While Apple took the wraps off its eagerly-anticipated iPhone 5 at the launch event, the company also gave a brief overview of the new OS that will be arriving alongside the device i.e., iOS 6.
Per reports, the feature-rich update to Apple's operating system for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch is now set to arrive as a free download on Sept. 19.
The iOS 6 update promises more than 200 new features, and will be free and available for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S, along with the second- and third-generation iPads. It will be available to U.S. and the UK users at the same time, with an over-the-air (OTA) iOS rollout on the cards.
Therefore, any user having iOS 5 installed will be able to download iOS 6 OTA via the Software Update screen in the Settings app. However, if users are running an older version of iOS, they will have to use iTunes to get iOS 6.
Here's a look at the features that will arrive with iOS 6.
Apple Passbook
Apple's new app in iOS 6 - Passbook - will let users collect and store all their passes and tickets digitally. It doesn't matter whether they are movie tickets, boarding passes, coupons, concert passes, or store cards, users can save everything. What'smore, users can even shred tickets once they have been used.
Note, certain store cards and passes will automatically appear on a user's lock screen when he/she is near the location that has been indicated on the pass.
Mail
Users can now assign Very Important Persons both within Mail on iOS 6 and on a Mac (running Mountain Lion). The messages from those VIPs will show up in a special folder in Mail on iOS 6, accordingly. Moreover, users will also be able to create special notifications for those VIPs in the Notification Center.
As far as Flagged messages are concerned, they will also appear in a new Flagged mailbox.
Siri
Siri is the one to approach if users have queries regarding movies that are in their wishlist or favorite sporting event. What's more, the virtual voice-driven assistant from Apple can also launch apps, post updates on social networks, and make reservations for dinner.
Notification
iOS 6 will now let users Tweet or update a Facebook status directly from the Notification Center. Facebook has also been built into iOS system-wide, which means that users can employ Siri to send a status message, share images, and Web sites through Facebook, and others.
Photo Stream/Shared Photos
This feature is a brand new addition to the OS' Photos app. The Shared Photo Streams allows users to collect images to share with family and friends via iCloud or via the web. Users can also comment and like the images they've shared.
Maps
Apple has decided that it will have nothing to do with Google or its features, especially the Maps feature and, therefore, the arrival of a new Apple-backed Maps. Maps from Apple will provide satellite imagery, free turn-by-turn directions, vector-based maps, new 3D Flyover locations including San Francisco, Boston, Sydney etc.
Safari Integration
Safari has evolved. It now sports a fullscreen landscape mode in iOS 6 apart from the iCloud Tabs, which lets users sync their open webpages across any other iOS devices (provided it is running iOS 6) and Macs (running OS X Mountain Lion) that are linked to the user's iCloud account.
There's more. Although everything was not demonstrated on stage, senior VP of iOS software Scott Forstall also mentioned iOS 6's updates for the Phone app, the accessibility feature Guided Access (which limits users to a single app with the ability to disable buttons), and FaceTime over cellular data.
