Apple has released for free download iOS 6, a new version of its mobile OS. So what is good in the system? What it offers for users? And there is there a way to get rid of it and go back to the old? I answer these questions and some others in the following text.
I'll just start talking about the elephant in the room. IOS 6 definitively abandoned Google Maps as provider and maps in place, Apple included its own system, made in partnership with TomTom. Despite being graphically more beautiful, it has two major disadvantages compared to Google: the lack of information and lack of public transport routes.
Maps: Fail. Does not show any Starbucks and notice the accent in Sao Paulo.
Google has a database of establishments and huge that only recently began to create Apple. So the number of registered sites that are displayed on the map of iOS 6 does not even come close to what iOS 5 offers with Google Maps. And I still depend heavily on public transportation routes and there are no applications that function in the store yet.
Sure, there are obvious advantages in the new map. Routes with speech turn-by-turn directions are a great addition for anyone who has the drive and vision of 3D cities are interesting to look at (although the number of Brazilian cities with this option is still null). But while Apple does not have a good database, correct the mistakes of the current or Google not releasing the promised version of Maps for iOS, iOS 5 I'm still in it, thanks.
Has panoramic camera on the iPhone 4S
One new feature that Apple has kept for the presentation of the iPhone 5 has been the ability to make panoramic photos. And I thought this would be a feature restricted to the younger player. But iOS 6 has this option for the iPhone 4S also, surprisingly.
Simply enable the panoramic camera options and move the iPhone from side to side, trying to keep the arrow aligned with the line. If the motion is done too quickly, a message to "slow down" should appear below the field.
OVERVIEW: a resolution ignorant of pixels 8614 x 2028 | Click to enlarge
The news will not be particularly beloved by the creators of applications that take panoramic photos. Now that this function has been integrated directly into the system, they will have a smaller amount of users - in this case, the iPod Touch, the models prior to the iPhone 4S and iPad with camera, for those who dare to take pictures with tablet.
Siri finally realized that Brazil exists
An interesting surprise regarding virtual assistant Siri: he finally realized that Brazil exists. Although the version iOS 5 not seek the wizard by localities in Brazil, iOS 6 already supports such research. It should be made clear in any of the languages supported by the system - and the Portuguese of Brazil is not one of them.
Seeking "I'm hungry", the wizard shows the main restaurants around, along with addresses and phone numbers. When you tap one of the results, the map opens. The same happens when the wizard hears "I'm feeling sick," showing a list of hospitals. Saying "Find me a Starbucks nearby" will show a list of the main cafeterias hipsters around my location.
But Apple officially says on its website that the wizard does not support any of the features described herein. So we can see this kind of search fading in the future.
FaceTime smoothly via 3G
In announcing iOS 6 a few months ago Apple probably scared operators to announce that the American system would allow FaceTime calls over the cellular network. The operator AT & T has blocked this type of call in your network, so it made me wonder if some Brazilian operator would have the same attitude.
In tests with the iPhone 4S, could make a FaceTime call over 3G networks in Vivo, Claro and TIM. In all of these calls were connected and worked without many problems. In two of these, the speed was relatively low and remained a little pixelated video, but connected smoothly. According to Apple, FaceTime over 3G is also available for the iPhone 5 and the new iPad, and any other iOS device.
Remember that just today the iOS 6 was released publicly. The system was already under test before, but probably none of the operators concerned to investigate the impact he would have on the network. Or maybe the impact is so small that they do not worry too much about it.
Anyway, I contacted the staffs of the four major carriers asking for a position on that. By the time the two course replied that yes, enables FaceTime calls via 3G and position of Vivo is that "not intend to block FaceTime calls over 3G." The Hi and TIM did not respond until the publication of this post.
Smaller great detail
I have already cited several details both aesthetic functionality as the iOS 6 brought the launch of its first beta. Items like VIPs mail, the track "new" in the applications that have been downloaded recently, integration with Facebook and the new music player interface give a new air to the system and make it more on par with what the competition has do.
Emojis! Emojis! Emojis! 11
The music player, by the way, was not the only aesthetic change that Apple brought to iOS 6. The three stores, the iTunes Store, App Store and iBookstore are also a new look and a more user-friendly navigation, and applications stock dialer and time and, in the case of the iPhone. There is also a greater amount of emojis the keyboard, for those who enjoy leave messages slightly more lively.
For those features not mentioned, Apple released this page that describes the most important. And this other page which cites specifically which models will be available on iOS devices.
Do not like it? Return to iOS 5.
As I mentioned earlier, despite all the advantages that brings iOS 6, I still depend a lot of the maps application. And the best maps application still is what supports Google Maps. So I installed iOS 6 on my iPhone 4S just to make this post and plan to go back to iOS 5.1.1 as soon as possible.
The process is quite simple. First of all, connect to iTunes (version 10.6) and make a backup of your iDevice. After you download the specific version of iOS 5 for your device (this site has all) and store it in a safe place. Connect your device to iTunes and put it into DFU mode (hold the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds and then releasing the Power button until iTunes warn DFU mode). As he enters this mode and be detected by iTunes, hold the shift key on the keyboard by clicking the "Restore" button and select the downloaded file.
This step must install iOS 5 on your device and you can restore the previously backed up, as if nothing had happened.
At the time of publishing this post, I'm downloading the iOS 5.1.1 for the iPhone 4S, but I got the news of the downgrade may not be possible on models with Apple A5 processor, according to the iPhone Dev Team. Still, I'm Brazilian and never give up and I try to downgrade once the download is complete. Relate the result that post soon.
