Apple has teased us good-style with iOS 6. The next-generation operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch will have more than 200 new features. It'll be a free update and will work on the iPhone 3GS and above....but we're going to have to wait until the Autumn for its release, presumably to coincide with the new iPhone 5.
Apple has detailed many of the new features at its WorldWide Developers' Conference in San Francisco:
Siri is getting a much needed boost. Apple says the voice assistant's location feature - "Where's my nearest Italian restaurant" etc - will spread worldwide and not be confined to the US. And iOS 6 will bring Siri to the new iPad 3, although its predecessors will be out in the cold. We think Siri is pretty hopeless at the moment so let's wait and see if these "improvements" actually work.
iCloud is also in for an upgrade. You'll be able to sync more things between more Apple devices. With Apple's next Mac operating system - OS X Mountain Lion, due to be released next month - you'll be able to sync notes (yay!), reminders and iMessages along with Pages, Keynote and Numbers.
Apple Maps will be included in iOS 6 with Google Maps thrown on the sideline, or - presumably - as a separate download in the App Store. The new Maps will feature a 3D view and turn-by-turn voice navigation, as well as a traffic update service, although we have fears some of these feature may well be US-only at launch.
Phone. Yes, using the iPhone as a, err, phone gets something of a makeover. If you get a call you can't take, you'll have the chance of swiping your lockscreen to send the caller a message or set your phone to remind you to call back.
FaceTime, Apple's proprietary video calling system will now work with a 3G signal as well as WiFi. So beware if you're on a fairly limited data plan because it will eat up data.
Facebook gets integrated in iOS 6, much like Twitter is now. Tap the actions menu in photos, for example, and you can post a pic to your Facebook page instantly.
Passbook is what Apple hopes will take over from tickets. You'll be able to download a "card" to your lockscreen that you can flash at the theatre, cinema, strip joint or Starbucks instead of showing a ticket or paying over the counter.
Mail. Yes at long long last the iOS inbuilt mail app gets, well, just a couple of much needed new features. You'll be able to attach a photo or video to your email from within the mail app, which will also now have "pull to refresh" instead of trying to finger that little arrowed circle.
Noticications will get a "do not disturb" switch in settings. Switch it on to stop those pesky notifications interrupting your beauty sleep. Or ugly sleep. Or any sleep, for that matter.
And one last thing...Clock app is coming to the iPad. You've been longing to use your iPad as an alarm to wake you up in the morning. Well, you can with iOS 6, which will include the familiar iPhone clock app for iPad. Still no weather app for the iPad, though.
There you go. Those are the headline new features that will be in iOS 6, which, by the way, has now been released in beta testing form to developers.
If you want to know how Apple is spinning the new OS, here's the Cupertino press release:
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apple® today previewed iOS 6, introducing over 200 new features to the world's most advanced mobile operating system, and released a beta version to iOS Developer Program members. iOS 6 will be available to iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch® users this fall as a free software update. New iOS 6 features include: an all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and an amazing new Flyover view; new Siri® features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari® and Maps; Shared Photo Streams via iCloud®; and Passbook, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place."iOS 6 continues the rapid pace of innovation that is helping Apple reinvent the phone and create the iPad category, delivering the best mobile experience available on any device"
"iOS 6 continues the rapid pace of innovation that is helping Apple reinvent the phone and create the iPad category, delivering the best mobile experience available on any device," said Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS Software. "We can't wait for hundreds of millions of iOS users to experience the incredible new features in iOS 6 including the new Maps app, expanded Siri support, deep Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams and the innovative new Passbook app."iOS 6 includes an all new Maps app with vector-based map elements that make graphics and text smooth, and panning, tilting and zooming incredibly fluid. New turn-by-turn navigation guides you to your destination with spoken directions, and the amazing Flyover feature has photo-realistic interactive 3D views. Real-time traffic information keeps you updated on how long it will take to get to your destination and offers alternate time-saving routes if traffic conditions change significantly. Additionally, local search includes information for over 100 million businesses with info cards that offer Yelp ratings, reviews, available deals and photos.Siri, now available for the new iPad as well as iPhone 4S, includes language support for English, French, German and Japanese, and adds support for Spanish, Italian, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese. Siri is optimized for use in 15 countries and helps you get even more done with just your voice, whether it's finding the latest sports scores or making restaurant reservations. You also can ask Siri to update your status on Facebook, post to Twitter or launch an app. Additionally, Siri takes hands-free functionality even further with a new Eyes Free mode, enabling you to interact with your iPhone using nothing more than your voice.Built-in Facebook integration is the best ever in a mobile device, allowing you to sign in once and post from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps, including Photos, Safari and Maps. Your Facebook friends' information is kept up to date across all your iOS devices, automatically updating details in Contacts when they change, and scheduling events and birthdays in your Calendar. You can also "Like" content directly from the App Store™ and iTunes® and see what your friends recommend.With more than 125 million users already enjoying iCloud, iOS 6 introduces new ways to share photos with friends and family using Shared Photo Streams. Simply select the photos you want to share, pick which friends you want to receive the album, and the Shared Photo Stream album is instantly available on their iOS devices, iPhoto® and Aperture® on their Mac®, via the web or even through Apple TV®. You and your friends can leave comments on or "Like" any photo in a shared album.The new Passbook app is the simplest way to get all your passes in one place, such as boarding passes and baseball tickets. Passbook lets you scan your iPhone or iPod touch to use a coupon, get into a concert or check into your hotel. Passbook automatically displays your passes on your Lock Screen based on a specific time or location, so when you walk into your favorite coffee shop your loyalty card appears and you can scan it to buy a coffee or check your balance. Passbook can even alert you to last minute gate changes or flight delays at the airport.Building on Apple's commitment to provide innovative solutions for education and accessibility, iOS 6 introduces Guided Access. This new feature allows a parent, teacher or administrator to disable hardware buttons to lock an iOS device into a single app, especially useful for test taking or helping someone with a disability stay focused on learning. Guided Access also includes the ability to confine touch input to certain parts of the screen.Additional new iOS 6 features include:• enhancements to Safari, the world's most popular mobile browser, such as iCloud tabs, offline reading lists, photo uploads and full screen view;• support for FaceTime® calls over cellular networks;• the ability to set up a VIP Mailbox, making it easier to quickly view messages from important people you designate as VIPs;• the option to decline incoming calls with a quick message, set a callback reminder and enable a new Do Not Disturb option; and• a whole new set of improvements and services specifically for iOS users in China, such as improved text input and built-in support for popular Chinese services including Baidu, Sina Weibo, Youku and Tudou.
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