iPhone 3GS gains Shared Photo Streams, VIP Mail in iOS 6 Beta 3
Previously, Apple's website indicated that the iPhone 3GS would not have access to Shared Photo Streams or VIP Mail when iOS 6 is released to the public later this year. But with Monday's release of iOS 6 Beta 3 to developers, Apple has since modified its iOS 6 preview page and removed footnotes that said the features would not be available on the iPhone 3GS.
Accordingly, iPhone 3GS users who are testing iOS 6 Beta 3 found that the features were in fact added to the latest pre-release build of the operating system update, as noted by MacRumors on Tuesday.
But the iPhone 3GS still does not have access to the Offline Reading List. In addition, the new Flyover feature in Apple's revamped Maps application, along with turn-by-turn navigation, will only be available on the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later.
The iPad 2, along with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS, also won't have access to Siri voice control, though that functionality is coming to the third-generation iPad. And FaceTime calls over a cellular data network will require the iPhone 4S or third-generation iPad.
Finally, new "Made for iPhone" branded hearing aids, expected to hit the market later this year, will require that users own an iPhone 4S.
Though it was first released in 2009, Apple continues to sell the iPhone 3GS alongside the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. The iPhone 3GS is available for free with a new two-year service contract with some carriers.
While Apple added a handful of features to the iPhone 3GS with the latest beta of iOS 6, the new operating system update still isn't compatible with the first-generation iPad. Apple's first iPad was released in 2010, more than 9 months after the iPhone 3GS became available.
In addition, only owners of the fourth-generation iPod touch will be able to install iOS 6. The portable media player has not seen a significant update since September of 2010.
19 Comments
And I have no idea why...
But, is this on iPod touch, too? (the VIP mail and Shared Photo Streams)
Shame iPad 1 misses out. From the reviews on the app store, it seems to have a lot of crashing issues due to lack of memory. Anecdotally it suffers more from lack of RAM than the 3GS. I sold my iPad 1 when the new iPad came out, and performance wise it's night and day.
[quote name="logandigges" url="/t/151324/iphone-3gs-gains-shared-photo-streams-vip-mail-in-ios-6-beta-3#post_2148402"]And I have no idea why... [/quote] Hope it gets a major update this year
[quote name="Zoolook" url="/t/151324/iphone-3gs-gains-shared-photo-streams-vip-mail-in-ios-6-beta-3#post_2148435"]Shame iPad 1 misses out. From the reviews on the app store, it seems to have a lot of crashing issues due to lack of memory. Anecdotally it suffers more from lack of RAM than the 3GS. I sold my iPad 1 when the new iPad came out, and performance wise it's night and day. [/quote] Depends what you use it for, obviously. I bought the 3rd Gen because I'm into photography and wanted to see my photo's an that new screen. But the whole thing doesn't actually add much, for me, over the 1st Gen, which is still a great device. People who play games and such will disagree, and rightfully so. But to say, in general, that the difference between a 2010 and a 2012 iPad is N&D difference is, well, off.
I'm not sure I agree about iPad 1.0 as it's seriously memory challenged and noticeably slower than the later two versions.
IMO the big "dirty secret" that everyone knows but doesn't talk about much is that the iPad 3.0 is almost no different from the iPad 2.0. Yes it has the "retina" screen, but it's not a big difference when you see them side by side "in the flesh" and the main noticeable difference in the hand is only negative. The iPad 3.0 is noticeably heavier than the iPad 2.0.