Apple releasing iOS 6 to consumers on Sept. 19

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) will roll out its new iOS 6 operating system overhaul to iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, new iPad, iPad 2 and fourth-generation iPod touch devices on Sept. 19. iOS 6 also will arrive preloaded on the computing giant's new iPhone 5, announced Sept. 12.

Click here for complete coverage of the iPhone 5.

Apple first announced iOS 6 at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference in June, promising deep integration with Facebook and introducing a new Maps platform to replace Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Maps data. Scott Forstall, the company's head of iPhone software, spent much of his segment at Apple's media event in San Francisco yesterday focusing on what sets Apple's mapping services apart from the competition.

"We've built a search engine in to find [points of interest]--we have over 100 million points of interest," Forstall said, according to The Verge. "And we've built in turn-by-turn directions. As we take you around turns, we use a cinematic camera angle to fly you around." Forstall added that turn-by-turn services are optimized for both landscape and portrait mode.

iOS 6 also brings additions to Apple's Safari browser, highlighted by fullscreen mode and the new iCloud Tabs, which synchronizes web activities between the desktop and mobile platforms. "I can get back to any of my content from any of my browsers on the go," Forstall said.

Forstall also demonstrated Passbook, a new app that stores and updates boarding passes, retailer loyalty cards, movie ticket apps and related consumer information and documents. Forstall showed off a Passbook stuffed with a virtual movie ticket, airline boarding pass and Starbucks prepaid card. "Here's [a ticket for an event] I've gone to--so I tap the trash button... and we'll shred that for you," he said, initiating a shredding animation. Tickets and passes included in Passbook also will work from the iOS device lockscreen, Forstall added.  

Also new: Photo-stream sharing tools, simplified message flagging and posting to Facebook message walls via Siri voice-activated software.

For more:
- see this Verge blog

Special Report: Apple's iPhone 5: Complete coverage

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