iPhone Software

If James Bond had an iPhone, he'd be using Wickr. Secret messaging between iOS devices has been around for some time, with apps such as Black SMS which encrypt messages to keep them private. Now a free app known as Wickr has taken the concept to a new level.

Not only does Wickr encrypt messages in transit, keeping them away from prying eyes, but the app actually is capable of sending self-destructing messages with a limited lifespan. After these messages are received, they are securely erased from the recipient's iOS device based on the sender's instructions.

Interested to see Apple's Passbook app in action on the beta version of iOS 6? With all of the buzz surrounding potential NFC payment technology possibly making its way into the next iPhone, the Passbook app just got more interesting. Already Apple has explained that the app will save retail loyalty cards, plane tickets and more all in one convenient place.

Activating Passbook on your device is easy if you already have the developer beta of iOS 6 installed. The app is already installed, however in order to work it requires individual entries to be created. Luckily there's a website that you can access using mobile Safari that will set up Passbook info, activating the app.

Now that WWDC 2012 is only a few days away, there's been plenty of time for speculation, research, rumors and leaks. Apple is set to show off its latest mobile operating system next week, iOS 6. So what have we learned is already in the works for the firmware?

According to reports, Apple will focus primarily on major improvements to apps, while most functions of iOS will remain unchanged. iPad 3 owners will be happy to know that Siri is expected to launch on their devices with the release of iOS 6. So what does iOS 6 have in store for the rest of us?

Now that iOS 6 has appeared in developer logs Apple is gearing up to show off its latest mobile operating system at WWDC next month. Rumors of iOS ditching Google Maps for an Apple-developed replacement have been around for some time. Now screenshots of impressive 3D map renderings have surfaced.

A new silver interface surrounds the maps app, with the location button in the lower left corner next to a 3D mode toggle. Apple's in-house mapping group is also said to be working on an improved version of traffic, and possibly even native turn-by-turn navigation for iOS 6. The upcoming sixth generation hardware is widely expected to have a larger screen, which would only improve the new maps experience.

Like clockwork, the next version of Apple's mobile operating system has been spotted by developers. The company routinely tests new versions of iOS ahead of release, and iOS 6 is no different. Some reports claim Apple will announce some of the firmware's features at WWDC in early June.

Apple is planning some significant changes to iOS 6, including replacing Google maps with its own software. Another reported change would allow developers to create applications that interact with Siri.