iOS6 features, with Android Comparison

The sixth version of Apple's OS (iOS 6) for iPhone 3GS,iPhone 4/4S & iPad 2/3,iTouch (4th Gen), is now available on App Store. It will have over 200 new features (No YouTube from this edition). It is free to download. 

It was considered that iOS 6 would be a runaway success, but right now it has several glitches even its flagship Apple Maps are not working fine. Most of the App Store applications have updated themselves for iOS 6.

Apple faces a stiff competition with growing popularity of Android which has released ICS early this year (Jelly Bean is still, at its pilot stage), that has many new features. Also, Google has launched its tablet Google Nexus 7 in July this year; Future versions of this tablet can compete iPad in tablet arena also. 

Apple iPhone 5 seems to be a runaway success, already 5 million + handsets are sold.

This blog gives you a run through, what one can expect from the new OS from Apple, and also try to answer some burning questions. It will also try to compare the features with that of Android.

Measure Enhancements

Facebook 

Along the lines of Twitter integration in iOS5, Facebook has now been completely integrated into iOS6. Once you login to your Facebook account in the settings page, you will be able to instantly share photos, locations, links, game centre scores or a status updates. Your Facebook contacts will get synced with iOS contacts and Facebook calendar entries (like Birthdays) will get synced with the iOS calendar app. App Store and iTunes on iOS will also include the Facebook 'Like' button - making it much easier to like and share apps with friends.

This feature is already present in Android. This feature is working for a long time on various Android handsets like Xperia Arc, Xperia S, Samsung Galaxy series etc.

Mail

iOS6 will have two new mailboxes apart from the standard one - VIP inbox and Flagged inbox. the VIP inbox will only show mails from contacts you have marked as VIPs. If you get loads of mail on a daily basis, you won't miss out on the more important ones. Plus, VIP mails will always pop-up as notifications on the lock screen.

The Flagged inbox works in a similar way - it will store messages that you flag. Photos and videos can be added to a mail directly from the compose window. And finally, password protected documents can be opened from within the Mail app.

This feature can be compared to filter feature of gmail, that is embedded in Android platform. One can add several accounts and can sync them simultaneously.

Maps

One of the biggest updates to iOS6 is the inclusion of Apple's own navigation and maps. The maps use a vectorbased engine that promises sharp graphics and quick zooming in/out of maps. You will also be able to adjust the view using a tilt/rotate gesture.

In addition, the maps have a 3D view mode for navigation and a 'Flyover' mode that shows high-resolution, photo-realistic 3D views of major landmarks and monuments. Select countries will also get turn-by-turn voice navigation and real-time traffic updates that will work even if the phone screen is locked.

Apple Maps currently are having several glitches. Apple Maps are not as responsive as Google Maps, rather at times they do not give correct directions or terrain knowledge. One can even say it is the biggest disappointment in iOS 6. 

This one thing that Apple has come up, leaving Google maps behind. But this feature is long present in Android, rather performs quite efficiently.

Photo Streams

Even though this is limited to the Apple device ecosystem, sharing photographs becomes simpler with iOS6. Take for instance if you share a few photos with some of your contacts - if they are running iOS6 or OS X Moutain Lion, the shared photos will transfer immediately and show up in their Photos app or iPhoto.

Your contacts can then also add comments to your photos. To share with those who are not using Apple devices, the photographs can be uploaded to a web album using iCloud, links to which can then be shared via email.

Safari

Safari now has better integration with iCloud. Thanks to a feature called iCloud Tabs, you can start browsing on one device and when you switch to another one, all your open tabs from the first device are automatically opened on the second device.

With iOS6, Safari can also save full web pages to the device instead of just links in your reading list - these can be read later even if there is no Internet access. Finally, a new full screen mode for Safari on the iPhone/iPod Touch allows webpages to be viewed without the top/bottom bars in landscape mode.

Safari is a better browser than embedded Android browser. But there are several apps that one can download and have a good browsing experience.

Phone

If you don't want to accept an incoming call, you can now reject it with a message - choose from a template or write a custom one. You can also set up a reminder for yourself - to call the number back later in an hour or when you reach your home/work location.

Another feature called 'Do Not Disturb' can be used to hide all incoming calls/notifications for a set time period. However, you can still choose to allow calls from your favourite/important contacts or if a number calls repeatedly when your phone is in this mode.

Siri

With iOS6, Siri will work on the new iPad as well. It supports and understands more languages now (Hindi is not present yet). There are some updates to Siri too - it can now answer questions about sports, restaurants and movies. You can get scores from live sports events, get movie reviews/ratings or find restaurants.

Unfortunately, most of these functions will be limited to the US. Finally, Siri can now also be used to launch an app by just speaking out the app name.

This feature is still unbeaten, Google voice assistance stands nowhere near Siri.

Some other features

Facetime will work over 3G, it was earlier Wi-Fi only. The App Store gets a new interface and your phone number and Apple ID will be unified - you can get notifications/take calls on any authorised Apple device. Rest there are hundreds of new features to wait for.

But one thing is to be noted, all the features that Apple plans to introduce in iOS6 is already present in Android. So lets see how Apple, differentiates or segment itself in the growing world of 'Open Source' !!