iOS 6 unveiled with Siri enhancements and Facebook integration

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/06/ios-6-features-from-wwd/

by sciurus • 14 years ago

44 60 14 years ago

The new maps app means the end of native street view, and probably transit route finding... bummer on that front, pretty awesome otherwise.

pkulak• 14 years ago

And what about walking and cycling directions? Walking and transit used to be on iOS, and cycling has been on Android for a while now. It's going to be a shame to lose that functionality on iOS.

justincormack• 14 years ago

Cycling? Must be US only, as is public transport. Walking is essential though.

hinathan• 14 years ago

I noticed that too. I hope Google will release their own native apps for iOS before too long, unless Apple dings them for 'duplicating existing functionality'. I love having the transit directions in SF, it's pretty well done across Muni, BART, and CalTrain.

runako• 14 years ago

I won't hold my breath given Google's track record shipping a useful GMail app for iOS.

_b8r0• 14 years ago

Also cutting out other forms of transport (e.g. public transport and walking) makes maps pretty useless for me.

jsz02• 14 years ago

A step backwards in functionality is never a good thing but I do like Apple's approach of saying that third party developers can do a better job for some parts of mapping. The kitchen sink approach of trying to cram everything possible into one app has its limits.

jcoder• 14 years ago

I didn't see any per-feature limitations for device support, only "iPhone 3GS and above." Does this mean that Siri is coming to the 3GS and 4 models?

jasonlotito• 14 years ago

Siri will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad (3rd generation) and requires Internet access.

- http://www.apple.com/ios/ios6/siri/

smackfu3• 14 years ago

Oh, you didn't see the fine print.

* Some features may not be available in all countries or all areas. Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later. Cellular data charges may apply.

* Siri will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad (3rd generation) and requires Internet access. Siri may not be available in all languages or all areas, and features may vary by area. Cellular data charges may apply.

* Shared Photo Streams requires iOS 6 on iPhone 4 or later or iPad 2 or later, or a Mac computer with OS X Mountain Lion. An up-to-date browser is required for accessing shared photo streams on the web.

* FaceTime over a cellular network requires iPhone 4 or later, or iPad 2 or later with cellular data capability. Carrier data charges may apply. FaceTime is not available in all countries.

* VIP list and VIP and Flagged smart mailboxes will be available on iPhone 4 or later and iPad 2 or later.

* Offline Reading List will be available on iPhone 4 or later and iPad 2 or later.

vibrunazo2• 14 years ago

This all seem to be catching up, step by step with features that android just added in the last few months. But the timing is so close that they've probably been in development at ~about the same time. I wonder if these happen because both apple and google have a little bit of inside intel on each other. Or because these features are just obvious iterations that both came up with separately.

betterth2• 14 years ago

Welcome to the new reality. The speed at which Google can release Android and the speed at which manufactorer's can implement/upgrade Android are two very, very different things. And unlike Android, Apple does not have this release/implement gap.

Because less than 8% of Android users use 4.0 and Google is already about to unveil 5.0, we have to compare differently.

Google may have released these features into the wild faster than Apple, but when iOS6 launches this summer and then passes the Android 4.0 install base in what, 2 weeks, there will then be more Apple users using these features than Android users.

I think that will be the future going forward: Apple will take longer to release a feature, but will reach critical mass for the feature much, much faster than Google.

And like Windows and it's hardware partners, I think that there is jack-diddly-squat that Google can do about it. They can whine but they have no say, as their in-house devices sell like crap compared to Samsung's flagships or Apple's phones.

I think hardware will move similarly: Android manufacturer, eager for ANY advantage, will implement brand new technology on their product lines. They can also pull this off because they don't push iPhone-like quantities (minus the rare Samsung flagship launch). It's easier to put brand new tech in a device that is only selling 50,000/mo and will hit maybe 1 million total, because you don't have to have a source for 5,000,000 of that part by launch day...

michaelbuckbee• 14 years ago

I like your analysis, but I'm curious how you would factor in Google's purchase of Motorola? An effort to decrease the release gap?

vibrunazo2• 14 years ago

> Google may have released these features into the wild faster than Apple, but when iOS6 launches this summer and then passes the Android 4.0 install base in what, 2 weeks, there will then be more Apple users using these features than Android users

That's incorrect. All of the features announced in ios 6 (and ios 5) are catching up with features available to android 2.3 users. Pointing out that ICS only runs on 7% of devices while ios 5 runs on 80% is fun marketing games. But technically, that's like comparing apples to robots.

