Apple iOS 6 Features Include Smarter Siri, Passbook

  • With more Facebook integration, Passbook, Maps app
  • Upgrades meant for larger screen of iPhone 5
  • Set for Sept 19 release

Apple has took the wraps off its mobile software iOS 6 with over 200 new, useful features geared to accommodate the iPhone 5's wider 4-inch display without compromising performance and spee

  • With more Facebook integration, Passbook, Maps app
  • Upgrades meant for larger screen of iPhone 5
  • Set for Sept 19 release

Apple has took the wraps off its mobile software iOS 6 with over 200 new, useful features geared to accommodate the iPhone 5's wider 4-inch display without compromising performance and speed.

IOS 6 is widely expected due for official unveiling for long, along with the iPhone 5, in September 12 during Apple's press event in Yerba Buena Center of Arts in California.

The features of Apple's latest and updated mobile software now include a smarter Siri, a Passbook tool, and full-screen mode for Safari, and a string of updates to Keynote, Pages, iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand apps.

To take advantage of the larger display that Apple refers to Retina display, Apple will let the existing apps to run at the previous size, which means these features will neither be stretched nor scaled to fit the screen.

At the iPhone 5 home screen, iOS 6 will add another row of icons for the Maps app, Passbook, and others.

Home-grown Maps app, already seen at WWDC, has been revamped to let users see a more intimate and closer look at terrain that can be optionally switched to 3D mode. Using satellite imagery, the Map app then render more life-like look at places and nearby buildings. This feature highlights a turn-by-turn navigation feature and Apple-designed cartography.

Siri, the digital voice-powered assistant first introduced during the iPhone 4S launch, has also received upgrades with new abilities, such as launching apps, pulling more information on topics such as sports, and recommending movies based on Rotten Tomatoes rating website.

Siri is also capable of making posts to Facebook, a reflection of Apple's push to bring the social network into many of the apps through iOS.

Another notable feature is Passbook, a feature that gets all the users passes in one place or from a locked screen. Movie tickets, boarding passes, and even membership cards can now be accessed even when the phone is in standby mode.

Of all these features, it is Facebook integration that comes as the most useful for many users even with the native Facebook app installed. With this integration of the social network to other home-grown Apple apps like notification and Photo Stream app, users can quickly post or share content to Facebook directly from the menu.

IOS 6 will be released on September 19 for the iPhone 3GS or newer, the newest iPad and fourth-generation iPod touch or newer range of devices.

During the last quarter, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that it shipped its 400 millionth iOS device.