By: Hillel Fuld (@hilzfuld)

The time has come. iPhone rumors are in high gear and WWDC is around the corner. If you spend a lot of time reading tech blogs, you will hear that there is a lot of talk about iOS and how its design, which has pretty much not changed since 2007, is getting really old. In the latest Vergecast for example, Topolsky talked about his experience in D10 and how many iPhone users told him that they were seriously getting bored of iOS and considering the move to Android.

Then there are people like Scoble and MG Siegler who keep talking about Apple and the iPhone’s supremacy in the mobile market. Of course, this group’s theory is better backed by numbers since Android’s U.S market share is not looking too good if the last four months are any indication. More on that here.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is certain, Apple is not going to sit back and let us all get bored with the iPhone. Tim Cook talked a lot about Siri’s future at D10, but many blogs are reporting new features and functionality that we can expect to see in the upcoming iOS 6.

Here we go…

iOS 6 Features We Know About

Facebook Integration

As TechCrunch reported, Facebook and Apple are finally going to kiss and make up in the upcoming release of iOS 6. Truth be told, it is pretty sad that it took this long for iPhone users to get a Post to Facebook button across the whole OS. (Thanks 9to5Mac)

From what i understand, Facebook integration in iOS 6 will be completely cross-system including the ability to Like apps and thereby promote them to your Facebook friends. Again, this is a no-brainer and it should not have taken this long.

3D Maps

Well, Google and Apple are now giving us a funny show of who can release 3D maps first and whose will be better. Well, Apple will almost definitely be announcing its replacement for Google Maps at WWDC and there are leaked screen shots of the 3D mapping system all around the Web. You can see some screen shots of Apple’s upcoming 3D maps here.

Of course, Google will be releasing its 3D version of Google Maps a week before Apple’s WWDC. Am I the only one who feels like they are babysitting a group of young children?

Full Siri on iPad

As always, 9to5Mac broke the story that Siri, in all its “glory” is making its way to the iPad in iOS 6. Again, no brainer. Although, to be fair, you do hold the iPad further away from your face than an iPhone so speech recognition on the tablet has to be a lot more accurate.

Having said that, if you thought people taking pictures with a 9.7′ camera was awkward, wait till you see people holding it up to their face to talk to the thing. This is going to be fun.

Now for a short wishlist…

 

What We All Want to See in iOS 6

A Kill Switch

This is a really minor feature that Apple can implement in 30 seconds, but its anyone’s guess why they didn’t include this back in iOS 4. You know the “multitasking bar” you get when you press on the Home button twice? Well, mine has 50 apps running or appearing consistently.

Now most of those apps are not actually running and using battery or data, but some are and I want to stop them. How do I do that? One by one. Really, Apple? Just add a Kill All Apps button and call it a day. Thank you.

A Notifications Fix

When it comes to notifications, Apple has come a long way and I say that with (close to) no sarcasm. The notifications in iOS 5 are way better than the lack of notifications in previous versions of iOS. Having said that, it’s as if another company designed the iOS 5 notification system, not Apple. In other words, it lacks the elegance and polish we have grown accustomed to with Apple software.

The Notification Center is a perfect example. Use it on the iPad. Ugly. Try clearing one notification without a stylus. Better yet, try clearing all notifications in one tap. Not possible. Bottom line? Notifications need a 2.0 version pronto.

Customization. Please?

Last but not least, the elephant in the room. Android fans, you can close this post right now, you might not like what I have to say here. By now, enough time has passed for us to see clear patterns of behavior as far as iOS and Android are concerned. With the very few exceptions, the better apps/developers are flocking to iOS first, Android second, if at all. On that front, iOS 1, Android 0.

However, the customization of Android is its card against Apple, its only card, to be honest. Apple needs to get on that horse fast. Now, I don’t see Apple adopting widgets and other customization features of Android, but there is no reason an iPhone user should not be able to customize the look and feel of the home screens, the lock screen, and the way apps appear on the screen. Come on, Apple, give your uses some ammunition against the Android-loving, customization-flaunting, Google fanboys.

Conclusion

No one really knows what to expect from the WWDC event, but if past years are any indication, Apple will pull something out of its sleeve whether it is an iPad mini, a bigger iPhone, some huge new feature in iOS 6, or something else no other blog has even imagined yet. Yes, that is a possibility too.

One more thing

The feature in the video below would be pretty awesome, don’t ya think?

Please share your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter, Google+, or Facebook where we are always listening.
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