Google has updated their apps slowly over time, as they're being developed, for devices with old OS version. While apple waits for these big announcements for the big marketing show. So android users will always be getting the fresh new features before ios users. Some of those android users with newer features will be running android 2.3. Why are we even bringing up the OS version when comparing features available to older OS versions?

(For example, you don't need to upgrade to android 4.0 to upgrade the Google Play Store app to the latest version. Which has all these social integration such "your friend has liked this app". Which is a brand new feature on ios, that android 2.3 users have already been enjoying for quite a while.)

lomegor• 14 years ago

Probably inside intelligence. It would be really weird otherwise Google announcing their 3D map just before Apple announced theirs.

guelo• 14 years ago

The last two iOS releases have included popular Android selling points, i.e. the notifications windowshade and now turn-by-turn navigation. When you look at both their sue-happy patent defense and their rampant Android copying you start seeing the bigger picture of their features-race war strategy.

taligent4• 14 years ago

Since when is notifications and turn by turn exclusively Android features ?

They both existed years before Android was even a figment in someone's mind.

jsz02• 14 years ago

Both companies are developing their platforms based on how consumers are actually using the devices so it's natural they are going to follow the same basic trajectory since most people use both types of devices the same way.

joejohnson2• 14 years ago

I hope airlines start using PassBook. This feature has a lot of potential.

admiralwaddles2• 14 years ago

Airlines (you can see United as one of them in the demo) already accept digital passes. The TSA, however, requires a piece of paper so that they can mark it up and send you on your way. You still cannot get around printing a boarding pass quite yet, sadly.

ndubya• 14 years ago

I haven't printed a boarding pass since Delta came out with their app. At least in SLC, you don't need it.

joejohnson2• 14 years ago

You do not need a paper boarding pass to go through security with TSA. They accept the QR codes via smartphone screens. There are scanners at the point where they mark paper boarding passes.

jrockway• 14 years ago

Completely false. I've flown with electronic boarding passes out of ORD, LGA, SFO, and a few other airports on both United and AA. The TSA is 100% fine with mobile boarding passes. Their readers often work better than the airlines', actually.

ma2xd• 14 years ago

I have allready used my phone as a boarding pass. Just scanning barcode which was sent on email :)

nooneelse• 14 years ago

Indeed. And airlines easily can/do send emails with new info when something changes. Wasn't there a post a few weeks back about email being all some problems need? Hoping airlines do unnecessary work to make/maintain a plug-in is kind of silly. I'd rather they focus every erg they have on running the planes well/better and just send me an email.

lawdawg• 14 years ago

Just saw this:

"Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later"

Pretty disappointing.

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios6/maps/

ceejayoz2• 14 years ago

I'd imagine the 3D stuff involved in those two features is pretty hefty on the system.

eco• 14 years ago

Flyby I can see limiting to the devices with the nicer GPU but the lack of turn-by-turn on older devices seems odd. My Droid had 3D turn-by-turn navigation when it was released and that was in October of 2009.

I suspect Apple just didn't want to compromise on how detailed the 3D was so they left older devices out.

smackfu3• 14 years ago

The GPS app I bought does offline turn-by-turn just fine on my iPhone 4. Apple can't pull off the same?

ajross• 14 years ago

Turn-by-turn navigation requires 3D hardware?

suninwinter• 14 years ago

Wild speculation: PassBook heralds NFC in the new iPhone, but since Apple doesn't want to reveal anything about new hardware at WWDC, they left out anything that would give that away.

breckinloggins• 14 years ago

My thoughts:

- Passport looks really cool. I also can't help but think this app is a further hint to an iPhone 5 "NFC" feature

- Really impressed by maps. I hope it works as good as it looks. I'm currently using MotionX GPS Drive for turn by turn directions and I can't wait to get rid of it

- Do Not Disturb: THANK YOU. Turning on Airplane mode at night was a bad substitute for this much-needed feature

- Siri enhancements are nice, but would have loved to see API integration. I understand why they aren't doing this (yet), though. iOS would need, at the very least, some kind of Andriod-like "intents" system to make it work. Even better would be a standardized way to "teach" Siri about things (think RDF). This seems like one of those things they won't release until they really make sure it's done correctly, as otherwise the disparity between how Siri works natively and what it understands via API integration would be laughable.

