iOS 6: everything you need to know

A serious bug which allowed senders to spoof SMS messages on iOS, causing them to appear as if they were sent from a different number, has reportedly been fixed in iOS 6, released to consumers yesterday. The news comes via a tweet from jailbreaker Joshua Hill (a.k.a. p0sixninja), who also noted that the latest version of the mobile operating system includes an “insane number of security fixes.”

The spoofing problem was first brought to light in mid-August by security researcher pod2g, who noted that the issue was still present in the beta 4 version of iOS 6. It works by exploiting a part of the SMS specification known as the Reply To field, which goes unused in most implementations, but is displayed in iOS. As pod2g pointed out, “most carriers don’t check this part of the message, which means one can write whatever he wants in this section: a special number like 911, or the number of somebody else.”

As iOS 6 features such as turn-by-turn navigation and Siri become increasingly localized, it can be difficult to keep track of exactly what is available where. To help ease confusion in the wake of the iPhone 5 announcement yesterday, Apple has published an official list, navigable by feature, showing availability from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

The most restricted aspect of the OS is the new Maps app’s 3D Buildings functionality, which, according to Apple’s list, is only available in the US. Standard mapping functions have extremely broad support, and most of Siri’s localization features function across North America, Australia, and Western Europe, but more advanced features such as restaurant reservations are only supported in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

One of the long-awaited features in iOS 6 is the ability to make FaceTime calls over a cellular connection, and Verizon isn’t planning to limit it in the slightest. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that iPhone users on Big Red will be able to use the feature no matter what flavor of data plan they may be using, for no additional charge. The position stands in stark contrast to that of rival AT&T, which sparked a still-ongoing controversy when it announced that its customers would only be able to use FaceTime over cellular if they switched to one of AT&T’s new shared data plans. Sprint as well has also said that it has no plans to charge extra for the feature.

FaceTime itself has been limited to Wi-Fi since its introduction, with even the new LTE-capable iPad unable to make FaceTime calls over that device’s speedy connection. That all changes with iOS 6 — but of course, the newfound ability is dependent on carrier support.

Apple has just released the final Golden Master (GM) build of iOS 6 to developers. Although a public version won’t be available for existing users until September 19th, developers can use the final version to test against iOS apps in preparation for the new iPhone 5.

Developers will be able to use iOS 6 to add Facebook functionality into existing apps using a newly introduced API. FaceTime and iMessages have also been improved in iOS 6 to unify a cell phone number and Apple ID to allow FaceTime or iMessage communications across Mac, iPad, and iPhone using just a number. Apple is removing Google Maps integration in iOS 6 and the YouTube client, but Google recently released a standalone YouTube app for iOS users to counter the change. Apple’s replacement maps app includes a flyover features with 3D models of cities around the world.

Apple kicked off its iOS 6 beta program at WWDC earlier this year, and the company is announcing today that the final copy of the software will be available on September 19th. Featuring over 200 new features, iOS 6 will be available at no extra cost for existing compatible devices — iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, iPad 2, new iPad, and iPod Touch.

AT&T has cleared the air this afternoon on its policies for FaceTime over cellular, saying that a Mobile Share plan will be required to use it — but it won’t incur an extra charge apart from normal data usage. The feature, which is new in iOS 6, had caused controversy several weeks ago when it was revealed that beta builds appeared to block the service on AT&T’s network by default, suggesting that the carrier might be looking to buck the tenets of net neutrality by tacking on an extra charge to enable it.

That’s not to say the move isn’t exceptionally hostile to net neutrality, whose principles mostly aren’t enforced by law (and are showing no signs of impending enforcement) on the country’s cellular networks. The move is sure to upset some iPhone users who had no intention of moving to a Mobile Share plan — which, in some cases, can be more expensive than the company’s existing individual plans — and can only be described as a completely arbitrary distinction that artificially limits the capabilities of the data buckets that non-Mobile Share users have. It’s easy to speculate that AT&T is looking to limit additional network saturation by limiting which customers can use the feature, but then again, that’s the function that the limited data buckets themselves serve.

