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Apple iOS 6 to come this fall

Apple has announced that this fall, iOS 6 will be released. Most current iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users will end up upgrading to iOS 6 in hopes of new features, and we hope that Apple doesn’t let us down. Based on what Apple has announced so far, most people are excited to get iOS 6 on their devices and take advantage of the newest features. I will go over some of the new features that Apple has announced so far.

The first thing that iOS 6 will provide is an upgrade for the Maps app. For those who have used the Maps app on previous iOS, they will notice that Apple has completely redesigned the app and has made it much more vivid and detailed. The new Maps app also provided turn-by-turn directions and offers different routes if traffic conditions have changed. Maps uses real-time traffic conditions to help you avoid traffic accidents and slowdowns. The app also has a 3D view of major areas that gives you a very clear image of the location you are viewing. Siri works well with Maps to help you get to your destination. You can even tap a pin on the map and view different information about that location, especially with the integration of Yelp into the Maps app.

Siri has also been improved. Siri works in more countries, understands more languages, and will now be available on the new iPad. You can tell Siri to look up the scores for a sports game, look up movie show times, find local restaurants, and even tweet or update your Facebook. Siri can even launch apps for you.  Apple is also working on getting Siri integrated in cars, a feature called Eyes Free. This will allow you to press a button on your steering wheel to communicate to Siri and allow you to call people, select music, text message your friends, and much more, without even lighting up the device’s screen.

Facebook will now be integrated into iOS 6. You can share photos from your Camera or Photos app, post your location from Maps, post your score from Game Center, integrate your friend’s profile information into Contacts and integrate events into Calendars.  Facebook is now part of every aspect of your device and you can even click the Like button in iTunes and the App Store. Not only are Apple apps integrated with Facebook, non-Apple apps can also connect to Facebook. This update is definitely going to be attract those who use Facebook frequently to post updates and pictures because it adds even more convenience to the use of mobile applications.

iOS 6 also gives you the option to Share photos from the Photos app with friends and family. If they are using iCloud on an iOS 6 device or a Mac running OS X Mountain Lion, the photos you share with them are delivered straight to their Photos app or iPhoto.  People can even like or comment it, similar to Facebook. If you want to share it with someone who doesn’t have an iOS 6 device or Mac running OS X Mountain Lion, they can view it on the web on the iCloud website.

A new application that Apple is adding is Passbook. Passbook is your organizer that replaces a wallet for coupons, tickets, boarding passes, etc. Passbook also takes advantage of time and location to coupons and passes will appear on your lock screen when it is appropriate, like when you are about to reach the airport or walk into the store where you will use the coupon. Airplane tickets also update if the airline announced changes. Passbook provides convenience in one simple application. The only problem is that companies need to support the app for it to be useful.

Apple has finally announced the use of FaceTime over cellular networks, instead of only Wi-Fi. This means you can FaceTime with your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Mac, wherever you are as long as you have Wi-Fi or a cellular network. This feature is something I would have expected of FaceTime previously, but it’s better late than never.

iOS 6 also improves the Phone app. This improvement will be very useful for those using the iPhone.  The new feature gives you the option to send a preset text message or custom text message if you can’t answer a call. You can also set a time- or location-based reminder to alert you to call someone back. There is also a Do Not Disturb setting that will silence all incoming calls and notifications for a certain period of time or schedule, depending what you choose. It can even allow calls from specific people but silence the rest. This provides you with a whole new set of features for your iPhone.

With iOS 6, even the Mail and Safari app is updated. In the Mail app, you can set up a VIP list for important contacts. When you receive an email from someone on your VIP list, there will be a notification on your lock screen and those emails can be found in your VIP mailbox. Apple has made it easier to add photos and videos with just a few taps and allows you to use the swipe down to refresh your mailbox. Safari now has iCloud Tabs to keep track of webpages open on any device connected to your iCloud account. Safari also saves webpages in your Reading List so you can view them while not connected to the Internet. You can also post a photo or video from your Camera Roll or take a photo or video to post without even leaving Safari.

There are many new features on the new iOS, but some features will also be removed. Something of note is that Apple will remove the YouTube app with the update of iOS 6. Its license with Google to include the YouTube app has expired, but Google is already developing a standalone app for the Apple App Store. This isn’t a major difference but may be taken as a move by Apple to deviate away from Google apps.

