iOS6

[speedbird591]

Well, I did it. I upgraded my iPad to iOS6. But firstly, I saved an icon for Google Maps as it doesn't sound like the new Apple maps app is up to the job.

Actually, iOS6 shows some benefits. It now allows me to set my iPad as a wifi hotspot using my 3G signal which is very handy (particularly for other people!). And Siri, a voice recognition program, is amazing. It has a very high success rate in interpreting my questions and giving me an accurate reply. My newspaper, The Times, now has an iOS6 supported app and also finally supports the retina display which makes reading it a stunning experience.

The only downside, as far as I can see, is the maps app. But on the face of it, it looks very similar to Google but the papers are full of stories of errors. I liked this poster at a tube station in London...

[DarrenL]

Lots of places don't exist according to the new maps app. Some of which have been inaccurately named (miss-spelt) or called something else. It's not really very good and Apple know it. Chessington in Surrey doesn't exist, if you want to go to Stratford-Upon-Avon you get sent to Shottery (it's called that on the map) which is a small village to the west, but it's not good if you want to go to Shottery as it sends you to Stratford.

Proper Google Maps app has been sent to the appstore and Apple are dragging their feet before ok'ing it probably because its so much better.

[speedbird591]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple reject the Google app. They'll lose face if they do or if they don't!

I've just found two more upgrades. There's a very very cool clock app on the front page with world timer, alarm and stopwatch functions with some wonderful alarm sounds like a dog barking and a duck quacking.

There's also the facility to use FaceTime over cellular which could be handy for my train spotter mate as I can beam live pictures of steam trains to him

Ian

[TSR2]

And while Apple and Google slug it out those of us with Windows Phone on Nokia get a great Sat Nav with offline maps for free

... And voice control without a silly name

[speedbird591]

Sounds fantastic, Ben. If they ever slap a 10 inch retina display on it, give me a bell - I might be interested

Hope you had a good trip to London and didn't get up to any mischief

Ian

[airboatr]

... And voice control without a silly name

I heard ... somewhere.. they called it siri because that's what the program said when one spoke to it.

siri? siri?

[DarrenL]

Not forgetting all the 3rd party apps that used the Google Maps API in iOS that now default to the horrible Apple Maps instead. It's screwed up some of those, especially those local search apps that cover a part of the Apple Map that is very low detail or just doesn't exist, or is just in the wrong place.

[speedbird591]

I agree entirely, I detest Apple software, but until someone else can make a tablet that's anywhere near as good as the iPad, I'm stuck with it. At least with phones there's a choice

Ian

[TSR2]

Sounds fantastic, Ben. If they ever slap a 10 inch retina display on it, give me a bell - I might be interested

Hope you had a good trip to London and didn't get up to any mischief

Ian

Lol No mischeif mate, got to hotel at 23:00 then up at 06:00 so no grub either, although some stunning views of London last night on the way in as it was pretty clear. The BA 767's are getting referbed at the moment so there were about 6 in and arround the hangers at the East end, along with a BMI A330 and an A320 in the hanger.

And much to my delight a distinct lack of 737's at Heathrow tonight. We taxied from gate 503 up to runway 27L and only 4 of the ugly little things could be seen, 1 x KLM, 1 x SAS, 1 x Turkish and 1 x I couldn't quite make out.

[airboatr]