In an event that probably would get more attention than a millennial cosmic event, Apple fans experienced the new Apple iOS6. If you have a recent Apple device, you should be able to get the new operating system as long as you have a good internet connection. It has been made clear that iOS6 will not be compatible for first generation iPhone or iPad devices, but everything else should be in the clear. This is the first time that Apple’s OS will be able to get acquired with no plugin necessary.

So what is going to be so great about iOS6? It’s not so clear yet, but based on the improvements and new Apple features that are going into it, it looks like users should have plenty to look forward to, and some of them can be previewed here (if you didn’t jump on the opportunity to download already).

1. Apple Maps

This is probably Apple’s most ambitious effort with iOS6, being that Apple Maps is the company’s built-from-scratch map system in the post-Google Maps era. If you don’t remember, Apple and Google “broke up” back in June, and it was announced that Apple would no longer use Google Maps for navigation or location purposes. The look of the Maps seem to be the main attraction, with plenty of 2D and 3D visual wonders, which are all vector-based. However, the problem that many have brought up already is Apple Maps’ limited search database. This will be a big problem if they expected to match up against Google and their well-situated and advanced system.

2. Passbook

This is another one of the main features of iOS6, and is expected to add a bit more ease to the everyday transactional live of users. Passbook serves as an aggregate app that pools together every payment service that you had previously needed to use on multiple apps. For example, you may have had to make a payment on the Subway with one app, and get a coffee at Starbucks or elsewhere with another app. Passbook will put all of this together so you don’t have to go searching around anymore.

3. Enhanced Facebook Integration

Think you’re spending too much time on Facebook? Well iOS6 is not going to make your efforts of getting away from it any easier. That’s because Facebook will be highly-integrated into the system, and you’ll be able to interact, share and do all of those other Facebook things you can’t help yourself from doing without actually having to be on Facebook in the first place. It seems like they are trying to keep us as addicted to the social network as much as possible.

What Else?

Another hopeful feature behind iOS6 is an improved Siri, which received pretty polarizing responses when the voice system first came out. Many are saying that Apple had learned its lesson, and it is expected that users will have a better experience in getting the results that they want out of Siri. Other than that, the other features probably won’t be upfront and in your face. There are apparently hundreds of features that went into the new system. With the iPhone 5 coming out this Friday, it will certainly be Apple’s week (or weeks) as the end of the month approaches.

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