14 DAY TRIAL // Developers checking for software updates on their test iPhone units will be glad to see a new iOS 6 beta from Cupertino today. Weighing in at 282 MB, iOS 6 Beta 4 arrives as an over-the-air (OTA) update that should also become available through the company’s iOS Dev Center soon enough.
Pushed out just moments ago over-the-air to those enrolled with Apple’s developer program, iOS 6 Beta 4 is likely just another maintenance release that deals with bugs, adding a new feature here and there.
The seed notes are yet to be leaked at this early time, and we might be in for a couple new features too, though it’s not likely that they'll be major new additions.
Apple has already confirmed 200+ new features for the fall launch of iOS 6, and we can expect every beta release to iron out more bugs, as well as to add a few tweaks until the final release.
Apple first previewed iOS 6 in June during the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference at which point it also rolled out the first beta to developers.
A flagship feature in iOS 6 is the all-new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation, and a new Flyover view.
Other cool enhancements include new Siri features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings, Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, the ability to post updates directly from Notification Center, Shared Photo Streams via iCloud, and Passbook - a new app that puts all your passes in one place.
Apple has confirmed that iOS 6 will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, the new iPad, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth generation) this autumn. The iPhone 3GS install base will be getting next to none of the key new features in iOS 6.