Apple obviously did away with Google Maps in iOS 6, but another of the web giant’s biggest properties won’t be available as a default option, either. 9to5Mac noticed that the latest beta version of iOS 6 no longer includes the long-standard YouTube app, and Apple just told us that its license to include YouTube in iOS had expired. If you’re a heavy YouTube user, fear not — Apple also confirmed that YouTube will work in Safari and also noted that Google is making a new YouTube app that will be available in the App Store.

It’s not clear yet what caused this change — Apple may have grown tired of paying the Google license, or it may have simply wanted the iOS experience to be free of Google’s apps out of the box. However, the end result may end up being better for consumers. The iOS YouTube app has languished for years without seeing any major improvements — but now Google can iterate and update its own YouTube app as it sees fit.

While Apple may have the majority of its customers using the latest version of iOS, every new software update typically breaks compatibility with a round of older devices. iOS 6 is no exception — we’ve already learned that the original iPad and third-generation iPod touch wouldn’t receive the update at all, but even devices receiving iOS 6 will miss out on some key features. Most notably, only A5 or A5x devices (the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and new iPad) will get to use the new Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation features in iOS 6. Apple doesn’t give a reason for this, so we can’t say for sure that the older processor in other iOS devices is the limiting factor here, though it’s certainly something all the eligible devices have in common. The iPhone 4 also won’t be able to take advantage of Facetime over cellular networks, with the phone’s A4 processor again potentially being the limiting factor there.

The iPhone 3GS in particular will be missing out on a number of other features — shared Photo Streams, VIP and flagged email features, and the offline reading list will all be missing in action on the iPhone 3GS. Given that the iPhone 3GS is just about three years old, we can’t say we’re surprised to see some features not making it over, but it’s still a bit of a bummer for those who may have picked it up for free on AT&T recently.

We’ve been digging through the iOS 6 screenshots that were leaked to us earlier today for more details and found an interesting tidbit among them — TomTom is one of the main providers of mapping data in Apple’s brand-new Maps application. When you flip back the iOS map to reach the setting menu, it clearly says that data comes from TomTom and “others” who aren’t specified on that screen. Looking at the full attributions list for Apple’s Maps app shows a whole number of other mapping companies providing data (including OpenStreetMap, who started providing data for iPhoto on iOS earlier this year) — but TomTom is the only company that gets full branding directly in the app itself. Of course, there’s no Google data to be found in Apple’s new mapping solution.

Update: We thought it was worth noting that both Apple and Nokia are using C3 for their 3D map renderings — a company that Apple purchased last fall. However, Navteq provides most of Nokia’s mapping services, while Apple is obviously using TomTom. Another interesting wrinkle is that Nokia is now paying Apple for a license for its 3D mapping services. Don’t let anyone tell you that the mobile software licensing landscape isn’t a rather complex place.

We’ve just received photos and impressions from a number of tipsters alleging to have access to the developer beta of iOS 6 announced today at Apple’s WWDC event in San Francisco; we’re aggregating those tips here.

Starting with Maps, we’re told that the 3D mode works with a two-finger swipe — push up to rotate up, down to rotate down to the ground, similar to the way Google has implemented it in Maps for Android. Rendered buildings seem to be buggy in this release and aren’t consistently showing as they should — loading is slow. Data is being provided by TomTom, according to the app.

Apple unveiled its latest iOS 6 software at WWDC today and developers will be able to download an early beta version for testing today. iOS 6 includes over 200 new features, with significant improvements to Siri — including sports information and scores, restaurant suggestions and ratings, integration with Rotten Tomatoes, voice-activated app launching, and the ability to Tweet via Siri. Apple is also introducing Siri for iPad and deep Facebook integration in iOS 6 with an improved tap to post feature built into the notification center that lets you post Twitter or Facebook updates.

Developers will be able to take advantage of the iOS 6 beta to add Facebook functionality to existing apps using an API, which also works on Apple’s upcoming OS X Mountain Lion operating system. FaceTime has also been improved in iOS 6 with the unification of a cell phone number and Apple ID to allow FaceTime calls across Mac, iPad, and iPhone using just a number. FaceTime on iPhone will now also support cellular connections rather than just Wi-Fi. Developers can also test a new Passbook feature that centralizes boarding passes, movie tickets, loyalty cards, and more.

