Apple has unveiled its mobile operating system, iOS 6 introducing over 200 new features including its own mapping service and improved search capabilities of its Siri voice assistant.
The new operating system will run on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and will be availed to users during the fall 2012 as a free software update.
In its iOS 6 operating system, Apple will not use the Google maps as in its earlier version, instead use its own mapping app, which will offer a high-quality 3D maps.
The new Maps app will offer Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and a new Flyover view.
It will provide vector-based map elements that make ‘graphics and text smooth; and panning, tilting and zooming fluid’ while the new turn-by-turn navigation guides a user to the destination with spoken directions while Flyover feature offers photo-realistic interactive 3D views.
iOS 6 will also provide real-time traffic information to help users calculate the time to the destination and offer alternate time-saving routes in case of congested traffic condition.
The new Siri voice assistant feature will now be available for the new iPad as well as iPhone 4S, includes language support for English, French, German and Japanese, and adds support for Spanish, Italian, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese.
The new Siri voice assistant features will come with support for more languages, easily accessible sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings.
Siri’s Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar will help update status on Facebook, post to Twitter or launch an app.
Built-in Facebook integration feature allows users to sign in once and post from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps, including Photos, Safari and Maps.
iOS 6 has introduced new way to share photos through Shared Photo Streams which allows users to select the photos share it with friends.
Apple has availed the iOS 6 beta software and SDK for iOS Developer Program members.
In a separate development, Apple has signed an agreement with Dutch navigation-gadget maker, TomTom to provide maps for Apple’s newly announced mapping service.
The details of the deal have not been disclosed by both the companies.
