* iOS 6 is Available. Here are the Reviews

Again, I refuse to do any Apple review. But the iOS 6 is out, and I know you want to read about it. So here are the blogs/reviews for it.

Gizmodo – Everything You Need to Know About iOS 6
“iOS 6 is out and ready for download. Here’s everything you need to know, from how to update your device(s) to getting started with Apple’s latest OS upgrade.”

macstories – The iOS 6 Trilemma
“In my opinion, iOS 6 has, right now, worse Maps and App Store search; especially for Maps, if you rely on features like Street View and public transit directions, I can’t recommend the update until an official Google Maps app comes out.

For everything else, iOS 6 improves on almost every aspect of the operating system, and sets the stage for a stronger platform in the future.”

Anil Dash – Who Benefits From iOS 6’s Crappy Maps?
“Apple made this maps change despite its shortcomings because they put their own priorities for corporate strategy ahead of user experience. That’s a huge change for Apple in the post-iPod era, where they’ve built so much of their value by doing the hard work as a company so that things could be easy for users. I’m not suggesting (yet) that this is a pattern, and that Apple will start to regularly compromise its user experiences in order to focus on its squabbles with other tech titans. But history shows that dominant players in every era of operating system history have reached a turning point where they shift from the user experience and customer benefits which earned them their dominance to platform integration efforts which are primarily aimed at boxing out competitors. It’ll be interesting to see which direction Apple’s maps follow.”

macstories – iOS 6: Mail, Phone and Safari Feature Additions
“Mail, Phone and Safari have all been around since the original iPhone launched in 2007. They all have seen subtle changes here and there over the years and in iOS 6 that trend continues but with the addition of some really neat new features.”

macstories – Hands On with iOS 6 Maps
“In my opinion, Apple has nailed the presentation of their Maps app. The new icon looks fantastic, Apple’s cartography is stunning, and their 3D imagery is for the most part, top notch. I’m really a fan of Apple’s turn-by-turn directions. Critics are going to argue that Google still has the upper hand here, especially for 3D imagery when pitted against Google Earth, and I’d agree, except that Google Earth constantly gives me low memory warnings and crashes on iOS. Google is said to be working on their own Maps app for the iPhone and iPad, although I’m surprised it isn’t out preceding the launch of iOS 6.”

macstories – iOS 6: Tips, Tricks & Hidden Features
“We know we didn’t uncover every single tip and trick of iOS 6, but we think we covered most of the the good ones. We hope these tips, tricks and hidden features will help you navigate around iOS 6 more easily, and knowing that you know things others don’t about the new iOS make you feel like a real Apple geek. Enjoy!”

Engadget – iOS 6 review
“If you’re a longtime fan of iOS, you’ll find yourself in the middle of a mental debate. You may be slightly disappointed that iOS 6 isn’t a revolutionary update; with the exception of the new Maps and Passbook, there aren’t many major feature changes or revisions that will leave you eagerly counting down the time it takes to download and install the update. With iOS 6, Apple seems to be more focused on refining the overall user experience than debuting significant new feature additions. On the other hand, it’s still an improvement over iOS 5. But let’s face it — this won’t be a difficult decision to make. Indeed, there’s very little reason not to hit the upgrade button.”

~ThirdTech

* iPhone 5

I refuse to review Apple devices. There are tons of that on other blogs. But I know you really want information about iPhone 5, so here are the blogs who did the review.

iPhone 5 Features
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/

iPhone 5 Tech Specs
http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

CNET – iPhone 5 review: Finally, the iPhone we’ve always wanted
“The iPhone 5 completely rebuilds the iPhone on a framework of new features and design, addressing its major previous shortcomings. It’s absolutely the best iPhone to date, and it easily secures its place in the top tier of the smartphone universe.”

Slashgear – iPhone 5 Review
“Right now, the iPhone 5 has the best balance of everyday usability and performance, without the distraction of functionality that is clever but unintuitive. It’s an area in which Apple excels, and it’s the reason the iPhone 5 is one of the best smartphones on the market today.”

Engadget – iPhone 5 Review
“The iPhone 5 is a significant improvement over the iPhone 4S in nearly every regard, and in those areas that didn’t see an upgrade over its predecessor — camera, storage capacity — one could make a strong case that the iPhone 4S was already ahead of the curve. Every area, that is, except for the OS. If anything, it’s the operating system here that’s beginning to feel a bit dated and beginning to show its age.”

Online Wall Street Journal – The iPhone Takes to the Big Screen
“Apple has taken an already great product and made it better, overall. Consumers who prefer huge screens or certain marginal features have plenty of other choices, but the iPhone 5 is an excellent choice.”

TechCrunch – With iPhone 5, Apple Has Chiseled The Smartphone to Near Perfection
“Overall, the iPhone 5 is an absolute homerun. Apple has taken what I still considered to be the best smartphone (the iPhone 4S) and perfected it in nearly every way. And yes, that includes in the battery life department. While it’s hard to judge against a year-old iPhone 4S, the battery seems to be a bit better than it was a year ago (though there were some iOS issues as well). Apple claims 8 hours of 3G and LTE usage, and that seems about right.”

Pocket-lint – Apple iPhone 5 Review
“Change isn’t always necessary, nor needed, but if there were things you didn’t like in iOS 5, chances are they will still be here in iOS 6. Microsoft’s Windows Phone trounces iOS 6 on the social connected stakes even though Apple has added Facebook this time around. BlackBerry’s BB10 OS, due out in February 2013, beats it on the email and messaging integration (we’ve played with the OS already), and Android is perfect for those that want customisation and control beyond choosing wallpapers.”

Time – Apple iPhone 5 Review: It’s All About Refinement
“By that standard, Apple’s mojo remains fully operational. The iPhone 5 features some upgrades which, though not groundbreaking in the least, are welcome, like its slightly-larger screen and zippy 4G LTE broadband. It sports an improved version of what was already the single best camera in phonedom. It makes Siri smarter. In short, it’s the most polished version yet of what was already easily the most polished phone on the market.”

~ThirdTech