iOS 6 finally unveiled: Siri update, Facebook integration, 3D maps, and more!
According to Apple, March 30 saw the sale of 365 Million iOS
devices, 80% of which now run iOS 5. Apple have also seen massive
success with notification center, iMessage and Twitter integration. But
that was iOS 5. The WWDC keynote speech has come to an end, and it
would’t be complete without a new version of iOS.
iOS 6 has over 200 new features, first up, Siri.
It looks like good news for all our sports fans – Siri now has access to sports scores and statistics. In the keynote we saw Siri give the Giants score from yesterday, Buster Posey’s batting average, Lebron James’ height, the National League standings, and the date for the 49ers – Packers game. Siri will also sort restaurant results by rating, and a partnership with OpenTable means you can now book a table directly from the search results.Siri has also become something of a film buff. In the demo she was asked to display movies showing at the Metreon, but you can also search for films via actor, i.e. Scarlett Johansson, Apple have also partnered with Rotten Tomatoes .
Siri now launches apps too! There’s a nifty feature called “Eyes Free.” Car manufactures like BMW and GM are going to include a button that will bring up Siri whilst in your car, so you can keep your eyes on the road. We’ve also got some new languages, Mandarin and Cantonese included. Finally, Siri is coming to the new iPad! Next up, Facebook!
Facebook has been integrated into iOS, just like Twitter was last year. You can log in from settings, share from apps like photos or Safari, and update locations from Maps. You can now also Tap to Tweet and Tap to Post to either Facebook or Twitter from the notification center! There’s also integration for the App store and the calendar, so all your Facebook events will appear in your calendar.
The phone application also received an update. If you can’t answer a
call directly, not only is there the option to accept or decline, but
you can now also choose to reply with a message, or have the phone
remind you to reply later. There are even preset messages you can select
to send to the disgruntled person whose call you have just declined!
There’s also a new feature called “Do not disturb”, this allows you
switch off notifications and alerts.
More good news, FaceTime over 3G! With iOS 6, users can now make FaceTime calls over cellular data. Apple have also unified your phone number and Apple ID, so if someone calls you for FaceTime on your phone, you can answer it on your iPad or Mac, and the same applies to iMessage.
Next to receive an overhaul is Safari. There are now iCloud tabs, and an offline reading list, you can also upload photos from Safari to many of your favourite websites. There is also an addition of Smart App banners, which appear on websites that have a dedicated iOS app and allow you to shift seamlessly between browsing activity and App activity.
Photo Stream also boasts new features, such as sharing photos with friends, creating Apple’s own social network, much like Facebook.
In Mail, you can now list contacts as VIPs, with their own mailbox too, it’s also much easier to add photos and videos from the compose window, an essential advance.
There’s a new App called Passbook, which collects all your boarding passes, store cards, and movie tickets in one place, organising them so you don’t have to fumble around in your pockets everytime you need to present a pass. Geolocate will even pull up the relevant card when you’re nearby a store, neat! Cards are also live, so information will update automatically, such as aeroplane tickets.
Passbook
Another new feature is Guided Access. Apple have set out to “make the most accessible devices” . There are some fantastic additions to tailor for children with Autism, a noble gesture on Apple’s part.
Of course, the new maps that everyone has been talking about made it into iOS 6! It’s integrated with over 100 million businesses, and there is also a traffic service in development, complete with incident reports in real-time, sourced by other users. It also features built in turn-by-turn navigation, and flyovers of 3D cities (take that Google Earth)! There’s a satellite view too!
Turn-by-turn..
As if you haven’t had enough features already, there is now a “lost mode” in find my iPhone, so you can send a number to your lost phone, and a very nice person will answer and return your phone… hopefully. iOS 6 will ship this Fall, with support for the 3Gs onwards, the 2nd gen iPad onwards and the 4th Gen iPod touch onwards. Personally, I’m overwhelmed, are you? Leave your comments below!
iOS 6 has over 200 new features, first up, Siri.
It looks like good news for all our sports fans – Siri now has access to sports scores and statistics. In the keynote we saw Siri give the Giants score from yesterday, Buster Posey’s batting average, Lebron James’ height, the National League standings, and the date for the 49ers – Packers game. Siri will also sort restaurant results by rating, and a partnership with OpenTable means you can now book a table directly from the search results.Siri has also become something of a film buff. In the demo she was asked to display movies showing at the Metreon, but you can also search for films via actor, i.e. Scarlett Johansson, Apple have also partnered with Rotten Tomatoes .
Siri now launches apps too! There’s a nifty feature called “Eyes Free.” Car manufactures like BMW and GM are going to include a button that will bring up Siri whilst in your car, so you can keep your eyes on the road. We’ve also got some new languages, Mandarin and Cantonese included. Finally, Siri is coming to the new iPad! Next up, Facebook!
Facebook has been integrated into iOS, just like Twitter was last year. You can log in from settings, share from apps like photos or Safari, and update locations from Maps. You can now also Tap to Tweet and Tap to Post to either Facebook or Twitter from the notification center! There’s also integration for the App store and the calendar, so all your Facebook events will appear in your calendar.
The phone application also received an update. If you can’t answer a
call directly, not only is there the option to accept or decline, but
you can now also choose to reply with a message, or have the phone
remind you to reply later. There are even preset messages you can select
to send to the disgruntled person whose call you have just declined!
There’s also a new feature called “Do not disturb”, this allows you
switch off notifications and alerts.More good news, FaceTime over 3G! With iOS 6, users can now make FaceTime calls over cellular data. Apple have also unified your phone number and Apple ID, so if someone calls you for FaceTime on your phone, you can answer it on your iPad or Mac, and the same applies to iMessage.
Next to receive an overhaul is Safari. There are now iCloud tabs, and an offline reading list, you can also upload photos from Safari to many of your favourite websites. There is also an addition of Smart App banners, which appear on websites that have a dedicated iOS app and allow you to shift seamlessly between browsing activity and App activity.
Photo Stream also boasts new features, such as sharing photos with friends, creating Apple’s own social network, much like Facebook.
In Mail, you can now list contacts as VIPs, with their own mailbox too, it’s also much easier to add photos and videos from the compose window, an essential advance.
There’s a new App called Passbook, which collects all your boarding passes, store cards, and movie tickets in one place, organising them so you don’t have to fumble around in your pockets everytime you need to present a pass. Geolocate will even pull up the relevant card when you’re nearby a store, neat! Cards are also live, so information will update automatically, such as aeroplane tickets.
Passbook
Another new feature is Guided Access. Apple have set out to “make the most accessible devices” . There are some fantastic additions to tailor for children with Autism, a noble gesture on Apple’s part.
Of course, the new maps that everyone has been talking about made it into iOS 6! It’s integrated with over 100 million businesses, and there is also a traffic service in development, complete with incident reports in real-time, sourced by other users. It also features built in turn-by-turn navigation, and flyovers of 3D cities (take that Google Earth)! There’s a satellite view too!
Turn-by-turn..
As if you haven’t had enough features already, there is now a “lost mode” in find my iPhone, so you can send a number to your lost phone, and a very nice person will answer and return your phone… hopefully. iOS 6 will ship this Fall, with support for the 3Gs onwards, the 2nd gen iPad onwards and the 4th Gen iPod touch onwards. Personally, I’m overwhelmed, are you? Leave your comments below!
welcome! ;-)
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