The iPhone 5 hits stores in a few days, but Apple has already released the iOS 6 operating system for existing iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad models. You can download the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system through iTunes, or by visiting the General Settings section on your mobile device and tapping the Software Update button to check for updates.
The new operating system eliminates the official YouTube app, replaces Google Maps with a new Apple Maps app, offers Facebook integration, FaceTime video calls over cellular networks, and new Mail, Safari web browser, and Photo Stream features, among other things.
We have mode details about what’s new in iOS 6 at Mobiputing.
You can install iOS 6 on:
- iPhone 3GS or newer
- iPod touch 4th gen or newer
- iPad 2 or newer
But not all devices support all of the new features in iOS 6. For instance, Siri voice assistant still requires an iPhone 4S or newer device (It will run on the new iPad or the 5th generation iPod touch, though).
To take Panoramic photos you’ll need a 5th gen iPod touch or an iPhone 4S or newer phone. Engadget has a good break-down of which devices get which new features.
And it’s questionably whether some changes are for the better. The new Maps app, for instance, doesn’t have directions in as many regions as Google Maps and doesn’t offer public transportation directions.
If you rely on those features, you might want to hold off on updating. If you like to jailbreak your device, you should also probably pass on this update for now. But if you want to get a bit of the iPhone 5 experience without actually upgrading to an iPhone 5, this is the next best thing.
It kind of ticks me off that iOS gets an update but from 4th Gen up… what about us who own older generations? Why are we forgotten? Ticks me off because we bought ours in the early years and made apple what it is today and they could care less about us. Just like my old G4 iBook. Apple does not care about those who bought and supported them years ago, now it is all about making everyone buy their new stuff to pad their bank account. Well, no more. As of this moment, I will never buy another Apple product again. Tired of shelling out hundreds for something only to have to shell out hundreds more a few years later because my stuff is no longer supported and if I want the new features, have to buy new when my old one works great. To hell with them. My touchpad is Android and computer Windows. No more Apple for me.