Apple, during the unveiling of iPhone 5 in San Francisco last week, announced that its newest operating system iOS 6 will be available for all the supported devices, including iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4, iPad 3, and iPad 2 from Sept. 19.
Scott Forstall, Apple's SVP of iOS, stated at the WWDC in June that iOS 6 would come with over 200 new features. The additional features will include the new Maps app, Facebook integration, Passbook organization, an enhanced Siri, the ability to make FaceTime calls over a cellular network etc.
The company also released a Golden Master (GM) seed of the OS on its developer portal. This seed was sent out for registered iOS developers so that they could take a note of the latest changes in the upcoming OS.
Now with the iOS 6 release being just a matter of time, here are a few tips that will enable users to get their Apple devices ready for the update.
However, it is important to note that the device may not be able to transfer the purchases, backup or sync with the computer unless the device's Restrictions are disabled. To do that, go to Settings > General > Restrictions and disable them.
Getting The Latest Version Of iTunes
Make sure that you are up-to-date with iTunes. You will need the latest version of iTunes to use iOS 6. Currently, iTunes 10.7 is in use. The latest version is now available via Apple's Web site, and you'll need to download that and install it on your computer. However, you can also check for it manually by going to iTunes > Check for Updates (Mac) or Help > Check for Updates (Windows).
Backing Up The Device
It is quite important to back up your device before you decide to upgrade to iOS 6. This procedure ensures that you don't lose data should anything go wrong.
It is important to remember that while some content is backed up to the computer via Wi-Fi, others will be backed up to iCloud. Note that you get unlimited free storage for purchased music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books.
For backing up content, you'll need your device to be connected via Wi-Fi and a power source. Next, go to Settings, then iCloud, then Storage & Backup, scroll to the bottom and then select Backup Now. The backup will occur automatically.
As far as backing up your device via iCloud is concerned, go to Settings, then iCloud, then Storage & Backup and tap Manage Storage. You get 5GB of free iCloud storage for photos, videos, device settings, App data, Home screen and app organization, past messages, and ringtones.
Other important content such as all your settings, app data and photos will also be backed up. Make sure you have your device connected to a power source at least once a day as these updates take place automatically.
Say No To Old Content
Before upgrading, go through your device and make a list of the apps you don't use anymore. A high possibility exists that your device will be filled with things that are just excess baggage, which take up a lot of space and it's wise to remove them before you start upgrading.
Stay Organized
It's always a good thing to organize your apps by making folders. For example, you can categorize the apps that you use regularly and place them in a separate folder. What this does is that it helps you avoid any kind of confusion and even saves time.
