What phone has iOS 6.0 ?
If you have, or are thinking getting, an iPhone 5, iPad, iPod Touch or the impending iPad Mini, then you’re probably going to want to know what phone has iOS 6.0 ? iOS 6.0 is the latest version of the Apple mobile device operating system has by way of new features. Whatphone is here to help !
Formally announced earlier this year at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference, iOS version 6.0. The software was released shortly after to developers as a beta.
A beta is an early version of the software, usually acknowledged to have some bugs, provided to developers so they can start to build new apps which use the features of the beta software, and so the developers can help identify the bugs.
Right now, Apple are on their fourth version of that beta and have tidied up a bunch of the problems which were present in the early version.
What phone has iOS 6.0 ? iPhone 5 rumors
The formal release of iOS 6.0 was tied in with the launch of the new iPhone 5. Some elements of the beta software hinted at the potential for the iPhone 5 to have a bigger screen – like a capability to support 5 rows of icons for example ! Which is how all those rumors got started.
Within the iOS capability list shown below, some features are impressive – like the 3D mapping flyovers. Some are less impressive, like the ability to share pictures you’ve taken using the internet.
All in all, with over 200 additional capabilities, IOS 6.0 catches Android in some ways and leapfrogs it in others.
What’s new in iOS 6.0 ?
- Email : You’ll be able to set a ‘VIP’ In Box capability and pull down your in tray to refresh it, in line with similar capabilities on other mobile apps – e.g. Facebook.
- ‘Better’ mapping. iOS 6.0 gives Google the heave ho in more way than one. Not only will IOS 6.0 remove the default You Tube icon and app from the build, it will also cast aside the use of Google Maps. Apple have replaced the Google mapping capability with their own vector based maps. Turn by turn navigation and directions will be voiced by Siri. Perhaps most impressively, Apple’s mapping app will allow a 3D ‘flyover’ of major cities as if you were flying a small plane to enjoy a scenic trip !
- Facetime over your telcos network. Previously this feature worked only over a broadband wireless network, not your mobile phone’s data connection to Optus, Telstra, Virgin Mobile or Vodafone Australia. Apple have finally sorted that out. They should probably have done this a long time ago !
- New Phone features. Fed up of your colleagues’ iPhones going off in meetings all the time ? Me too. This feature allows you to set ‘Do not disturb’ on your device, with an exception rule that you can use if you want your phone to be quiet but you want to take calls from your wife / boss ( assuming they are separate people. ) You’ll also be able to refuse accepting a call and send a pre-configured SMS or a message you type.
- Better Facebook integration. Share a photo direct from the camera gallery ( as you can already on Android. ) The Facebook app looks like it’s getting a full upgrade and much tighter integration with the rest of the iPhone – in a way which appears very similar to the existing Twitter integration with current versions of IOS.
- Share Photos. You’ll be able to use iCloud services or general web access to pick people from your contacts list and share pictures with them. That’s if you haven’t been doing that for years on your desktop Facebook site.
- Passbook : eTicketing. The strength of this capability will depend on the number of partners which take it up. The possibilities however, are exciting for anything from your fruit juice club loyalty card to the way you use airline tickets. There is even talk that your iPhone will warn you if you’re in the wrong terminal when you’re looking to fly !
- Siri updates. You’ll be able to open apps on your iPhone with only 3 or 4 loud attempts at an American accent when you’re on the bus. There is also talk of a tie in to voice accessed movie and sports info although, if we were guessing, we’d be guessing they forgot all about making these features available in Australia at launch.
- Browsing. You’ll have the ability to open a webpage on your mobile and have it already open for you when you start Safari on your iPad.
- Find my phone. Left your iPhone in the back of a cab ? Of course you have – you were drunk again. Now you can lock it remotely, from home, and make a message appear on the home-screen, providing your home / an alternate phone number on which you can be contacted. Taxi drivers will hand it in – won’t they ?!
- Track My Family. Have your every move and indiscretion logged and advertised on a map so your family and friends can see where you are ! You’ll also be able to set alerts so that you can be notified – say – when the kids leave the grounds of school.
If you’re considering investing in the latest Apple device, then these features might get you over the line in deciding what phone is right for you.
If you’re upgrading from an older iPhone to a newer one, it might be a bit of a pain to heart that it’s likely the new device will take a 9 pin adapter rather than the traditional 30 pin adapter and that all the chargers and other accessories you invested in may not work !
Either way, at Whatphone, we want you to have all the information you need in order to make your choice and we hope this iOS 6.0 overview has been helpful.
Aug ’12
Written by:
Kurt Hands