drag any app that you want to add to a folder and drop it on that folder. If your folder is on a different "page" from the app, dragging the app to the side margin of the page will slide the pages to the right, if hitting a left margin, or left if hitting a right margin. Because the pages will flip pretty quickly, you will need to be light-fingered when doing this. After you do it a couple of times, you'll sense about how much "touch" is needed. If you drop the app somewhere you don't mean to, just touch and drag it to where you want it. It's a lot easier to do this, than it is for me to describe it. And, you can only touch a drag wiggling icons. If they're not wiggling, then touch and hold to make them wiggle. To get out of "wiggle mode" just click the "Home" button once.
These are the two biggest advantages (in my opinion) for updating. As I learn of others, of course I'll share them with you.
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