For iOS 6, Integration Appears To Be The Name Of The Game
Posted by Michael Nace on Wednesday Jun 6, 2012 Under Apple News, iOS 5 News
With the exception of Apple Maps and a fuller Siri, iOS 6 has been characterized early as a refresh, with only nominal user interface changes. But with what we’re hearing about possible integration innovations, iOS 6 might have more under the hood than meets the eye.
We haven’t discussed iOS 6 in great detail, leaving the heavy lifting to our sister website, the iOS 6 News Blog. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t open up a discussion about iOS 6 as we head into the final days before the WWDC. While the proud, few June iPhone 5 Truthers continue to make their case for a surprise announcement at the WWDC keynote, and still others anticipating a new round of MacBooks, the most certain release for this year’s Developer’s Conference is the beta version of iOS 6.
If you’re a hard core Apple geek, then you’ve probably already read scores of “iOS 6 wish lists” around the tech blogosphere. But if you’re an average Joe iPhone user who embarrassingly has little or no idea what the heck iOS even is, that’s perfectly ok: all you need to know is that iOS is Apple’s own mobile operating system — the program that runs the iPhone and iPad — and that this year’s version, iOS 6, is anticipated to have some cool, new features. Among them, the much-hyped Apple Maps.
When you think about it, it’s absurd that iPhone users have had to slum it with a stripped down version of Google Maps for their iPhone experience all these years, all while Android users have had access to the feature-rich version of Google’s Map, complete with turn-by-turn navigation. Well, Apple is finally launching its own version of Maps, and it is believed that not only will it have turn-by-turn navigation, but also will feature artsy, 3D maps renderings and the ability to integrate with your calendar and other data that deals with geolocation.
In fact, integration is fast becoming the buzz word for iOS 6 as we head into the WWDC.
We’ve also recently heard that Facebook is going to factor heavily into the iOS 6 experience. Tim Cook has recently alluded to it, and though it remains to be seen how pervasive the integration of Facebook will be into the iPhone — some suggest it will be little more than 1-click sharing, whereas others imagine much deeper integration — it would appear that Apple is seeking to partner with Facebook in order to counter Google’s impressive integration of Google+ in with its own mobile computing experience. Since Apple has yet to penetrate the social media market, it appears that they are prepared — at least for now — to use Facebook almost as a third-party solution. (Did I just say that?!)
Another big integration rumor for iOS is centered around the long-held belief that iOS and OS X will someday converge. We’ve already seen the latest version of OS X look more iPad’ish in its UI — now it appears that iOS 6 will integrate many features found among Mountain Lion’s widgets and desktop. For as much as many people are predicting a lackluster UI update with the new mobile operating system, something like this would be a pretty big upgrade, in my opinion.
Here’s a nice iOS 6 concept video that puts a lot of this integration into visual perspective:
A sneak-peek of the iCloud update — which is also coming to iOS 6 beta and will serve as the basis for even further integration — also revealed new Notes and Reminders apps as well. Particularly interesting with Notes will be a more business-like functionality that reveals Apple’s bid to make the iPhone and iPad increasingly more productive for business.
Last but not least is Siri. We know that we’re going to see Siri expand, but to what degree, no one is for certain. The late-breaking news is that Siri will now function on the iPad, but this is a somewhat expected upgrade. Other rumors indicate that Siri will expand to include more languages. But my guess is that the big news regarding Siri is that it will be fully opened up to third-party developers, and will essentially become “smarter.” I would argue that the recent celebrity-studded Apple commercials on TV are already hinting at this, by demonstrating the flexibility, intuitiveness, and even wit that Siri is capable of.
It remains to be seen if the iPhone 5 will be announced at the WWDC or not. Regardless, we are bound to get iOS 6, and it will tell us a lot about what to expect from this year’s iPhone.
By Michael Nace
Be sure to subscribe to the iOS News Blog‘s daily blog feed and get the latest iOS 6-related articles of coverage of the WWDC and beyond! You can sign up on the iOS 6 News blog homepage. Check it out!
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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June 6th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
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June 6th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
In my wish list is for Siri to search for a location then port that location to my gps software and automatically start the turn-by-turn navigation without me having to type or even look at the screen. This would be especially useful while driving.
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June 6th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Definitely loving the iOS 6 concept video! Quick settings and mission control would definitely win me over, hopefully this can become reality! And when WWDC does come around, will current devices (iP4S, The New iPad, etc.) get the full on iOS 6 update, or will that actually come when we get the iPhone 5 during the fall? Or, if the iPhone 5 were to be announced in WWDC will it come with iOS 6 preinstalled already? I’m just confused, if iOS 6 is still supposedly in beta version, then there has to be a couple of months of tuning it up right?
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June 6th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Correct, Christian. It will most like be a beta version.
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June 6th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
In case anyone is interested, Jailbreak for IOS 5.1.1 is out.
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/05/25/iphone-4s-jailbreak-for-ios-5-1-1-untethered-released-absinthe-2-0/
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June 6th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
iOS 5 was a software overhaul in my opinion. I hope iOS 6 brings on improvement on it.
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June 6th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Kinda weird guys. Just heard 2 ads on the radio for two different cell-phone companies offering the iPhone 4 for $0 until June 14th. Is this not a huge coincidence? They day before the rumored release of the iPhone 5…. Michael, your thoughts?
