Aside from the MacBook Pro with Retina Display and refreshed MacBook Air and MBP line (check the prices here), Apple also took the wraps off of their new treat for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users – iOS 6.

So what’s new here?

Let’s start off with Siri. Apple has updated Siri so it can now launch apps too, and more importantly, is no longer exclusive to the iPhone 4S. Siri is coming to the new iPad (aka iPad 3) courtesy of iOS 6.

And speaking of Siri, Apple’s new Maps, which replaced Google Maps, also takes advantage of Siri when churning out turn-by-turn navigation and live traffic information. How much more useful is this compared to Google Maps, right now, we don’t know, but given how crippled Google Maps was and still is on iOS, let’s just say Apple should have no excuse not to wow iOS users with their homegrown Maps app.

Facetime also got updated in iOS 6, and can now be done over cellular.

Safari, for its part, now supports offline reading, full-screen mode (in landscape), iCloud tabs (think of this as Apple’s answer to Chrome tab syncing), and a feature I’ve long been waiting for, photo uploading within the browser.

Oh, and those rumors about Facebook integration proved to be true. There’s now system-wide Facebook integration in iOS 6.

Cool stuff, indeed, but unfortunately, as per tradition, not everyone will be able to take part of the iOS 6 cake. iOS 6 is only compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, 4th gen iPod touch, iPad 2, and the new iPad. Sorry, 3rd gen iPod touch and iPad 1 users. It’s your turn to get bumped off the iOS upgrade list.

And you’ll still have to do some serious waiting before you can get your hands on this new iOS firmware. It’s not scheduled to come out until the fall, most likely around September or October, and it’ll prolly be timed with the new iPhone launch as well. That’s a mighty long wait, but one we’re more than willing to take, given what’s in store down the road. Not that we have a choice. Just sayin’.

For more on iOS 6, you can head on over here.

Allan David

Online, Allan’s got you covered as far as news (and some reviews every now and then) goes. Offline, you’ll see him either sweating it out in the badminton courts or dining out in one of the new restos around town. His favorite noodles: cold soba.

email: allan@technoodling.netwebsite: http://oasis1.wordpress.com