[Poll] iOS six features – are you amazed?
Apple hosted its 23rd annual WWDC event a duo of days ago, and, during the main keynote, it unveiled its two thousand twelve line of Macs, the fresh OS X Mountain Lion desktop operating system, and most importantly, the company’s next major mobile operating system update, iOS 6.
We’re going to quickly display you the main iOS six features today, as they were announced on stage in San Francisco, after which we invite you to reaction our poll – are you struck with iOS 6?
Siri Upgrade
The virtual assistant introduced in iOS five and available exclusively on the iPhone 4S until now will come to the fresh iPad kicking off with iOS 6. Siri will get a multitude of fresh features including advanced sporting events and movie support, OpenTable restaurant reservation integration, app launching support, Twitter support, Eyes Free car integration and support for fifteen languages. Furthermore, Siri local search will be available in any country, not just the U.S., and the virtual assistant will also be involved into Apple’s proprietary turn-by-turn navigation (more on that later).
Facebook Integration
iOS five came with deep Twitter integration but Facebook was left out of the picture at the time. Kicking off with iOS 6, the same kind of deep integration will be available for Facebook too, letting users basically share links and photos, like stuff and update their statuses from pretty much anywhere in the OS. Facebook is now integrated with Notification Center, Contacts, Calendar and Siri but also with Apple's digital content stores.
Phone App
The Phone app, the basic feature of any smartphone, has been updated in iOS 6. Instead of simply answering or rejecting a phone call, iPhone users will be able to reply with a message or set a call back reminder in case they can’t pick up the phone.
Do Not Disturb is a fresh iOS feature that will help iPhone and iPad users get a good night’s sleep without being awaken by notification alerts. The app lets you customize which calls should be permitted to go through, and muffles the device for calls or texts from anyone else during the previously set up “Do Not Disturb” time framework. Repeated (emergency) calls will go through if the caller calls within three minutes from the last call.
FaceTime
FaceTime, Apple’s own movie talk application that presently works only via Wi-Fi will also work over cellular kicking off with iOS 6. Furthermore, the users' Apple IDs – needed to make purchases from iTunes and use iMessages – and their phone numbers will be linked, therefore a FaceTime call or an iMessage can be answered either on the iPhone, or on the iPad and/or Mac embarking with iOS 6.
Safari
Safari has also been updated. Kicking off with iOS six users will get access to iCloud Tabs, which will let them see any of the opened tabs on other iOS or OS X devices and Offline Reading Lists, which will let users access web pages even when a Wi-Fi or data connection is not available. Other features include uploading pictures directly from the Photo app to any website and getting app download suggestions related to the pages Safari fountains (Clever App Banners). The later feature also lets users switch inbetween Safari and that particular app in case the app is already installed on the device, and proceed browsing inwards the app from where they left off. Utter screen support in landscape mode for the iPhone is also coming in iOS 6.
Collective Photo Flows
Collective Photo Sreams is a fresh iOS six feature which will let iOS device users share photos with their friends that are also using iOS devices or Macs. The feature has some limited social networking features, as friends will be able to post comments on the pictures they're sharing.
The Mail app has also been updated to include fresh features. One of them is VIP – marking certain contacts whose emails are significant for you as VIPs. Once enabled, VIP emails are lighter to find, and once they’re shoved to the iOS device, they emerge right on the screen just like a text message notification. A VIP and a Flagged mail box will also available inwards the Mail app.
Moreover, iOS device users will be able to insert email and movie right inwards the compose window embarking with iOS six and open password protected documents right on the device.
Passbook
Passbook is a fresh Apple app that collects all the passes, store cards, boarding passes, movie and other tickets into a single place, which will then be available straight from the lock screen of the iPhone.
Guided Access
Guided Access is a fresh iOS six feature that will let users customize the way other people can interact with their iOS devices. With Guided Access, children will be prevented from hitting certain elements on the screen, or even to lock them into a single app mode. The single app mode can be particularly useful in certain institutions, such as museum, schools, and others, where iPads can be used for specific purposes.
Maps is very likely one of the main switches that iOS six proposes. As previously rumored, Apple determined to do away with Google Maps, which has been the default mapping instrument for iOS devices so far, and substitute it with its own proprietary maps app. The Maps app comes with local search support, Yelp integration, traffic service with incident reports, 3D maps support with satellite view and Flyover, and turn-by-turn navigation with Siri integration (which works from the lock screen too).
200 Fresh Features
Apple only demoed ten of the two hundred fresh features that are going to be available in iOS six once it launches. The fresh operating system will be available at some point this fall, most likely when the sixth-generation iPhone hits stores. Until then, developers already will have access to the various beta version of iOS six – the very first one is already out. iOS six will be compatible with existing iPhone models beginning with the iPhone 3GS, iPad models embarking with the second-generation iPad and with the iPod touch 4G, albeit some of the fresh features will not be available across all devices.