iOS 6

Even though iOS 6 launched in September, there's still much to explore in Apple's latest mobile operating system, as we discovered from Macworld magazine writers Lex Friedman and Dan Moren at Macworld 2013. We've compiled the best tips and tricks from the iOS 6 talk, from asking Siri for public transit directions to making sure your little ones don't accidentally delete or install new apps.

Before we begin, make sure you have the latest mobile OS installed (iOS 6.1, which pushed just last week), and remember to back up your phone before going through with any major changes. Have fun discovering iOS 6's best features, and let us know which tip changed the way you use your iPhone.

Siri

• Get public transit directions — Ask Siri, "Get me to [your destination] via transit," and she'll input your destination into the public transit apps already installed on your phone. You can then tap on one of the apps, and you'll be automatically routed via public transit.
• Buy movie tickets — She won't hand you a wad of cash, but if you ask, "What's playing at [name of movie theater]?", Siri will offer showtimes and a button to purchase tickets via Fandango.
• Find movie reviews and trivia — Ask "Is the Rugrats in Paris movie any good?", and Siri will tell you if that film is certified fresh from Rotten Tomatoes or not. You can also grill Siri with movie trivia like, "Show me movies starring Susan Sarandon and Tim Curry."
• Edit fumbled speech — Apple's sharp-witted artificial intelligence doesn't always get it right, in which case you can actually edit her translation instead of trying again. Tap on Siri's translation and then type to edit or press the microphone to use dictation to correct the transcription.
• Post to Facebook or Twitter — Tell Siri to "Post [insert status update here] to Facebook [or Twitter]," and as long as you have either account set up in Settings, Siri will post on your behalf.

Read on for more iOS 6 tips, including getting your iPhone to speak in Emoji.

Congratulations on your iPhone 5 purchase! Want to make the most of that taller screen and ready-to-go iOS 6? Download the following iPhone 5-optimized apps for gorgeous photos, easy social sharing, and your ticket to the best dining in town.

• Tumblr (Free) — Hate using Tumblr on your phone? The company heard your cries and improved the mobile experience. Hold down "reblog" to share content instantly, track tags of interest, and hold down the "like" button to share finds with friends.
• Facebook (Free) — It's no secret that the Facebook iOS app wasn't the most popular product of the social network. Return to the mobile app with updates like photos that open quickly with a swipe and a News Feed that populates more stories with a tap— no refresh wait time required.
• Flipboard (Free) — The prettiest way to digitally read news, Flipboard's update is perfect for that bigger iPhone 5 screen, giving you more stories and photos at once.
• Open Table (Free) — Treat yourself with a night at that new neighborhood restaurant. The "Great Tables" update for iPhone 5 shows which popular hot spots have a table available tonight. Or, just ask Siri to find a place to eat, since it's now integrated into iOS 6. 
• How to Cook Everything ($10) — Speaking of food, for a night in, open the app version of New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman's bestselling cookbook. With over 2,000 recipes, 400 illustrations, and a built-in timer, the only thing this app doesn't do is the cook the food for you.

Calling all extreme couponers, Apple's new mobile wallet application, Passbook, was designed with you in mind. The app aims to keep all the paper and plastic goods usually found in a wallet — like coupons, tickets, and loyalty cards — readily available in one place on your mobile device.

Part of Apple's new mobile operating system, iOS 6, Passbook is slated for launch on Wednesday, Sept. 19, and since converting from anything to its digital counterpart can be a process (we all remember the initial resistance to ereaders), take a look at how Passbook is sure to make life more organized after the jump

Maps is getting a complete makeover in Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 6. For better or worse, the company is bidding farewell to Google Maps, and an entirely new application powered by data from TomTom will take its place. Maps has become one of the most popular and beloved iPhone features — and for good reason. Google's Street View team has dedicated a substantial amount of resources into collecting real-world mapping data and creating the most comprehensive geographical database possible.

So how will Apple's version compare to Google Maps? Here's a breakdown of the mobile map app.

• New look — The most noticeable change is the clean, minimal interface, featuring brighter hues and less text clutter.
• Turn-by-turn navigation — Drivers can now follow the gentle cadence of spoken, turn-by-turn directions, without ever having to take their eyes off the road.
• 3D modeling — In "Flyover" mode, users zoom, pan, tilt, and rotate high-resolution, 3D satellite imagery.
• Landscape and portrait mode — The old version of Maps was viewable only in portrait, but the new application will allow for both vertical and horizontal orientations.
• No more transit directions — City-farers will no longer be able to rely on Maps to provide public transit information, at least for now. Stay tuned though, as Apple promises to allow third-party developers work on the feature in the future.
• Yelp integration — Thanks to a partnership with Yelp, user reviews and contact info for shops, restaurants, bars, and more are baked right into Maps.

Will you use the new Maps? Or, did Apple make a huge mistake in parting ways with Google? Let us know what you think.

During the WWDC keynote, Apple announced that the Fall launch of iOS 6 will include a major update to FaceTime, the brand's video calling service. The upgrade to the latest operating system will let FaceTime users place calls on their cellular network, rather than being restricted to WiFi-only calls. It's a great solution when a reliable WiFi network can't be found, but in this age of capped wireless data plans, will a couple — or even one — FaceTime calls devour your month's worth of data?

A monthly 5GB data plan on both AT&T and Verizon is $50 in addition to the talk and text plan of choice. While cellular FaceTime is only available on the iPhone 4S and new-generation iPad, for comparison, according to one test of an iPhone 4 FaceTime call, about 3MB of data were used per minute over 3G service. Using this rule, a one-hour FaceTime phone call would use a scant 0.175GB of data.

Keep reading to learn the price of FaceTime on 4G plans.

Available this fall (a full season away!), the free iOS 6 upgrade promises to shift the landscape for mobile devices. With all-new apps and enhanced features, the operating system offers a range of new possibilities for users. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Here's why iOS 6 will change your mobile experience:

• Maps, Maps, Maps — Replacing Google Maps, the new Apple-designed app is vector-based, which translates to more detailed graphics and text. The Flyover function allows for 3D views of major metro areas, and users will get visual and spoken navigation, plus real-time traffic updates.
• Siri advancements — In iOS 6, Siri understands more languages, works in more countries, and can be used with the iPad 2 and newest iPad. As for social networking, Siri can also tweet and post Facebook updates.
• FaceTime capabilities — No more hunting for WiFi! With the new operating system, FaceTime works over cellular networks, too, so that users can make calls from anywhere.
• Do Not Disturb — All-new iPhone features allow you to instantly reply with a text or set a callback reminder whenever you decline an incoming call. Even cooler? You can turn on Do Not Disturb so that only approved contacts can appear on your phone for a set period of time.
• Passbook — This is the go-to app for boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, and loyalty cards. By scanning your device, you can check into a flight, get into a movie, or redeem your coupon. A fun feature: if you've already checked into your flight and the gate changes, then Passbook will alert you.
• Facebook integration — With iOS 6, you'll be able to share photos on Facebook directly from Camera or Photos. Not only will Facebook events be integrated into Calendar, but you'll also stay totally up to date on all your Facebook friends' information: when a friend updates their profile information, the new number or email will automatically update in Contacts.