Everything in iOS 6 is getting a big upgrade, and Mail is no exception.

One of the biggest updates is VIP, which allows emails to come right to the lock screen like a text message. Mail now has a flagged and VIP mailbox built right in.

You can also add photos and video right from the mail compose screen, even open password protected docs. Rad.

There’s even pull to refresh.

Looks like Sparrow got some native competition.

Image: GDGT

Apple is also launching a new setting for iOS 6, called Do Not Disturb. And it does what it says on the tin.

Here’s how it works. Essentially, Do Not Disturb allows you to tell your iPhone not to bother you with interruptions. Notifications will still pop up, but they won’t light up the screen or make sounds.

Even better, you have fine-grained access to the kind of calls you can receive when the setting is one.

It’s also safe. For example, repeated calls go through: if someone calls multiple times in a short period of time because it’s an emergency, the call gets put through.

Sounds great, although it sounds to me like this is just going to encourage obnoxious repeat calling from people who think you turned DND on.

(This story is developing.Check back for updates.)

Image: The Verge

Apple announced some nice enhancements to the iPhone’s Phone app in iOS 6 today. Instead of simply having to accept or decline a call, you can now reply with an iMessage or have the OS remind you to call back later. The Phone app can remind you in one hour, or use geofencing to remind you when you leave a certain area.

The iOS 6 Notification Center’s ‘Do Not Disturb” feature allows for even finer control of the Phone app. You can set your iPhone to only allow calls from favorite contacts, certain contact groups, or even a number that calls more than once in three minutes. That’s right, no more prank calls!

Apple is also launching a new setting for iOS 6, called Do Not Disturb. And it does what it says on the tin.

Here’s how it works. Essentially, Do Not Disturb allows you to tell your iPhone not to bother you with interruptions. Notifications will still pop up, but they won’t light up the screen or make sounds.

Even better, you have fine-grained access to the kind of calls you can receive when the setting is one.

It’s also safe. For example, repeated calls go through: if someone calls multiple times in a short period of time because it’s an emergency, the call gets put through.

Sounds great, although it sounds to me like this is just going to encourage obnoxious repeat calling from people who think you turned DND on.

(This story is developing.Check back for updates.)

Image: The Verge

Following all of the Siri enhancements for the iPhone on iOS 6 Apple announced today, iPad owners will be pleased to know that the digital assistant is making its way to Apple’s tablet as well. The phone integration will obviously not be there, but all of Siri’s other features will be present, including the new ones in iOS 6.

This compliments the addition of Siri Dictation Apple made with the new iPad back in March. The iPad 2 and third-gen iPad will be supported by Siri in iOS 6, and not the original iPad.

As rumored, iOS 6 is getting Facebook integration, just like Twitter integration in iOS 5.

“We’re also making it really easy to post to Facebook from many of our apps. Post photos from Photos, post location from Maps… we’ve also integrated it right in with Notification Center. Anywhere you are you can tap to post to Facebook and Twitter.”

Siri is also having Facebook integrated. Even better, Facebook’s deep integration is now a public API, meaning any app can easily integrate Facebook into its app.

There’s even contact list integration. Facebook events and birthdays will now automatically appear in your calendars. And it’s also coming to Mountain Lion.

(This story is developing.Check back for updates.)

Image: GDGT

Apple announced today that 365 million iOS devices have been sold as of March 2012. “Almost all of our users are running iOS 5,” said Scott Forstall. “Now if you compare that to the competition. They released a dairy product, 4.0, about the same time as we released iOS 5. About 7% of their users are running it.” Forstall was referring to the poor adoption rate of Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

1.5 trillion push notifications are sent with Notification Center each day, and 130 million people are using Game Center. 140 million iMessage users have sent 150 billion iMessages, equalling a billion more each day.

“More than 75% of our customers check the ‘very satisfied’ box, and our competition has less than 50%,” said Apple, referring to its customer satisfaction surveys.

47% of all photos shared on Twitter come from iOS, and 10 billion tweets have come from iOS 5 devices since Twitter integration was added last summer. We’re sure Facebook will see similar success this time around.

Apple just unveiled iOS 6. And the first thing they’re showing off in iOS 6 is Siri upgrades.

First thing’s first. Siri now knows about sports. You can now ask Siri what the score of the big game was, and it’ll give you the most recent results. You can also ask what a baseball player’s batting average is. She can even give you league listings.

Siri has also learned a lot about restaurants, thanks to integration with Yelp and OpenTable.

Siri’s also now a movie buff. You can ask Siri which movies are playing at your local theater, then even see trailers, right from within ratings. Heck, you can even see reviews, thanks to integration with RottenTomatoes.

You can now tweet from Siri!

Siri’s also gaining the ability to launch apps, which is likely to be a huge accessibility boon to blind people, which Apple is highlighting by mentioning that this is “eyes-free” smartphone usage.

Even better, Siri’s getting external hardware integration. In the next twelve months, BMW, GM, Jaguar, Mercedes, and Honda, amongst others.

Siri’s also learning some new languages: French-Canadian, Spanish, Italian, Italian French, German and Korean. Mandarin and Cantonese for China. Local search is going global, too.

And, of course, the biggest news: Siri is finally, finally coming to iPad. Hurrah.

(This story is developing.Check back for updates.)

Image: The Verge

Apple has announced that the 8th major iteration of its Mac operating system, OS X Mountain Lion, will officially go on sale to the public in July for only $20 in the Mac App Store. New Macs purchased today will receive a free copy of Mountain Lion when it ships, and developers will receive another preview copy today at WWDC.

“The pace of innovation on the Mac is amazing, OS X Mountain Lion comes just a year after the incredibly successful launch of Lion,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With iCloud built right in and the new Notification Center, Messages, Dictation, Facebook integration and more, this is the best OS X yet.”

Unfortunately, no specific date in July for the availability of Mountain Lion has been given at this time.

Apple unveiled a completely new Mountain Lion feature today at WWDC. “I want to introduce you to a new technology in OS X that we call Power Nap,” said Craig Federighi. “Wouldn’t it be great if our computers still worked for us when we weren’t working? Now it can.”

The new feature automatically refreshes data, conserves battery life, and backs up a Mac while it’s asleep. You can use Time Machine, refresh Photo Stream, download App Store updates automatically, and keep processes running all while your Mac is asleep. Recent MacBook Airs and the new MacBook Pro will support Power Nap when Mountain Lion ships next month.