iOS 6 Beta Highlights From The 2012 WWDC

There may not have been any iPhone 5 announced, but there is plenty to talk about regarding iOS 6. While we will have days and weeks ahead to parse out all of the new features surrounding iOS 6 — as well as what if anything hints at the next iPhone — here is a quick, simple breakdown of what was announced at today’s keynote address for the new iOS 6 mobile operating system. Cue the bullet points:

• Over 200 new features — For as much as many people believed that iOS 6 would turn out to be a mere refresh, it is actually offering users a lot of new features. Sure, the UI may not look all that different, but it will have some very useful improvements under the hood.
• Revised Siri — All of those recent Siri commercials on TV featuring celebrities had me thinking that Siri would be much smarter with iOS 6, and it appears to be the case: Siri is now more intelligent in searching, such as movies, sports, reviews and finding Apps
• ‘Eyes Free’ — Apple is also working with car companies to integrate Siri into steering columns, trying to get people out of the [bad] habit of playing with their smartphones while driving.
• Facebook Integration — The Facebook integration rumors turned out to be totally true! Facebook is now built into iOS 6. No need to login each time. I predicted that Apple would use Facebook as their proxy mobile social network to counter Google+, which appears to be the case with iOS 6.
• New Reminders – This also seems to be inspired by the “no using your mobile phone while driving” trend in iOS 6, as now your iPhone will provide cool, new, automated ways to tell callers “call back.”
• Do Not Disturb – Many ways to accept and not accept calls. As peoples’ lives are more and more filtered through their mobile gadgets, Apple seems to be answering those needs with features like this in iOS 6.
• FaceTime now available via 3G — To me, this is a pretty big advancement. Having FaceTime only as wifi for an iPhone was little more than a gimmick. Now, users can actually make video calls anywhere. It’s about time!
• Improved PhotoStream —  iOS 6 adds a shared PhotoStream, featuring pushed notification with cool, new ways to see friends’ comments on the photos.
• Passbook — This is an extremely cool function for avid travellers and ticket buyers, as it integrates ways to store tickets, movies, and other purchased tickets. Passbook is also location-aware, meaning the ticket will pop up on the lock screen when you get to your destination. What’s more, it’s all updated in real time.
• ‘Guided Access’ — If you have kids, then you know how much they love the iPad — it is so well-suited for children. Guided Access allows children to access the iPad without clicking on all the complex and unnecessary buttons. A very nice touch.
• Maps: the New iOS App — It looks like it’s going to be all that and much more: turn by turn directions built into maps, a ‘FlyOver’ 3D view of maps (vector based) so it is fast to zoom in and out. FlyOver allows one to view as if they are flying over rendered in 3D. And Siri is integrated as well. Very cool!
• VIP Mail — Google’s Priority Inbox is already doing this, but now you can designate VIP e-mail senders to arrive in a special inbox. This will be particularly good for business users who need to respond to business e-mail as a first priority.

There was one rumored feature that was strangely absent from iOS 6 — NFC. Many people felt strongly that NFC would be coming to iOS 6 this year, with the iPhone 5 as the flagship device for being able to “swipe and pay.” The passbook feature hints at NFC, but it is a far cry from what we were expecting. Of course, developers may still find hints of NFC in iOS 6′s code once they get a peek inside, since NFC is as much about hardware as it is software, and we did not get a new iPhone announcement today.

So, based on this short list, did Apple give you everything you were hoping for, iOS-wise?

 By Michael Nace