Apple Confirms Official iOS 6 Release Date

Apple’s Phil Schiller confirmed during the iPhone 5 event yesterday that iOS 6, “the world’s most advanced mobile operating system,” would be publicly available to download on September 19.

Tim Cook & Co. unveiled two devices that run iOS 6, the new iPhone 5 and the fifth-generation iPod touch. Both will ship in October, but the new software will be available to the masses a bit earlier – in a week from now.

iOS 6 brings a reported 200 new user features, including the new Maps application with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and the 3D Flyover view; Facebook integration, including the ability to post directly from Notification Center.

The new iOS also brinsg the new Passbook app which keeps all your passes in one place; an enhanced Siri with new language support, access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings, and integration with apps like Photos, Safari and Maps; and Shared Photo Streams.

Compatibility starts with the iPhone 3GS (as the oldest iOS device to support it).