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Apple Announces iOS 6 with Siri Improvements, Facebook Integration, New Maps App, Passbook for Fall Release

Monday June 11, 2012 11:57 am PDT by Marianne Schultz
At today's WWDC keynote event, Apple announced the next version of its operating system for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. iOS 6 will feature new functionality for Siri, Facebook integration, a revamped Maps app, Shared Photo Streams via iCloud, and more.
iOS 6 continues the rapid pace of innovation that is helping Apple reinvent the phone and create the iPad category, delivering the best mobile experience available on any device,” said Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS Software. “We can’t wait for hundreds of millions of iOS users to experience the incredible new features in iOS 6 including the new Maps app, expanded Siri support, deep Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams and the innovative new Passbook app.

In iOS 6, Siri will gain new capabilities to provide sports scores and schedules, make restaurant reservations via OpenTable, find local movie listings and even launch apps. Siri will also debut in new languages including Spanish, Italian, and French.

Facebook integration will be much like the current Twitter integration in iOS 5 with a system-wide log-in and the ability to quickly post from within apps. Contacts can be updated automatically using information obtained through Facebook. Third-party developers will be able to add this functionality easily with a public API.

A new Do Not Disturb mode allows users to schedule when notifications should not cause any sounds or visual alerts. The iPhone's Phone app will get new options to reply with a text message or prompt a reminder to return a call later when an incoming call arrives.

Shared Photo Streams lets you choose photos to share with selected family and friends. Shared photos can be viewed by others on iOS devices, iPhoto and Aperture on a Mac, or on the web or through an Apple TV.

Passbook is a new wallet app that will consolidate payment cards and electronic tickets. For example, customers at Starbucks can make payments using their Gold Card through Passbook. Also, movie tickets purchased through Fandango can be redeemed through Passbook. Airline boarding passes and even sporting event tickets will be accessible through Passbook as well. A new API will offer developers access to Passbook.

As expected, Apple has revamped the Maps app with its own map data. It will offer integration with Yelp for business listings and traffic information sourced anonymously and in real-time from iOS users. Turn-by-turn navigation will also debut in the new Maps app and guidance can be triggered by Siri.

iOS 6 will be compatible with the iPhone 3GS and later, 2nd-generation iPad and later, and the 4th-generation iPod touch and will be available in the fall. A beta will be available to developers today.
[ 208 comments ]

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wcuthbert
28 months ago
God dammit, my iPad 1 is just over 2 years old and they're already dropping support for it. Throw these new features in my face and then tell me I have to spend another $600 to get them.
Rating: 25 Votes
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ryanmcv
28 months ago
Disappointed that they are no longer supporting the original iPad. The iPhone 3GS is older and less powerful, so I'm not sure what the issue is.
Rating: 24 Votes
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rkahl
28 months ago

This was posted by biff98786 over at Engadget. http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/11/wwdc-2012-keynote-roundup/
Again I didn't compile this, but I totally agree with it...


"A brief recap of Apple’s “innovation” in the last few iOS
versions:

iOS5:

Voice dictation – Stolen from Android, Siri was nothing more
than using Android’s idea and “one-upping” them

OTA updates – Stolen from Android

Notification bar – Shamelessly stolen from Android

Cloud services – Stolen from Android

iOS6:

You can now ask Siri how tall LeBron is – Ok…

Facebook and Twitter integration throughout the OS – Stolen from
Android, WebOS, and WP

Contact syncing – Stolen from Android

Homescreen actions when a call comes in – Stolen from
Android

Do Not Disturb mode – Stolen from Cyanogen (aka Android)

Tab syncing in Safari – Stolen from Google (Chrome)

Lockscreen notifications – Stolen from Android

Turn-by-turn navigation – Stolen from Android

3D maps – Stolen from Google"

I would also like to add Apple ticket app is pretty similar to Google Wallet for Android, so really, what has Apple done lately?? How ironic they sue everyone for supposedly copying them, but yet they themselves clearly copy more than anybody.


Maybe you should buy a Samsung then and stop reading MacRumor's.
Rating: 23 Votes
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Mad Mac Maniac
28 months ago

Disappointed that they are no longer supporting the original iPad. The iPhone 3GS is older and less powerful, so I'm not sure what the issue is.


Well the difference is the iPhone 3GS is still currently being sold by Apple. The original iPad hasn't been sold for over a year.
Rating: 20 Votes
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withasigh
28 months ago
In the photo it looks like there's a native clock app for iPad.
Rating: 19 Votes
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nickn
28 months ago
So it works on the slower 3GS, but not on the iPad 1? Ok, then..... I'm not too disappointed though, as iOS 6 doesn't appear to be bringing anything major to the OS anyways. Also, I find it very humorous that Apple shows charts about how Android is all fragmented, and how most users are on 2.3, but yet that is exactly what is going to happen to Apple themselves. Soon, you will still have some people on legacy devices using 3.1.3, more people on 2nd gen stuff on iOS 4, many newer devices left behind such as iPad 1 and 3rd gen Touch users on iOS 5, and the rest on iOS 6. How is that not fragmentation?
Rating: 16 Votes
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Saladinos
28 months ago
Petty weak, IMO. Hopefully there are some good new APIs.

Besides, this is only half of iOS 6. Well find out the other half when the iPhone 5 is announced.
Rating: 16 Votes
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bushido
28 months ago
apple what happened to your innovations :o



those "new" features don't justify a "new iPhone" AT ALL. i'm guessing they are still holding some things back .. ? :confused:
Rating: 16 Votes
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Piggie
28 months ago
Sorry, but that was iOS6 the most boring, tedious, lacklustre and disappointing thing I've ever watched.

Siri Siri, Sports (yawn)
Busy messages (yawn)
Cloud stuff (yawn)

Where was all the NEW stuff that actually made any difference?
Same old UI with nothing new to add STILL.

And there was me thinking, OMG, my iPad 1 will not be able to use this, according the the news reports, will I be missing out on anything new and cool?

Errr, no. Nothing there I think I'd even notice if I did upgrade to iOS6

What a shame, and they think the UI and everything about the "User Experience" of iOS is the most advanced and full featured of any mobile OS in the world?

Sheesh, Even a quick jailbrake, which I have not done, adds features some people feel they can't live without.

Why don't Apple do something new for once?

Sorry, but really disappointed by iOS6 after all the speculation and build up.
:(
Rating: 16 Votes
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wolfpackfan
28 months ago
What??? It runs on a 3GS but not my iPad 1??? This is ridiculous. My iPad 1 is only 2 years old. Talk about planned obsolescense.
Rating: 15 Votes

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