The Verge - iOS 6: everything you need to know

iPhone SMS spoofing bug reportedly fixed in iOS 6

2012-09-20T08:29:25Z

A serious bug which allowed senders to spoof SMS messages on iOS, causing them to appear as if they were sent from a different number, has reportedly been fixed in iOS 6, released to consumers yesterday. The news comes via a tweet from jailbreaker Joshua Hill (a.k.a. p0sixninja), who also noted that the latest version of the mobile operating system includes an "insane number of security fixes."

The spoofing problem was first brought to light in mid-August by security researcher pod2g, who noted that the issue was still present in the beta 4 version of iOS 6. It works by exploiting a part of the SMS specification known as the Reply To field, which goes unused in most implementations, but is displayed in iOS. As pod2g pointed out, "most...

Official Apple list shows international availability for each iOS 6 feature

2012-09-13T07:50:50Z

As iOS 6 features such as turn-by-turn navigation and Siri become increasingly localized, it can be difficult to keep track of exactly what is available where. To help ease confusion in the wake of the iPhone 5 announcement yesterday, Apple has published an official list, navigable by feature, showing availability from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

The most restricted aspect of the OS is the new Maps app's 3D Buildings functionality, which, according to Apple's list, is only available in the US. Standard mapping functions have extremely broad support, and most of Siri's localization features function across North America, Australia, and Western Europe, but more advanced features such as restaurant reservations are only supported in the US,...

Verizon will allow FaceTime over cellular for no additional charge

2012-09-13T00:56:26Z

One of the long-awaited features in iOS 6 is the ability to make FaceTime calls over a cellular connection, and Verizon isn't planning to limit it in the slightest. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that iPhone users on Big Red will be able to use the feature no matter what flavor of data plan they may be using, for no additional charge. The position stands in stark contrast to that of rival AT&T, which sparked a still-ongoing controversy when it announced that its customers would only be able to use FaceTime over cellular if they switched to one of AT&T's new shared data plans. Sprint as well has also said that it has no plans to charge extra for the feature.

FaceTime itself has been limited to Wi-Fi since its introduction, with even...

Final iOS 6 Golden Master build released to developers

2012-09-12T20:00:44Z

Apple has just released the final Golden Master (GM) build of iOS 6 to developers. Although a public version won't be available for existing users until September 19th, developers can use the final version to test against iOS apps in preparation for the new iPhone 5.

Developers will be able to use iOS 6 to add Facebook functionality into existing apps using a newly introduced API. FaceTime and iMessages have also been improved in iOS 6 to unify a cell phone number and Apple ID to allow FaceTime or iMessage communications across Mac, iPad, and iPhone using just a number. Apple is removing Google Maps integration in iOS 6 and the YouTube client, but Google recently released a standalone YouTube app for iOS users to counter the change....

iOS 6 update due on September 19th

2012-09-12T18:03:55Z

Apple kicked off its iOS 6 beta program at WWDC earlier this year, and the company is announcing today that the final copy of the software will be available on September 19th. Featuring over 200 new features, iOS 6 will be available at no extra cost for existing compatible devices — iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, iPad 2, new iPad, and iPod Touch.

AT&T only allowing FaceTime over cellular on Mobile Share plans, no extra charge

2012-08-17T20:29:01Z

AT&T has cleared the air this afternoon on its policies for FaceTime over cellular, saying that a Mobile Share plan will be required to use it — but it won't incur an extra charge apart from normal data usage. The feature, which is new in iOS 6, had caused controversy several weeks ago when it was revealed that beta builds appeared to block the service on AT&T's network by default, suggesting that the carrier might be looking to buck the tenets of net neutrality by tacking on an extra charge to enable it.

Other video calling services aren't affected

That's not to say the move isn't exceptionally hostile to net neutrality, whose principles mostly aren't enforced by law (and are showing no signs of impending enforcement) on the country's...

Apple: YouTube app will not be included in iOS 6, Google working on standalone version

2012-08-06T18:37:23Z

Apple obviously did away with Google Maps in iOS 6, but another of the web giant's biggest properties won't be available as a default option, either. 9to5Mac noticed that the latest beta version of iOS 6 no longer includes the long-standard YouTube app, and Apple just told us that its license to include YouTube in iOS had expired. If you're a heavy YouTube user, fear not — Apple also confirmed that YouTube will work in Safari and also noted that Google is making a new YouTube app that will be available in the App Store.

It's not clear yet what caused this change — Apple may have grown tired of paying the Google license, or it may have simply wanted the iOS experience to be free of Google's apps out of the box. However, the end result...

iPhone 3GS and 4 won't get turn-by-turn directions and flyover feature in iOS 6 maps

2012-06-12T21:22:56Z

While Apple may have the majority of its customers using the latest version of iOS, every new software update typically breaks compatibility with a round of older devices. iOS 6 is no exception — we've already learned that the original iPad and third-generation iPod touch wouldn't receive the update at all, but even devices receiving iOS 6 will miss out on some key features. Most notably, only A5 or A5x devices (the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and new iPad) will get to use the new Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation features in iOS 6. Apple doesn't give a reason for this, so we can't say for sure that the older processor in other iOS devices is the limiting factor here, though it's certainly something all the eligible devices have in common....