Big features, tiny tweaks: Up close with iOS 6
-iOS 6 is finally here and well, it's packed with features.
Only a couple of truly big changes over iOS 5. I'm Jason Parker for CNET and this is a first look at iOS 6. I missed the fan fair of last weeks iPhone 5 announcement.
Scott Forstall ran through the new iOS 6 features that we have previously seen at the worldwide developer's conference in June.
There was not much more to tell at the latest event but I went through some of the major changes here.
Siri, what one might call the voice of iOS 6
now does a little more than it did in the past.
One new feature is the ability to launch apps.
Let's try it out with Netflix.
Siri, launch Netflix.
And there it is.
But you'll also be able to access other third party services fed by Yahoo.
Let's try getting the latest sports scores.
Siri, what's the latest score for the 49er game?
-San Francisco defeated Detroit by a score of 27
to 19 yesterday.
-Next navigation.
Probably the biggest change to the iOS is the new map set that replaces Google's offering which had been on the device since the first iPhone.
The most talked about new feature here is the turn by turn directions with voice.
-Starting route to Pier 41.
Head southwest on Howard Street.
-What's great about it is if you have your iPhone mounted on your dashboard, you can also have a 3D view to guide your journey.
Another feature that's more for well factor than it is practical
is the flyer review.
On the Flyover View.
On iPhone 4S, you get a high frame rate as you swipe to view the map and even rotate with a 2-finger twist.
No doubt it's gorgeous but the question is besides showing off your iPhone, how many practical uses that it really have?
And now, Facebook integration.
Twitter integration was already a part of the operating system in iOS 5, and now you'll have a similar experience with Facebook.
From the photo library, I can touch the Share button, choose Facebook from the new sharing layout in iOS 6, optionally
add text and a location and touch the post button.
That's it.
Part of the new Twitter and Facebook integration in iOS 6 also means you can post directly from a notification center.
Simply swipe down from the top and you'll see new buttons for tweeting or posting to Facebook front and center.
Next, shared PhotoStreams.
With iOS 6, you can share a stream of photos with friends and family only a couple of steps.
Simply go to the photos app, hit edit to select the photos you want to share,
then touch the share button.
All you have to do from here is touch PhotoStream, then select who you want to share the photos with.
Your recipient will receive an e-mail then be able to view the photos in the photos app on iOS 6 or iPhoto on the Mac.
Now, an Apple device users can look at the photos in a web browser.
Another useful new feature is the new phone controls.
Now, when someone calls you and it's a place you can't answer, you can swipe up for on screen controls to quickly reply via text or remind yourself to call back later.
You can choose from if you can
responses from Apple or send a custom message.
Next, included in the camera app is a feature that's only available on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, the latest iPad and the new iPod Touch.
You'll now be able to take a panoramic picture up to 240 degrees with one sweeping motion.
What result is a mostly seamless panorama.
There are plenty of other new features in the latest iOS but in interest of time, here are few highlights.
There's also the VIP list in the mail app that makes it so you can get notifications from the important
people you chose.
New features in Safari offer full screen landscape views in iCloud tabs that let you share tabs across devices.
And don't forget about Passbook which once you purchase tickets through apps, then use your iPhone for a quick code scan at the venue.
With over 200 new features, this update comes pack with new things play with unuseful stuff that every iOS device and we'll appreciate.
But it's true there's not a lot here that hasn't been seen before on other phones, but something I've noticed is that Apple has a way of implementing the feature just right, making it both
easy to use and efficient, and that's true from many of the features I've talked about in this video.
I'm Jason Parker for CNET, and this has been a first look at iOS 6. Thanks for watching everybody.
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