News: Apple Releases iOS 6, OS X 10.8.2, OS X 10.7.5

As expected, Apple released iOS 6 for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, third-generation iPad, and fourth-generation iPod touch, along with OS X 10.8.2. Additionally, Apple released OS X 10.7.5, what many are expecting to be the last release for OS X Lion.

iOS 6

iOS 6 is available via iTunes or within the Software Update function on iOS devices themselves. According to Apple, it’s said to include the following:

Maps

• Apple designed vector based maps
• Turn-by-turn navigation with spoken directions on  iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (2nd and 3rd generation)
• Real-time traffic information
• Flyover for photo-realistic, interactive 3D views of major metro areas on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation), and iPod touch (5th generation)
• Local search results with Yelp photos, ratings, reviews, and available deals
• Siri integration for requesting directions and finding places along a route

Siri improvements

• Sports: scores, player stats, game schedules, team rosters, and league standings for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey
• Movies: trailers, showtimes, reviews and facts
• Restaurants: reservations, reviews, photos and information
• Send a Tweet
• Post on Facebook
• App launch
• Eyes Free in supported automobiles
• Local search available in Siri supported countries (availability may be limited during initial rollout)
• Additional country and language support for Canada (English and Canadian French), China (Mandarin), Hong Kong (Cantonese), Italy (Italian), Korea (Korean), Mexico (Spanish), Spain (Spanish), Switzerland (Italian, French, German), Taiwan (Mandarin), US (Spanish)
• Supported on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation) and iPod touch (5th generation)

Facebook integration

• Single sign-on from Settings
• Post from Photos, Safari, Maps, App Store, iTunes, Game Center, Notification Center and Siri
• Add location and choose audience for any post
• View up-to-date Facebook profile photos and contact information in Contacts
• View Facebook events and birthdays in Calendar
• Like content and see your friends’ Likes in App Store and iTunes Store

Shared Photo Streams

• Share selected photos with the people you choose
• Friends can view shared photos in Photos app, iPhoto and Apple TV
• Friends can like and make comments on individual photos

Passbook

• One place for boarding passes, store cards, movie tickets and other passes
• Barcode display for boarding flights, buying coffee, getting into movies and other actions
• Passes displayed on Lock Screen based on time or location
• Passes can be automatically updated
• Supported on iPhone and iPod touch

FaceTime improvements

• FaceTime over cellular support for iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation)
• Receive FaceTime calls, sent to your iPhone number, on your iPad and iPod touch

Phone improvements

• Do Not Disturb to suppress incoming calls and notifications
• ‘Reply with message’ option when declining a call
• ‘Remind me later’ option based on time or location when declining a call

Mail improvements

• VIP mailbox to quickly access mail from important people
• Flagged email mailbox
• Insert photos and videos when composing email
• Open password protected Office docs
• Pull down to refresh mailboxes
• Per account signatures

Safari improvements

• iCloud tabs to see open pages on all your devices
• Offline Reading List
• Photo upload support
• Full screen landscape view on iPhone and iPod touch
• Smart app banners
• JavaScript performance improvements

App Store and iTunes Store improvements

• Updated store design
• iTunes Preview history
• Complete my season
• Complete my album

Game Center improvements

• Challenge friends to beat high scores and achievements
• Post high-scores and achievements to Facebook and Twitter
• Friend recommendations based on your Facebook friends

Accessibility improvements

• Guided Access to limit device to one app or restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen
• VoiceOver integration with Maps, AssistiveTouch and Zoom
• Support for Made for iPhone Hearing Aids for iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S

Improved privacy controls for Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos and data shared over Bluetooth

Reminders can be reordered in the Reminders app

Custom vibrations for alerts on iPhone

Clock app for iPad

Clock alarm with song

Search all fields in Contacts

Automatic movie mode for improved video sound quality

Definitions of a selected word for Chinese, French, German and Spanish

New keyboard layouts for French, German, Turkish, Catalan, Arabic and Icelandic

Keyboard shortcuts shared across devices via iCloud

Bluetooth MAP support

Global network proxy for HTTP

Features for China

• Baidu web search
• Sina Weibo integration
• Share videos to Tudou
• Share videos to Youku
• Improved text input for handwriting and Pinyin

Bug fixes

OS X 10.8.2

OS X Mountain Lion was updated to 10.8.2 and is available via Software Update, a delta update and a combo update and includes:

 Facebook

• Single sign on for Facebook
• Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos
• Facebook friends’ contact information and profile pictures in Contacts
• Facebook notifications in Notification Center

 Game Center

• Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages
• Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend recommendations
• Facebook Like button for games
• Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement

Other new features

• Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010)
• iMessages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your Mac
• From Safari and Mail on your Mac you can add passes to Passbook on your iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 6
• New shared Reminders lists
• FaceTime now receives calls sent to your phone number
• New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you edited them, and when you created them
• Dictation now supports Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian
• The Dictionary application now includes a French definition dictionary
• Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts

 The 10.8.2 update also includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, including the following fixes:

• An option to discard the changes in the original document when choosing Save As
• Unsent drafts are opened automatically when launching Mail
• Receive Twitter notifications for mentions and replies from anyone
• URLs are shortened when sending tweets from Notification Center
• Notifications are disabled when AirPlay Mirroring is being used
• SSL support for Google searches from the Smart Search Field in Safari
• New preference to have Safari launch with previously open webpages

OS X 10.7.5

OS X Lion was updated to 10.7.5 and is available via Software Update, a delta update, a combo update, a server delta update, and a server combo update and includes:

• Resolve an issue where icons in Launchpad may get rearranged after a restart
• Improve Wi-Fi reliability for iMac (Late 2009 and newer)
• Resolve an issue using Spotlight to search an SMB server
• Improve compatibility connecting to Active Directory servers