What iOS 4.2 really means?

It's been several weeks since the most awaited update for iOS devices was released.  After playing with it for awhile, I can say that it certainly is a breakthrough even though it's not as polished as I would imagine it to be.  iOS 4.2 brings over 100 new features to the iPhone, iPod touch and especially the iPad.  Many would say that the most important 4.2 features are having Multitasking and Folders finally available to the iPad, but for me they are only superficial enhancements to the platform.  Don't mind having Folders, but the Multitasking feature is more of app switching than anything else.  The more important (yet underrated) features for this update are AirPlay and AirPrint.  These features will change what mobile devices would be able to do from here on out.

AirPlay
Being able to stream media from a mobile device to any compatible appliance and peripherals anywhere is one feature that I've been waiting  since having an iPod.  Apple could have supported iOS audio streaming to the AirPort Express from the get go,  but they waited until the technology has matured to support both audio and video streaming before rolling out the support.  As a result, new Apple TVs, AirPort Expresses, and any other AirPlay compatible speakers will get to support this technology, thus makes sharing easier, more portable and convenient than it has ever been.  The potential of this technology will not be limited to sharing media, but anything on your mobile device (i.e. business presentations).   Thinking extreme, does it make sharing thoughts possible?

AirPrint
Before you burn this feature to the stake (thinking that printing on mobile devices doesn't make any sense or why Apple crippled the functionality only to support AirPrint compatible printers), you may consider reviewing on how this technology really works and how it will change printing moving forward.  The breakthrough in AirPrint technology is to disrupt the current desktop printing process and having the printer manufacturers rethink on how printers should operate to support these mobile devices (to have the printers hosting their own drivers, instead of requesting them from the mobile device).  Mobile devices (like iPads) in turn will only carry the AirPrint ID, sends the job to the AirPrint compatible printer and gets the job done.

The Truck Analogy
Several months back, Steve Jobs made a comment about the anticipated changes on how the digital lifestyle will evolve.  He mentioned that the traditional PCs will take the role of the truck, where it will continue to exist but will not be as common as the more pervasive mobile devices.  These trucks will be task specific -- limited to hosting media, storing data, backups, etc.  The entire industry will divert it's focus on producing more personal devices like smart phones, tablets, etc.  With devices like the iPad becomes more common, eventually we will see TVs that will support AirPlay just as alarm radios have iPod docks.  Same goes with printers supporting AirPrint.  As Jobs mentioned, this evolution  made traditional folks a bit uncomfortable, but this as we know it is where the economy turns.