- Also with respect to Siri, I'd like to see Apple improve the voice synthesis. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good, but it also isn't state of the art. The voice could be made smoother and better able to communicate Siri's "mood" (if and when Siri is synthesized to have one). Even without a "mood", her voice could stand to be less monotone. I would also like to be able to purchase different voices.

- Guided Access (specifically the "one app mode") is going to be huge for enterprise as well as education. I've been on more than a few iPhone "enterprise feasibility" projects where the fatal bullet was lack of the company's ability to lock out the home screen

- Facebook integration is nice (and predictable). I really look forward to the contacts and calendar integration more than anything

- I thought they might announce third party apps for Apple TV, but I bet they're going to wait until the new TV product announcement for that

And if anyone at Apple is reading, here's my obligatory wish-list:

- Siri API integration and expandability (duh)

- A "guest code" if you have a password lock. I shouldn't be worried about prying eyes if someone borrows my phone. I should just tell them to enter "1234" on the lock screen and it should open up to some kind of "guest account" with none of my personal data, push notifications, browser history, emails, etc.

- Better support for external displays in the iTunes and Maps apps. If I am driving, I'd like my car's display to show me the artist and song information at minimum. I won't switch to Map's turn by turn unless it integrates with my external display. If it does, I'd like it to overlay new artist and song information briefly when I change tracks

cleo_• 14 years ago

Instead of a "guest code," they really need to implement real multi-user environments. While somewhat nonsensical on a phone, it's greatly needed on family iPads. Then the iPhone could pick up a guest account for "free."

diminish2• 14 years ago

"Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later"

Welcome to iOS fragmentation.

chrisdroukas• 14 years ago

That's not how fragmentation works.

gks• 14 years ago

Fragmentation at the API level is the real problem. Not at lack of "built-in features."

An app written for iOS 6 can run on the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, and iPhone 3GS (not to mention the iPad 2 and 3, and the newest iPod Touches).

An app written for ICS can only run on those 7% of devices running ICS.

This is how fragmentation works. The only fragmentation happening on iOS is for the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPad 1, and the old iPod Touches.

The only one that I don't quite grasp is the original iPad. Running on the same processor as the iPhone 4 and is much faster than the iPhone 3GS. Color me somewhat confused by this one.

spiralpolitik2• 14 years ago

Most interesting part that iOS 6 will support the iPhone 3GS which is now almost 3 years old. How many Android Phones from July 2009 will support Android 4.0 ?

I think that says a lot.

eavc• 14 years ago

It says mostly that iOS hasn't changed much in 3 years.

smackfu3• 14 years ago

The reason iOS 6 supports 3GS isn't for the people who bought one in July 2009. The reason iOS 6 supports 3GS is for the people who bought one today for $0.99.

taligent4• 14 years ago

That's ridiculous. Apple clearly states 3GS here:

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios6/

myko5• 14 years ago

Yes but major features like Siri and turn by turn wont work on the 3GS (or 4), which I think says a lot as well.

Check smackfu's comment for device feature support breakdowns: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4096633

sandipc• 14 years ago

That may also be because the 3GS is still on sale now. Not many Android phones from 2009 are still available for purchase.

ConstantineXVI• 14 years ago

Also worth noting that the identically-spec'd (sans phone bits) 3rd gen iPod touch will not be supported. Unless every single iOS 6 feature was phone and camera related, I can't see any good reason that one should get it and the other won't.

pooriaazimi• 14 years ago

Apple is currently selling iPhone 3GS (free in the states if I'm not mistaken), but thy ceased selling 3rd gen. iPod touches 2 years ago.

timjahn• 14 years ago

I hope the maps don't change for the user. Frankly, I don't care about Apple and Google's map bickering.

If the new Apple Maps app is now a crippled maps app for my iPhone compared to the existing Google Maps iPhone app, that's a big problem.

iOS 6 unveiled with Siri enhancements and Facebook integration

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