With iOS 6 practically upon us, you may have some questions, or might be wondering whether or not you should even upgrade. There’s certainly plenty to think about before hitting that update button, so we’ve put together this guide to help you decide and provide you with some advice.
The upgrade to iOS 6 may be obvious for some, as the update brings a number of new features to your iPhone, including Panorama mode, a great new Maps app with turn-by-turn directions, Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams, Improvements to Siri, and more.
For others however, the update may not be such a clear choice. Users that heavily depend on an untethered jailbreak, or who heavily rely on apps that haven’t yet been updated with iOS 6 support may hesitate before clicking the button.
Most apps that work with the latest version of iOS 5 should work with iOS 6 even if they haven’t been optimized for it, but if the app is truly critical, you may want to think twice.
Whether you upgrade immediate or device to upgrade later, you’ll want to consider the new features that iOS 6 brings to the table. We’ve outlined what you can expect from iOS 6, and have highlighted it’s main new features in a separate article, so click here to get an idea of what you can expect.
Even with all of iOS 6s new features, and the long and detailed developer testing it has gone through, it may be a good idea to wait a day or to before upgrading to avoid any potential last-minute problems that Apple may need to address. We’ll be keeping an eye out for things like this and will keep you posted.
It’s important to make sure that you have the latest version of Mac OS X and iTunes 10.7 before attempting to upgrade to iOS 6, or your update may fail. The latest version of OS X is necessary for iOS 5′s iCloud functionality to work correctly, and iTunes 10.5 is required to install the firmware update on your device.
After you’ve updated your Mac with the latest version of OS X and iTunes, it’s time to update your apps. Visit the App Store both in iTunes and on your device to make sure you have the latest versions of all of your apps. Most apps will already work with iOS 5, but many developers have hard at work optimizing their apps for the new version of iOS.
Check out our guide on how to prepare your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch for iOS 6 for a complete guide on making sure you are ready!
To avoid any potential problems with your update, make sure you check the developer’s website for any essential apps that you rely on to make sure there aren’t any warnings about updating to iOS 6. If you find any warnings or issues, it’s probably best to wait until the developer can release an update to address the problem.
Once you’ve decided to upgrade, updated your Mac, and checked for developer warnings, it’s time to prepare your iOS device for the big update! Backing up your iOS device, taking note of any app-specific passwords you might need, and taking screenshots of your setting page in iOS 5 are all important steps to take to make sure your upgrade goes as smooth as possible.
We recommend restoring your device to iOS 6 through iTunes rather than applying the over-the-air update, as it will help ensure the smoothest experience once the upgrade is complete. Updating over-the-air is faster, however, so if you lack patience and don’t mind potentially working out some kinks after the upgrade, that might be just the option for you!
Once you’ve updated your device, you should be ready to use your device. It’s recommended that you wait to use your phone (or make changes in iTunes) until after your iPhone’s display shows that the upgrade is complete, and after iTunes has performed it’s first sync after applying the update.
And…you’re done! Play around with the settings, experiment with the new features, set your phone up just the way you like it, and enjoy! Make sure to check out our full iOS 6 coverage for all the details!