iOS 4.2/iPad Sound Glitch?

After updating their tablets to iOS 4.2.1, some iPad users got a little freaked out by what seemed to be missing audio. Fear not, you’re not the only one. And your tablet is not broken or borked.

iOS 4.2.1 has a new onscreen orientation lock built-in, and the hardware toggle has now been redirected as a mute control. So if you had that switched on to lock your screen before the update, then the tablet will consider it a mute setting and block your sounds once the update is done.

That’s all there is to it, folks. Hit the new mute switch (old orientation lock switch), and you’ll have audio again. To set the orientation lock for real, double tap the home button to bring up the multitasking bar, and then swipe right (to navigate the bar to the left). You’ll see your new control sitting there, waiting for you.

In truth, I’m not fond of this, and would’ve preferred keeping my hardware switch the way it was. But at least I’m gratified to know Apple didn’t do away with it.