iOS 6 New Features

Apple has unveiled iOS 6, the newest version of its mobile operating systems,The new iOS6 features over 200 exciting new features such as new Maps app, iCloud features, Passbook, Do Not Disturb and Facebook integration, a major updates to Siri.

A beta version of iOS 6 was released to developers, and the full version will be available for everyone else in the fall. It will work on the iPhone 3GS and above, the iPad 2 and up, and fourth-generation iPod touch and beyond.

Here are some highlights of iOS 6:

Maps:

Apple’s new map with turn-by-turn voice navigation beats even Nokia maps, Google Maps as well as any other 3rd party maps. There are thousands of new functionalities along the way. The new 3D maps will offer all traffic information with turn-by-turn navigation that can be easily controlled by Siri. You just need to ask to Sir if you have reached the destination, and if you are not, Siri will reply you with the estimated arrival time.This turn by turn navigation system was seens in Google Android for a while, and apple has made the new Map in very similar way Google does.

Siri Gets Boost:

iOS 6 will have enhancements to Siri, which interprets voice commands and talks back to the user. It is also coming to the iPad for the first time.
Since Siri was introduced in October with the iPhone 4S, Siri has been "studying up and learning a lot more," says Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president for iPhone software. Siri's sharpened intellect will be especially apparent when the voice assistant is fielding questions about movies, restaurants and other things, according to Forstall.
He demonstrated that by having Siri tell whether LeBron James or Kobe Bryant is the taller basketball player. Siri replies, "LeBron James appears to be slightly taller" as the cards of both players are displayed on an iPhone screen.

Apple says it is partnering with Yelp Inc. so that Siri can include ratings and prices of restaurants when you ask her about places to eat. The company is also partnering with OpenTable Inc. to make reservations.
Siri will now be available in more languages and more countries.
Apple also says it's working with car manufacturers to let you use a button on the steering wheel to talk to Siri, allowing you to keep your hands on the road. Apple says General Motors Co., BMW AG and Daimler AG's Mercedes are among the automakers that have promised to offer Siri integration in the next 12 months.

Facebook integration:

The new software promises better integration with Facebook. The idea is you enter your password just once, and you can post to Facebook from a variety of apps. You can also post about websites directly from Apple's Safari browser.
Facebook will be integrated with Apple's online app store so that you can declare that you "like" specific apps there, as well as songs and movies in iTunes.
Events in Facebook's calendar and birthdays of Facebook friends will also appear on your phone's calendar.

Do Not Disturb:

Anyone with a smartphone or tablet has encountered a problem along these lines – every time you wish to be left alone doing what you want (or just trying to catch up on a few winks), your device will invariably ring/vibrate/light up/act annoying. Do Not Disturb is a nifty new feature in iOS 6 that effectively renders your iDevice non-existent. That’s right, now you will have no more unnecessary notifications for tweets/messages from casual acquaintances (or anyone at all, if you so choose) you couldn’t care less about at that point of time.

Passbook:

Apple's new Passbook feature will be a central place to keep your boarding passes, tickets and gift cards.
When you get to a Starbucks, for instance, the device will bring up your gift card if you have one and if you have the location feature turned on. Likewise, when you get to a movie theater or baseball stadium, the ticket will pop up. Passbook will also alert you to gate changes and flight delays once you have a boarding pass stored.
Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin suspects Passbook will be the foundation for a digital commerce hub that Apple is trying to implant on its mobile devices starting with the next iPhone. "This looks like a harbinger of a digital wallet that could handle a variety of transactions," Golvin said.

 

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