Apple previews iOS 6 with new Maps app

Apple on Monday previewed the upcoming version of its mobile operating system iOS 6, with notable features including new Siri support for more languages and new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography.

According to the company, the new Maps app has turn-by-turn navigation guiding with spoken directions and photo-realistic interactive 3D views called Flyover. Real-traffic information will keep users updated on how long it will take to get to their destination and offers alternate time-saving route if traffic conditions change significantly.

The intelligent personal assistant Siri will also be available for the new iPad and support more languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Italian and Korean, Apple announced.

The company also unveiled the whole new Passbook app, allowing users to scan iPhone or iPod touch to use a coupon, a ticket or check into a hotel.

Passbook can automatically display the user's passes on the screen based on a specific time or location. For example, when a user walks into his favorite bakery, his loyalty card will appear on the screen of his iPhone or iPod touch and he can scan it to buy a cake or check his balance. Passbook can also alert flight delays at the airport.

The updated system will also have Guided Access, enabling parents and teachers to disable hardware buttons to lock an iOS device into a single app.

"iOS 6 continues the rapid pace of innovation that is helping Apple reinvent the phone and create the iPad category, delivering the best mobile experience available on any device," said Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS software.

Forstall introduced the new mobile platform on Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference which started on Monday.

The iOS 6 will be available as a free software update for iPhone, the new iPad, iPad 2 and fourth-generation iPod touch this fall, according to Apple.

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