Is the new iPhone OS the next biggest thing for mobile?

Tweet

 

iOS 6 was released to the public yesterday. With over 200 new features, Apple's newest mobile operating system update is not reinventing the wheel, just tweaking it to make it better. After all, why fix something that isn't broken?

I decided to install the new update as soon as it came out. Here are some of my favorite new features, biggest misses and what I still don't know enough about.

Favorite Features:

• Speed - From my standpoint, I feel like my iPhone 4 (Verizon) is much faster and responsive with the new update.
• Facebook integration and improved Twitter integration - The addition of Facebook integration is one of my favorite features as the Facebook app for iOS is way too slow. Now I can share photos, videos and statuses from the Notification Center. Apple has focused on efficiency and speed, so this makes a lot of sense. Twitter was already introduced into many of the different apps with the last update but it was not available in Notification Center previously. 

• YouTube - One big addition to iOS 6 is actually a subtraction. The YouTube app that was impossible to delete from your iPhone is now gone. Instead, YouTube created their own app and it is a huge improvement. The addition of AirPlay makes the YouTube app useful again. 
• Safari - I recently switched from Safari to Chrome on my iPhone as my go-to browser. The ability to transfer open tabs from one device to the other is great, especially when I have a laptop, tablet and a phone. Safari added this feature in and it also integrated more sharing options with the new social integration. This is a huge improvement and I will be switching back to Safari on my iPhone, ASAP. 

Swing and a miss:

• Passbook - I was really excited about the Passbook app. I even blogged about how it could change the way your business makes money. After opening the newest built-in app, I was left confused and wondering what to do next. The first screen explains what the app can do but after going to the next screen, I was sent to the App Store and was greeted with a list of different Apps to download. It would have been helpful to explain how the App works. I'm sure Apple will have some documentation on their website eventually but this is a massive headscratcher.
• New Maps App - There are a lot of people complaining about the new Maps app. There is even a tumblr dedicated to how frustrating it is. It is no longer run on Google maps, but Apple's own product. However, I see a lot of potential in this app. Turn-by-turn navigation is going to be a game changer for me. I've always wanted turn-by-turn navigation but I have never wanted to pay for it and I never liked how some of the free apps integrated with my iPhone.  If you're looking for alternatives to the new Maps app, check these out. 

Still need more information:

• Siri - Everyone's favorite digital assistant, Siri, got a major upgrade with iOS 6. Siri 2.0 can now open applications, can tell you movie times and sports scores, and post Facebook and Twitter updates, and even make a reversation at a restaraunt. Unfortunately, my iPhone 4 does not support Siri. I cannot give an accurate opinion on this but if Siri is truly upgraded, I will love this feature when I get a new iPhone (I cannot wait until I can use my voice to find out a sports score)

What does this mean for mobile phones? Not much. iOS 6 isn't revolutionizing anything. But in my opinion, we are at a point where Apple doesn't need to revolutionize the phone more than it already has. It is about tweaking the phone to make it more efficient, user-friendly and fast. iOS 6 certainly accomplishes that.  

If Apple allows companies to integrate their apps into Siri and Passbook with ease, iOS 6 will be a big game-changer for the direction of the mobile market for years to come. This is obvioulsy the early stage of iOS 6's lifespan. It will be interesting to see how developers are able to tap into the vast possibilites of Siri and Passbook's abilities. 

I'll leave you with Samsung's newest video ad that mocks the Apple fans for waiting in line for a phone. You'll clearly see why that is the message of their advertisment: