Apple iPhone iOS 6.0

iOS 6: The Farewell to Skeuomorphism

Released on September 19, 2012, iOS 6 was a massive turning point for the iPhone. It was the final version of the mobile OS to feature the "skeuomorphic" design—the leather textures, glass buttons, and felt tabletops—before the "flat" revolution of iOS 7. For Chasms.com fans, iOS 6 represents the peak of the classic iPhone aesthetic.

The Debut of Apple Maps

The most talked-about feature of iOS 6 was the replacement of Google Maps with Apple’s own Maps app.

• Flyover: It introduced stunning 3D "Flyover" views of major cities.

• Turn-by-Turn: For the first time, iPhone users had free, built-in voice navigation, making the iPhone a true replacement for dedicated GPS units.

Passbook: The Digital Wallet Begins

Before we had Apple Wallet, we had Passbook. This app gave users a single place to store boarding passes, movie tickets, and retail loyalty cards. It used location-based alerts to automatically pop your ticket onto the Lock Screen the moment you arrived at the airport or theater.

New Ways to Connect

• Do Not Disturb: iOS 6 introduced the moon icon. You could finally silence your phone during sleep hours, while still allowing "Emergency" calls from specific contacts to get through.

• Shared Photo Streams: This was the beginning of social photo sharing within iCloud. You could pick a group of photos and share them with specific friends, who could then "like" or comment on them.

• FaceTime over Cellular: For the first time, you weren't tethered to Wi-Fi; you could make video calls from the beach, the park, or anywhere with a data signal.

Facebook Integration & Panorama

• System-Wide Facebook: Much like Twitter in iOS 5, you could now post photos and status updates directly from the Notification Center or the Photos app.

• Panorama Mode: The Camera app gained a native Panorama mode, allowing users to capture 240-degree wide-angle shots simply by panning the phone across the horizon.