iOS6 – What is it?

Most of us are waking up this morning and seeing that our iPhones, iPads or iPod Touches are offering the download of new software, which is iOS6, this is all well and good, but what is this new software and what extra things is it going to offer me?

Maps
Apple have designed a new maps system, so as well as the usual view you can see maps of the world for real, either at ground level looking up at the buildings (US only unfortunately) or sky level, looking down at the roof tops. The graphics are very detailed and allow you to zoom in and out, tilt and rotate. Turn by turn navigation is now available (powered by TomTom) along with real time traffic updates that routes you around jams.

Siri
Siri (only on 4S and 5) has been updated to talk and understand more languages and be able to work in more countries around the world, meaning you can get more done easily, wherever you are. Whether you want to find out what is on at the cinema and the reviews of what is on, or even open an app. Siri can do it for you with no tapping involved.

Facebook
It’s now even quicker and easier to get your stuff on Facebook, when you take a photo you can now upload straight to Facebook, you can tell Siri you status update, when friends change their contact details on Facebook, it can change in your contacts on your phone immediately and events and birthdays on your Facebook calendar can automatically go into your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

Shared Photo Streams
This allows you to share groups / streams of photos with the people you want to share them with, direct to their Apple handsets, if they haven’t got an apple handset then the photo stream can be seen on line. All recipients can like and comment on the photos.

Passbook
This is a very new and exciting part of the update, it stores all your coupons, shop discount cards, tickets and boarding cards in one place, meaning that when you need to use them you can just scan them. One of the most exciting parts is that if you scan in the boarding pass and your flight terminal changes, you iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch will tell you.

FaceTime
Facetime now works over the cellular network too, not just wifi and you can receive facetime calls from your iPad through your mobile number meaning you will never miss that important call again.

Phone
Things can get pretty hectic and sometimes you can’t take that call from a friend you haven’t spoken to in ages, well now things have changed. When you decline a call your iPhone will ask you if you want to set a reminder to call them later or if you want to send them a message, a selection of pre-written messages will then pop up. You can also set a ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature on your phone, and select which calls you will accept if things are getting really out of hand and you’re uber busy.

Mail
Your e-mail system has been updated allowing it to be easier to add photos and videos to your emails. There is also a VIP list where you can put all the important people whose emails you do not want to miss.

Safari
Browsing has now got better, the iCloud tabs keep track of which pages you have open and whatever apple device is handier at the time, the page you were on will come up. Safari now saves the pages, not just the links, on your reading page so if you’re busy you can stop and start as you please. And if you’re uploading photos on eBay, Gumtree, etc you can select photos from your camera roll without closing down Safari.

Accessibility
The iPhone and iPad have now been made easier for everyone to use, whether you are hard of hearing, have sight problems, or learning or mobility problems, iOS6 has features that can help you, VoiceOver, Assistive Touch and a built in hearing aid feature to name a few.

Camera with Panorama
The times of shouting at large groups and family to move in a bit at the left, and squeeze in at the right are long gone with this new update. The new feature (only on 4S and 5) means you can shoot up to 240 degrees, horizontally or vertically. Then the hardware and software work together in seconds to create a seamless, high-resolutions panoramic shot for you.

Find my iPhone
Sometimes we leave our iPhone, iPad or iPod touch in places when our minds on other things, now you are able to track where you left it and sent a message to the device, with your number and get it back.

Find My Friends
The friends and family who share their location with you will feature on your map, so when your mum is running late to see you, you’ll be able to see where she is and how long it will take for her to get there.

So in Summary
When you get the pop-up to say “iOS6 software download available” click on it quick, all these great updates and advances are waiting for you!