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June 6th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
iOS needs a update. A few tweaks isn’t going to impress anyone.
The richest company in u.s should be able to put something together???
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June 6th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
I like the truther concept, but maybe a different name, as the whole “truther” thing has political overtones to it, but if that’s the name, so be it! Michael, could you do an open thread on Sunday, where we can register our trutherness? No half measures, you’re either a truther or not, and we see what happens during the week.
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June 6th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
lol Well, Jeff in Everett, if you’re a “truther,” then you believe in something that we don’t discuss on here [unless we get a DRUDGESTRIKE!]. But if you’re a June iPhone 5, that’s something else entirely. As long as you qualify it with “June iPhone 5,” I think you’re alright. I kind of hope that ascribing “truther” to iPhone 5 anticipation kind of helps to make the term more usable and not so issue-specific.
Off to bed!
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June 7th, 2012 at 3:40 am
Like I’ve said before … no iPhone on Monday, then Apple better wow the hell out of me with the software … oh, they better.
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June 7th, 2012 at 5:42 am
The next iPhone will have to be something pretty special in both harware and software it it’s to surpass the Galaxy S3. I really hope Cupertino has taken note that it’s lead has evaporated and it needs to pull its finger out to move back into the number 1 spot.
I saw this article from a UK daily newspaper website that kind of spelled it out.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2153234/Samsungs-Galaxy-S3-Britains-popular-phone–knocking-Apples-iPhone-4S-slot.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Come on Apple, pull it out of the bag…
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June 7th, 2012 at 6:40 am
Aside from the iPhone 5 which I’m hoping to see, I’d like to see the majority of Apple’s MacBook and iMac lines go Retina with multitouch touchscreen.
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June 7th, 2012 at 10:33 am
@Paradiddle I don’t think a multitouch screen will materialize on macbooks and iMacs. Apple clearly stated that they find touch screens on a computer uncomfortable and that’s why they chose the multitouch trackpad for their mac lineup. As for retina, I’m really looking forward to it.
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June 7th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Interesting to see that the concept video’s expanded notifications centre is just Jailbreak’s SB Settings. In my opinion there is a lot in the Jailbreak community which should be in standard iOS, such as FolderEnhancer, SB Settings, PhotoAlbums+, Gridlock, Cyntact to name but a few.
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June 7th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
so off the topic of ios 6 a little bit, I am getting sick of hearing about apple continually trying to ban the top android phones this summer such as a short ban on the htc one x, currently sueing samsung over the galaxy nexus and now trying to block the galaxy sIII from being launched here as well. To me this points to a scared company that may not have something big up its sleeve for the iphone 5 and maybe it will be just a let down. Also it could mean that apple is trying to block competetion this summer so that the 4s can get its last leg of sales before an october release for the phone. If they were going to launch the 5 in a few days why would it care about the s III launching later this month?
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June 7th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@cocoapro13
Or maybe it points to a company that have legal rights to a patent that they wish to want to protect, at least as a duty to protect shareholder interest / value. Whether they win the patent battle or not is a different story but they have to right to protect them, as per the law.
As for the Monday keynote, I’m totally excited by it. My gut says iOS6 will be a big update, bigger than iOS 6. If there’s going to be hardware shown during Monday’s keynote, my guess is we’re gonna see the new Mac Pro and MB Pro. This is a developers conference and there are many developers who are waiting for these machines.
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June 7th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Hi Oscar, I agree but not expecting that “something special”; it will be here eventually and evolve incrementaly and I pretty much expect Apple will tell us,(again), what we want,and when we’ll want it, knowing we’ll grumble while we’re buying and liking it.
Been working well for them so far.
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June 7th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
@DonNMass
I agree with what you say but competition is heating with Windows 8 around the corner and with many devices being shown off recently. I don’t suspect Apple will be able to do that for much longer.
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June 8th, 2012 at 1:18 am
@Eric, my wishes are more modest. I’d like Siri to work in the car before I worry about it doing extra things.
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June 8th, 2012 at 8:06 am
@DonNMass and @Shameer
Apple have moved from being far out in front of the competition to being in a dogfight with the very latest and greatest from the Android world. The SIII really is a great piece of tech, I had a go with one yesterday and, personally, it made my 4S feel a little inadequate.
I’ll not be jumping ship just yet, but if the next iPhone isn’t something that surpasses or at least matches the SIII then I’ll have to seriously consider how invested in my iPhone i really am.
I feel like Apple really dropped the ball with the 4S when they could (or should?) have beated Android into the ground a year ago by releasing a totally new iPhone rather than a refeshed phone. (I know it wasn’t JUST a refresh but it feels that way as I don’t really find Siri useful).
With Samsung clearly gunning for (and achieving) top spot in the Android domain, their next target is consistently surpassing the iPhone and with the SIII they have done that (albeit against a nearly one year old 4S). Apple must raise the bar again with the new iPhone or they’ll lose a lot of the mass market customers who want the best smartphone on the market and don’t care if that’s iPhone or Samsung.
Fingers crossed for the next iPhone and hoping Cupertino’s secrecy isn’t a cover for a lack of R&D.
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July 1st, 2012 at 5:03 am
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