Apple Announces iOS 6: Updates to Maps, Phone, Siri and More
Posted on Jun 25th 2012
Apple announced this month another major update to its mobile operating system, iOS 6. Apple generally times the release of a new operating system to coincide with a major product release, so many analysts are expecting the rumored 'iPhone 5' to be released this fall. Here are our favorite features of Apple's new mobile software, which will be available to download sometime this fall on the iPhone 3G/3GS, iPhone 4/4S and iPad 2 and 3.
1. Siri Updates
iOS 6 brings Siri to the iPad and includes voice-activated app launching. Just tell Siri the name of the app you want to use and it’ll open for you.
Siri can also help you set up a business lunch using Yelp and OpenTable. You could ask Siri for the best Italian restaurants in your area. Using Yelp she will tell you about the top-rated restaurants and help you make a reservation using OpenTable.
2. New Phone Features
This is a welcomed surprise: Apple is updating the Phone application, which has been stagnant for quite some time. Now you can reply automatically with a message when someone calls you. The phone will show you a list of messages like "I'll call you later" or "I'm on my way" that you can click and automatically send while rejecting a call.
A new "Do Not Disturb" preference will turn off calls and messages at night. The notification will come but the phone will not sound or light up. You can mark some phone numbers as important, which will allow them to disturb you at night.
On the other hand, if someone is calling you repeatedly and continuously, the new Phone app will push the call assuming it is an emergency.
3. 3G Facetime
The first big news is 3G support for Facetime. You will be able to call someone using Facetime over the 3G network. The quality will not be as good as Wi-Fi, but it will be supported.
4. New Safari
Safari is getting the live synchronization of tabs with desktop Safari, so your browsing experience is unified across devices using iCloud. It also uses iCloud synchronization for an Offline Reading List, which allows you to read a story that you have marked to read later without a web connection. This will be a great feature for subway commuters and on flights where you don't have WiFi or cellular access.
5. Passbook
This a new app. It keeps all your tickets and coupons—airplanes, train, movies, concerts, sport events, gift cards, loyalty cards, etc.—in a single wallet. If you have a gift card, for example, it will show the card balance after you use it. It will also alert you about nearby shops when you have shop's coupons or gift cards.
Another really neat feature of Passbook—perhaps the best one—is that it will update your gate number in your boarding pass in real time.
6. Facebook Integration
Facebook is now completely integrated with the iPhone. You will be able post to Facebook from Apple's apps, just like you can do with Twitter. That includes images directly from the Photos albums. Or location from Maps. It's even integrated with Siri. Birthdays and events are automatically synchronized at all times with Facebook using the iPhone's Calendar app.
7. New maps
The new Maps—fully developed in house—is a complete overhaul of the Google-based version Apple currently supports. Features of the new Maps app include 3D turn-by-turn directions and a cool fly-over feature to view cities from above. The new app is also vector based, meaning no more slow-loading tiles. The biggest downside is that there will no longer be public transit directions, although those will hopefully be coming in future updates to the operating system.