With all these new features with the coming of iOS 6, who can wait? Improvements to many of the apps already provided by the previous iOS will make a big impact on the user experience. I’m definitely going to upgrade to iOS 6. The most exciting thing about iOS 6 for me is the new features with Maps and Phone, and the use of Passbooks. What are you looking forward too?

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Average Joe's Tips Uncategorized

How To: Transfer Your Old iPhone/ iPad Information to Your New One

With the release of the new iPad many of you may be wondering how to transfer your data from your old iPad to your new iPad. To start, plug in your iPad (or iPhone) and open iTunes. Then sync your device and back it up. Next you will need to connect your new device. When a screen pops up for the device click Restore From Backup. This is the more old fashion way to transfer your data. But next week I will show you a new way to transfer your data through iCloud.

Stay connected at my new twitter handle to stay updated 24/7 @TRMGaveragejoes and @realmacgenius What do youthink? Let us know in the comment section.

 

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Average Joe's Tips

How To: View Your Apple Support Profile

Apple Support Profile is a great way to view your history, warranty information, and other details of your apple products. Getting there is easy, just click this link: Apple Support Profile. After that sign into your apple ID account and all items registered under that account will apear. In your Apple Support Profile you will be able to view and do many things like: adding nicknames to your apple devices, viewing/ changing your user information, view serial numbers, unregister devices, coverage details, case activity, repair activity, support resources, and much more. This was a great tip from @MacGeekPro and OSXdaily.com.

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News

An Ode to Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was more then the CEO of Apple. He was the one that started a trend for decades to come. With his innovative ways, Steve Jobs entered the technology world into a whole different category. iTunes, iMac, iPod, iPad, iPhone, all of these devices that Steve Jobs created, have been a huge success in the past decade and they won’t stop there. Not only will Apple miss Steve Jobs, but the world will miss Steve Jobs.

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News

No More New Apple Products

Is Apple really done inventing new devices? Apple has blown the world away for less then a decade and they don’t seem like their stopping anytime soon, or are they? Apple has created the devices such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. These products have gotten a lot of attention as of lately and the different things that each can do is incredible. The price for these products isn’t even in the minds of buyers when they buy the product. All they can think about is that they have the newest and greatest product out on the market. Apple has done such a great job marketing these products that everywhere you look; there will be an Apple logo somewhere.

In terms of greatness, Apple has just broken into the scenes of the electronic world. Apple was created in 1976, and they didn’t improve until the 2000’s. Apple was just a footnote in the technology world, another company trying to make a breakout but failing. It wasn’t until 1997 when Apple actually broke down and asked Microsoft to save them. Microsoft, their biggest competitor, if you can call it that, was saving Apple. Microsoft invested $150 million dollars into Apple which promised Microsoft, that they would offer Internet Explorer on their Macs and other incentives. Also in 1997 they promoted Steve Jobs from “advisor” to “interim CEO”. That was single handedly one of the best decisions Apple ever made.

So that was a little background in Apple’s history. So, to get back to my point to why Apple is done inventing new devices. Apple has fixed what was broken about the creation and consumption of content. Everything that Apple has created was to change digital media and the internet to fix what was broken. Then came the iPod, followed by the iPhone, iPad and so on. This is exactly why Apple will stop creating new platforms. Can anything Apple make in the next decade compare to what Apple has created in the past decade? Yes Apple can build on the products they have now, but how many iPhones and iPods can they make?

One of the things Apple will make is a TV set. Is making a TV set the same as inventing the TV though? The TV Apple may make is no going to be compare to he iPod, mainly because Apple didn’t invent the TV. Apple has created a line of products that create and consume the best experience for users. Since they have already succeeded in doing that, no further products are necessary to be made. Apple has succeeded in making products that were made already, but they perfected them. Tablets were made way before the iPad came, but they just weren’t good enough. Apple created a tablet that people enjoy having.

There are many arguments that can be made about this. There is definitely no correct answer but this is just an opinion based on what I think. I do believe that Apple will continue to grow as a company outside of their devices and such. They for sure won’t stop building on the devices they have now, but there is a valid argument that they may stop creating a new line of devices. Until another crisis comes for a better product, Apple will just have to wait.