PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - The much anticipated iPhone 5 from Apple was released in their stores today. The phone runs on Apple's new operating system which was released earlier in the week to users of older iPhones. The system known as "iOS 6" boasts to have 200 new features, but it's been getting mixed reviews.
NEWS CENTER'S Tech Correspondent, Brett Whitmarsh, gives us his review.
The new maps app is not being well received?
Apple has been taking a lot of heat for the new maps app. They removed the Google based maps app and put in their own. The concept is a good one. The app hasn't been updated in a very long time so it was over due. The new app now has turn by turn directions and a new 3D option for seeing where you're going. It also functions more like a real GPS with a voice over reading off those directions. Users say the directions and general information is off. For example, I entered our studio's address and it landed me around the block. It also has me in constant motion while I was sitting at my desk.
But what people are really annoyed with is the big name destinations are way off. Here is an example of what is both pretty cool, and a bit buggy. I looked for the London Eye in England. It dropped me in a random field. To find it properly, I looked for Big Ben... Then walked my way over from there. Only when I went to save it did it see it as the real London Eye.
What is Apple saying about this?
They do acknowledge that the issues is being worked on and will get better the more people use it. The reason it happens is the source of the information has changed. It's no longer coming from Google. The directions are from Tom Tom, but the locations are from Yelp.
So if people need a map of some kind, what should they do?
Keep checking back on it, but in the mean time I suggest using the free app Mapquest. It does the voice navigation and will give you turn by turn. It just doesn't do the 3D information.
You're also excited about the Facebook integration tell us about that.
In the last update, we were given the option to post things directly to Twitter, now we have added Facebook. So if I have a photo, a link or anything from the phone, I can now post it directly from where I am to Facebook. I can even tell Siri to do it for me.
So that's helpful to stay hands free. Siri is still improving. The latest update helps her to be more efficient. She can also check sports scores and give you other sports information, movie times, and restaurant reviews and locations.
You also like a feature called "Do Not Disturb"
I do, this is a setting that will allow you to keep your phone on, but silence everything else. The phone needs to be locked for this to work. So you've always been able to silence your phone, but visually things would still pop up. Now with this option, nothing happens. It will silence all notifications and calls. You can allow favorites to call you, and even that you can block. If someone calls a second time within three minutes of their first call, they will get through. You can also schedule this feature.
As we said there are roughly 200 new features, some of them small, but you ran into some trouble installing the new system?
I had Wifi issues and so did a lot of other people. I had trouble getting access to WiFi I've always used. After a lot of searching online for help, I found a trick. Go into your settings, choose iCloud and re-enter your iCloud password. That simple trick solved my issues and a lot of others from what I found on Twitter.
-I also suggest doing a back up before you do the instal. You can do the instal wirelessly if you have already downloaded iOS 5, but if you have not then you will need to plug it in to your computer.
You say the system is a free download for previous phones?
Yes, you can download it on some iPod touches, iPhone 4S, 4, 3gs and the last couple of iPads... But I tested it on the 4 and 4S -- it has been very sluggish on the 4. Not all the apps do what I would normally have them do. So you can do it, but be patient with it if you have a 4.
And you will need to download the YouTube app. That's not there anymore. This is a good thing though. It's been given a great update.
For more information and for more reviews on all the features check out this link:
APPLE iOS6 Review