Today Apple has started seeding their latest version of their mobile operating system iOS 6.0 to various iOS devices around the world. The update is available for the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, new iPad, iPad 2 and iPod Touch and users should start receiving notifications in the following hours.
The update promises over 200 new features, including a new Apple designed Maps application, updates to Siri, Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams, Passbook and more.
The detailed change-log of iOS 6.0 is as follows:
Maps
New vector based Maps application designed by Apple
- Turn-by-Turn navigation with spoken directions. Available for the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and new iPad.
- Real-time traffic information
- Flyover, which offers photo-realistic, interactive 3D views of major metro areas. Available for the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, new iPad and iPod Touch 5th Gen.
- Local search results through Yelp, offers photos, ratings, reviews and available deals.
- Siri integration for requesting directions and finding places along a route.
Siri improvements
Siri is now available on the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad 3 and iPod Touch 5th Gen
- Sports – Siri now offers scores, player stats, game schedules, team rosters, and league standing for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey.
- Movies – Siri now gets you trailers, show times, reviews and facts about the latest movies.
- Restaurants – Siri can help you make reservations, or view reviews, photos and information abut various restaurants.
- You can now send a Tweet using Siri.
- You can now post to Facebook using Siri.
- You can now launch apps using Siri.
- Siri allows ‘eyes free’ operation in supported automobiles.
- Local search is now available through Siri in supported countries.
- Siri has additional country and language support
Facebook integration
Facebook now offers single sign in from settings for deep integration.
- You can post to Facebook from Photos, Safari, Maps, App Store, iTunes, Games Center, Notification Center and Siri.
- You can add a location and choose an audience for any post.
- You can view the latest Facebook photos and contact information in Contacts.
- You can view Facebook events and birthdays on Calendar.
- You can view what your friends likes in the App Store.
Shared Photo Stream
Shared select photos with people you choose.
- Friends can now view shared photos through Photos app.
- Friends can like and make comments on individual photos.
Passbook
A new Passbook app will be available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
- This app allows you to store all your boarding passes, store cards, movie tickets and other passes.
- Barcode displays for boarding flights, buying coffee, getting into movies and other actions
- Passes are displayed on your lock-screen based on location and time to save you from fumbling through your wallet
- Passes can be automatically updated.
FaceTime improvements
FaceTime is now supported over cellular for the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPad 3
- You can receive FaceTime calls sent to your iPhone number on your iPad or iPod Touch
Phone improvements
A new ‘Do Not Disturb’ suppresses incoming calls and notifications when needed.
- You now have a 'Reply with message' option when declining a call
- You now have a 'Remind me later' option based on time or location when declining a call
Mail improvements
A new VIP mailbox is available to quickly access mail from important people
- You now have a Flagged email mailbox
- You can now insert photos and videos when composing email
- You can now open password protected Office docs
- You can now pull down to refresh mailboxes
- You can now add per account signatures
Safari improvements
You can use iCloud tabs to see open pages on all your devices
- Offline Reading List
- Photo upload support
- Full screen landscape view on iPhone and iPod touch
- Smart app banners
- JavaScript performance improvements
App Store and iTunes Store improvements
- Updated store design
- iTunes Preview history lets you see what you have previously purchased or previewed.
- Complete my season alolo
- Complete my album
Game Center improvements
- Challenge friends to beat high scores and achievements
- Post high-scores and achievements to Facebook and Twitter
- Friend recommendations based on your Facebook friends
Accessibility improvements
Guided Access to limit device to one app or restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen
- VoiceOver integration with Maps, AssistiveTouch and Zoom
- Support for Made for iPhone Hearing Aids for iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S
Features for China
- Baidu web search
- Sina Weibo integration
- Share videos to Tudou
- Share videos to Youku
- Improved text input for handwriting and Pinyin
Other new features for iOS 6.0 are
- Improved privacy controls for Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos and data shared over Bluetooth
- Reminders can be reordered in the Reminders app
- Custom vibrations for alerts on iPhone
- Clock app for iPad
- Clock alarm with song
- Search all fields in Contacts
- Automatic movie mode for improved video sound quality
- Definitions of a selected word for Chinese, French, German and Spanish
- New keyboard layouts for French, German, Turkish, Catalan, Arabic and Icelandic
- Keyboard shortcuts shared across devices via iCloud
- Bluetooth MAP support
- Global network proxy for HTTP
- Bug fixes
The update will be available for download OTA (Over-the-Air) and users will receive a notification asking if they want to install the update. You can manually check for the update availability by heading over to Settings > General > Software Update. Please make sure you are connected to a Wi-Fi to avoid.
You can also update to iOS 6.0 by connecting your device to your computer. You will have to update to Apple iTunes 10.7 before you download the iOS update.
You can also download iOS 6.0 for your device and manually update using the following direct links:
- Apple iPhone 5 ( GSM | CDMA )
- Apple iPhone 4S
- Apple iPhone 4 ( GSM | CDMA )
- Apple iPhone 3GS
- Apple new iPad 3 ( GSM | CDMA | WiFi )
- Apple iPad 2 (GSM | CDMA | WiFi)
- Apple iPod Touch ( 4th Gen | 5th Gen )
- Download the appropriate file from the list above.
- Connect your device to your Mac or PC'.
- Select your device and Press Restore while holding down Shift key.(Alt for Mac) and press Restore.
- You can then manually browse and select the downloaded file.
- Wait for the update to complete.
[NOTE] Users you rely on jailbreaking or unlocking your device. Please do not update to iOS 6.0 until a relevant jailbreak method has been posted. For more information on country specific software features here. You can find security related updates on iOS 6.0 here