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Pics: This is what it will be like to use the iPhone 5

A beta version of iOS 6 has been released to developers and is expected to be launched fully on Apple’s latest update to its smartphone range.

NOW THAT WE officially know Apple will unveil the iPhone 5 to the world on 12 September, we’re still stuck with another week of rumours and speculation.

But! There are some things we know for certain, such as what Apple plans to do with iOS 6, the new operating system for iPhones and iPads that will likely launch along with the iPhone 5.

Apple released a beta version of iOS 6 to developers this summer, which we had a chance to play around with. For beta software, it’s actually incredibly stable, so you can get a good idea what it’ll be like when the final product launches this fall. Check out our screenshot tour below to see what’s new.

Here's the home screen. It looks just like it did before.
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  • Here's the home screen. It looks just like it did before.

  • You'll notice a few changes in the main Settings menu. First of all, you can toggle Bluetooth on and off right up front.

  • There's also a handy "Do Not Disturb" switch. This feature makes it so your phone doesn't buzz or light up when you get a new notification.

  • There are also some advanced privacy settings. This menu will help you control what apps have access to your information.

  • Apple added Facebook integration to iOS. Let's sign in!

  • When you sign in to Facebook, you can sync your calendar events, photos, contacts, and favorite apps.

  • You can also send a tweet or Facebook update from the Notification Center. Let's try a Facebook post.

  • Type in your text, and tap "Post" to send to Facebook.

  • Apple completely redesigned the Maps app in iOS.

  • Neat! Our Facebook birthdays calendar loaded to the Calendar app.

  • Passbook is a new app that lets you make payments with gift cards. It also stores tickets to concerts, sporting events, and travel. Since we're using a beta product, there's no way to test Passbook right now.

  • The App Store got a major refresh. It's gorgeous.

  • Here's the new sharing page for websites. You can share links on Twitter, Facebook, and even Weibo. (Weibo is the "Twitter of China")

  • Type your message and your link will post to your Facebook account.

  • You can also store articles to read offline later.

  • The new Mail app has a few tweaks too. Let's check them out...

  • See that little star next to the name? That means a VIP is sending us a message.

  • You can set certain contacts as "VIPs," so their messages will appear in a separate inbox. This is good for the people you talk to often.

  • We set Dylan as one of our VIPs. Let's see what happens when he sends an email...

  • You can also upload a photo or video directly to a message. Tap and hold the empty space, then tap the arrows over to "Insert Photo or Video"

  • You now have new options when getting a call. Swipe the phone icon on the right to see what's new...

  • You can auto-reply with a text message or set a reminder to call the person back later. Let's send a message.

Read: iPhone 5 set to be launched next Wednesday

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141 Comments
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    Mute Roy Mitchell
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:05 PM

    Interesting piece. I hope the author is right about this Dail.
    I really think the Journal should do more pieces like this by first time TDs. It’s give people an insight into what it’s really like in there!

    105
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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:14 PM

    Worth reading. Cheers for taking the time to write it, Stephen.

    76
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    Mute Seán Cafferkey
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:22 PM

    Great column. I always wondered what it was like for a first TD in the Dail

    51
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    Mute Kiki Dee
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:26 PM

    Very interesting piece Stephen. I really enjoyed reading it. :)

    37
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    Mute Maureen Kelly
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:05 PM

    Really enjoyed that! Let’s have some more!! How about asking Ming? :)

    25
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    Mute Jeff Rudd
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:02 PM

    Cheers Stephen. Great writing and eye opening stuff.
    More please?

    24
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    Mute damian
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:03 PM

    Good article and a nice insight into the day to day workings of the Dail that we rarely get a chance to hear about…

    21
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    Mute Aoife O'Connor
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:08 PM

    An interesting and enlightening read. Too few TDs realise how little most of us know about what they do and how they do it, so it’s nice to have a little insight.

    18
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    Mute Mark Dennehy
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:23 PM

    Legislation is complex (often mind bogglingly so). So in order to research and debate legislation properly, you need to know what the legislation is – in advance.

    16
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    Mute sure2bsure
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    Jul 22nd 2011, 5:25 AM

    I’m just curious. I thought legislation was drafted by senior civil servants with the aid of the states legal people. Surely if they need specialist advice they can just pay for it?

    2
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    Mute Mark Dennehy
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    Jul 22nd 2011, 4:25 PM

    Who would you pay to get specialist advice on civilian firearms ownership in Ireland?
    Other than civilian firearms owners (who’ve been trying to give them that advice for free for nearly forty years now), that is.

    2
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    Mute Simon Cunnane
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:10 PM

    Excellent article.

    I’ve been consistently impressed with Stephen Donnelly since I first saw him on “Tonight With Vincent Browne” last January. He is articulate, knowledgeable and has the qualifications to back up most of what he says. The electorate clearly warmed to that and in four and a half months, it’s very interesting to get this sort of insight into the workings of Dáil Eireann from him.

    More of this from TheJournal.ie please.

    14
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    Mute Noel Carroll
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:10 PM

    Maybe it’s just me but just because you’re a TD, it doesn’t give journalists the right to ask for your private number, and you have the right to refuse. Who of us in our jobs would gladly give out our private numbers to clients or associates? Who of us would be happy to have a third party volunteer that information after we said no. That journalist needs to be outer as a bulky and as someone who has risen above their station.

    13
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    Mute Noel Carroll
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:11 PM

    I did mean the journalist should be outed as a bully :).

    9
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    Mute James Gaffney
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    Jul 21st 2011, 6:18 PM

    Politicians and journalists share mobile numbers all the time, it’s a quid pro quo, sometimes politicians want to publicise an issue quickly and like to have instant access to a trusted journalist and vice versa, sometimes a journalist wants to get an instant reaction to a story from a politician, having each other’s mobiles just makes life easier for both parties. Politicians should realise that in this era of mass communications, they have to be accessible to the media. For the record I do give my mobile out to clients and associates and have no problem with it.

    Saying that, I agree with you that it was bad form out of the journalist in question to first of all get his number from a colleague and secondly to whine about it the next day in the paper, talk about a non-story.

    Fair play to Stephen Donnelly, a very interesting piece. I liked your train metaphor, something we can all relate to, and hopefully your comments on the Dáil as an echo chamber will echo loudly around the corridors of power until something is done to improve the situation.

    10
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    Mute Oisín Ó Dálaigh
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    Jul 21st 2011, 3:34 PM

    Thank you for writing what is a really excellent and informative piece, and it confirmed what I thought regarding the true nature of Dáil debate.

    Would love to hear more insights from Stephen as his time serving progresses.

    13
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    Mute Aoife O'Connor
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:09 PM

    I’d love to know who’s thumbs-downing the people who are basically going “Hmm, that’s interesting, I didn’t know that before” and why they’re doing it.

    Care to leave a comment with your reasons, red-thumb ninjas?

    12
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    Mute Aidan Molloy
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    Jul 21st 2011, 3:25 PM

    Within minutes, he’d got it from another journalist; by that evening, I was being badmouthed in the Dáil bar; and next morning, it was in the paper. Oops. – Stinks of NOTW carry on.

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    Mute Daithi Linnane
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:00 PM

    Can’t wait to read his inevitable book on Dáil Reform

    4
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    Mute Loraine Byrne
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    Jul 22nd 2011, 5:38 PM

    Well done Stephen, proud to have given you a vote. Everything I’ve seen of your time in the dail has been progressive- including this article- keep up the excellent juggling!

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