On stage at Moscone West minutes ago, Scott Forstall confirmed Apple is trimming the list of hardware that will be compatible with iOS 6 when the software is released later this year. Just as rumors hinted, the original iPad and third-generation iPod touch won’t be eligible for the latest update. Instead, upgrade paths for both devices will end with iOS 5. The iPhone 3GS and its 256MB of RAM, on the other hand, will be receiving iOS 6.

That brings an end to almost three years of software support for the third-gen iPod touch (which originally hit shelves in 2009) and a bit over two for Apple’s inaugural iOS tablet. Inevitably some iPad owners will claim this cutoff arrived far sooner than they might have expected, particularly for a product often touted as a viable PC replacement. Thankfully both devices can rely on the App Store to extend their utility moving forward — at least until apps start requiring iOS 6, that is.

Apple has just unveiled a “guided access” feature for iOS 6 that will allow “parents, teachers, or administrators” to lock children within individual applications by disabling the device’s physical home button and the ability to travel back out of an application. Apple specifically mentioned that the technology would be useful for children with autism, claiming that “we were surprised at how many kids with autism have been using the phones, but there are controls in apps you don’t want them hitting.” Guided access will allow users “confine touch input to certain parts of the screen” to fine-tune their child’s experience. Apple says the feature will be “especially useful for test taking or helping someone with a disability stay focused on learning.”

Apple launched its own Maps app in conjunction with iOS 6, and one of the new highlight features is turn-by-turn navigation. In addition to the standard turn-by-turn directions, and a “Quick Route” button on search results, you’ll also be able to get directions from Siri. You can tell Siri where to navigate you, or even ask “are we there yet?” and find out how long it’ll be before you arrive. Everything works from the lock screen, too. There’s a persistent ETA at the top of the screen, and has a look and feel much more elegant than any existing GPS software we’ve seen before. It’s all baked into Apple’s new mapping system, one of the biggest announcements from today’s WWDC keynote.

Apple was widely expected to roll out its own replacement for Google Maps in iOS6, and today it’s done that. Apple has just unveiled Maps. Since 2009, Apple has bought three mapping startups: Placebase, Poly9, and C3 Technologies -- the last two of which are 3D mapping companies. We do know that Apple is also making use of a lot of other companies’ data for its maps too -- most notably TomTom.

Just last week Google unveiled new features including offline maps for Android and 3D mapping, at an event dedicated to mapping, which some people took as a clear sign that the company was feeling the weight of the impeding move by Apple to its own technology. From what we can tell, Apple’s 3D features look a little better than what Google showed off last week but we’ll have to see them both in action to be sure.

Apple just announced that iOS 6 will have a feature called Passbook, which will integrate passes and tickets from all kinds of services: movie tickets, boarding passes, loyalty and gift cards, and more. It’s all integrated into the lockscreen, and geolocation means the phone can pull up the appropriate pass when you get near the relevant store or location.

Apple demoed Passbook with apps from Fandango, Target, Starbucks, United Airlines, Amtrak, the W hotels, MLB.com, and — of course — the Apple store. The company says that it’s easy for devs to use Passbook in other apps with templates, and the passes themselves update when things change — gate numbers on boarding passes and dollar amounts on gift cards update automatically, for instance.

Apple has announced Shared Photo Streams, a method to share and comment on pictures in Photo Streams on iOS, Apple TV, OS X apps like Aperture, and on a web browser. After picking photos and friends to be shared, users can share pictures in album form, and friends will get a notification when they’re uploaded. From there, users can “Like” or add comments to the pictures. It’s another try at social features for Apple, and one that seems more organic than the now forgotten Ping. That may be partly because it’s very, very similar to Facebook’s own features. It should work across just about any platform you can think of, so long as it’s Apple’s.

Apple just announced a new feature that’ll make using iMessage and Facetime a lot more useful — you can choose to unify your Apple ID email address and your iPhone phone number, so that messages and Facetime calls are more reliably delivered across iOS devices and your Mac. Now, if someone calls your phone number for Facetime, you’ll be able to answer on your Mac or iPad. The same goes for Messages — if you get an iMessage on your phone, it’ll be delivered to your Mac and other iOS devices, even if the sender sent the message to your cell phone number and not your Apple ID email. While it’s too soon to tell if this will fix the issues we had with Messages on Mountain Lion, it sounds like this change could go a long way towards making sure that when someone sends you an iMessage or Facetime call, you get it across all your devices.