I'll just start talking about the elephant in the room. IOS 6 definitively abandoned Google Maps as provider and maps in place, Apple included its own system, made in partnership with TomTom. Despite being graphically more beautiful, it has two major disadvantages compared to Google: the lack of information and lack of public transport routes.
Maps: Fail. Does not show any Starbucks and notice the accent in Sao Paulo.
Google has a database of establishments and huge that only recently began to create Apple. So the number of registered sites that are displayed on the map of iOS 6 does not even come close to what iOS 5 offers with Google Maps. And I still depend heavily on public transportation routes and there are no applications that function in the store yet.
Sure, there are obvious advantages in the new map. Routes with speech turn-by-turn directions are a great addition for anyone who has the drive and vision of 3D cities are interesting to look at (although the number of Brazilian cities with this option is still null). But while Apple does not have a good database, correct the mistakes of the current or Google not releasing the promised version of Maps for iOS, iOS 5 I'm still in it, thanks.
Has panoramic camera on the iPhone 4S
One new feature that Apple has kept for the presentation of the iPhone 5 has been the ability to make panoramic photos. And I thought this would be a feature restricted to the younger player. But iOS 6 has this option for the iPhone 4S also, surprisingly.
Simply enable the panoramic camera options and move the iPhone from side to side, trying to keep the arrow aligned with the line. If the motion is done too quickly, a message to "slow down" should appear below the field.
OVERVIEW: a resolution ignorant of pixels 8614 x 2028 | Click to enlarge
The news will not be particularly beloved by the creators of applications that take panoramic photos. Now that this function has been integrated directly into the system, they will have a smaller amount of users - in this case, the iPod Touch, the models prior to the iPhone 4S and iPad with camera, for those who dare to take pictures with tablet.
Siri finally realized that Brazil exists
An interesting surprise regarding virtual assistant Siri: he finally realized that Brazil exists. Although the version iOS 5 not seek the wizard by localities in Brazil, iOS 6 already supports such research. It should be made clear in any of the languages supported by the system - and the Portuguese of Brazil is not one of them.
Seeking "I'm hungry", the wizard shows the main restaurants around, along with addresses and phone numbers. When you tap one of the results, the map opens. The same happens when the wizard hears "I'm feeling sick," showing a list of hospitals. Saying "Find me a Starbucks nearby" will show a list of the main cafeterias hipsters around my location.
But Apple officially says on its website that the wizard does not support any of the features described herein. So we can see this kind of search fading in the future.
FaceTime smoothly via 3G
In announcing iOS 6 a few months ago Apple probably scared operators to announce that the American system would allow FaceTime calls over the cellular network. The operator AT & T has blocked this type of call in your network, so it made me wonder if some Brazilian operator would have the same attitude.
In tests with the iPhone 4S, could make a FaceTime call over 3G networks in Vivo, Claro and TIM. In all of these calls were connected and worked without many problems. In two of these, the speed was relatively low and remained a little pixelated video, but connected smoothly. According to Apple, FaceTime over 3G is also available for the iPhone 5 and the new iPad, and any other iOS device.
Remember that just today the iOS 6 was released publicly. The system was already under test before, but probably none of the operators concerned to investigate the impact he would have on the network. Or maybe the impact is so small that they do not worry too much about it.
Anyway, I contacted the staffs of the four major carriers asking for a position on that. By the time the two course replied that yes, enables FaceTime calls via 3G and position of Vivo is that "not intend to block FaceTime calls over 3G." The Hi and TIM did not respond until the publication of this post.
Smaller great detail
I have already cited several details both aesthetic functionality as the iOS 6 brought the launch of its first beta. Items like VIPs mail, the track "new" in the applications that have been downloaded recently, integration with Facebook and the new music player interface give a new air to the system and make it more on par with what the competition has do.
Emojis! Emojis! Emojis! 11
The music player, by the way, was not the only aesthetic change that Apple brought to iOS 6. The three stores, the iTunes Store, App Store and iBookstore are also a new look and a more user-friendly navigation, and applications stock dialer and time and, in the case of the iPhone. There is also a greater amount of emojis the keyboard, for those who enjoy leave messages slightly more lively.
For those features not mentioned, Apple released this page that describes the most important. And this other page which cites specifically which models will be available on iOS devices.
Do not like it? Return to iOS 5.
As I mentioned earlier, despite all the advantages that brings iOS 6, I still depend a lot of the maps application. And the best maps application still is what supports Google Maps. So I installed iOS 6 on my iPhone 4S just to make this post and plan to go back to iOS 5.1.1 as soon as possible.
The process is quite simple. First of all, connect to iTunes (version 10.6) and make a backup of your iDevice. After you download the specific version of iOS 5 for your device (this site has all) and store it in a safe place. Connect your device to iTunes and put it into DFU mode (hold the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds and then releasing the Power button until iTunes warn DFU mode). As he enters this mode and be detected by iTunes, hold the shift key on the keyboard by clicking the "Restore" button and select the downloaded file.
This step must install iOS 5 on your device and you can restore the previously backed up, as if nothing had happened.
At the time of publishing this post, I'm downloading the iOS 5.1.1 for the iPhone 4S, but I got the news of the downgrade may not be possible on models with Apple A5 processor, according to the iPhone Dev Team. Still, I'm Brazilian and never give up and I try to downgrade once the download is complete. Relate the result that post soon.