FaceTime’s been a Wi-Fi only affair for as long as the video calling solution has existed — it didn’t even work over speedy LTE — but starting in iOS 6, the restrictions have been lifted. We don’t know which networks qualify, though. Will it work over LTE? HSPA+? 3G, perhaps? Apple’s not saying right now. What’s more, Apple is unifying your phone number and Apple ID such that if you make a FaceTime call or send an iMessage to a person, they’ll be able to call, message, or email you back by normal means, and you’ll be able to answer calls to your phone number that’s linked to FaceTime using any supported device, like your iPad or Mac. We’d have to test it to be sure, but it sounds like Apple’s hoping for a seamless experience where people call and message one another as usual, but if you’ve got FaceTime on tap, it’ll simply be that much easier for you to pick up the “phone” as needed.

Apple announced that as part of iOS 6, Siri will be available on the iPad in addition to the iPhone. It’s part of a larger update to Siri, allowing the voice-controlled app to now do everything from launch apps to report the batting average of your favorite baseball players. Apple’s Scott Forstall mentioned that Siri was coming to “the new iPad,” so it sounds like older iPad owners might need to upgrade to get all the new features.

After Tim Cook publicly telegraphed that he thought Apple and Facebook could work together, it should come as no surprise that he has announced that iOS 6 will feature Facebook integration. Rumors detailing what the Facebook integration would look like indicated that it would essentially be another sharing option, like Twitter. Based on what was shown on stage today at WWDC, that’s exactly what Apple has in mind, plus a bit more.

Facebook and iOS are even deeper integrated than Twitter, bringing full integration for calendar events, birthdays, as well as contact emails and phone numbers inside your Calendar and Contacts apps that always stay updated. And of course, you can also share things like links, pictures, high scores (from Game Center), apps, and even your location (via the Maps app). If you want to send a quick Tweet or Facebook status, you can do so straight from the Notification Center drop-down window. Facebook’s granular privacy settings are present in the sharing window prompt, letting you share with Friends, Public, or any other Lists you have set up within Facebook.

Apple has announced partnerships with auto manufacturers to integrate a new “Eyes Free” Siri feature to their cars. The new feature allows drivers to use the dictation and search features of Siri without taking their hands off of the steering wheel — for example, you could send a tweet with the new version of Siri without looking at the screen, and you would only have to press a button on the car dashboard to activate the talking assistant. Apple emphasised that the screen will remain off in “Eyes Free” mode to prevent distractions. BMW, Mercedes, GM, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler, and Honda were announced as partners that have already agreed to include the new feature, and the first cars with “Eyes Free” Siri are said to be available within the next year. From the one photo that was shown, this is not a custom “Siri Button” that you’re going to see in the next 3 Series — it’s just new support that uses already built-in general voice-activation buttons, like the one shown above from BMW iDrive. Additionally, the feature doesn’t truly integrate, as you’ll still need to have your iPhone mounted in the car.

Apple has updated Siri in sync with its introduction of iOS 6, now adding sports scores and stats to the things the companion app can inform you about. The data is provided by Yahoo! Sports, and includes player bio information as well, with the Siri demo on stage at WWDC showing it providing an answer to the question, “who’s taller, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant?”

A most welcome new addition for the voice assistant is the overdue ability to launch apps — you can now tell Siri to “play Temple Run” and the app will launch. Also long-awaited is new language support, with Italian, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese dialects of Chinese joining the group already available.

Apple has officially unveiled iOS 6 at its Worldwide Developers Conference today, the next version of its mobile operating system used by the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV. iOS has consistently received a significant update every year since its introduction in 2007 — and by all appearances, version 6 will continue that trend with a claimed 200-plus new features. It’ll be available for the iPhone 3GS and later, the 2nd- and 3rd-generation iPad, and the 4th-generation iPod touch in the fall, though it warns that “some features may not be available on all products.” Meanwhile, a beta is available to developers today.

Among them, Siri gets updated with iPad compatibility, support for sports (including scores and statistics) and restaurant selections sorted by rating; you can book a table via OpenTable right from Siri’s interface. Movie listings have been added as well with Rotten Tomatoes integration, important for avoiding the duds. Perhaps most importantly, Siri can now launch apps — just speak the name of the app and it’ll open. A number of new languages are being added, including Chinese and Korean.