The greatest iPhone and iPad podcast in the 'verse returns tonight, LIVE at 6pm PT/9pm ET/5am BST! There's a ton of iOS stuff to talk about so get your snacks together and join us in the chat room for the best hour of pure Apple geekery you'll get all week. We've got a special guest tonight -- the one and only @marcedwards of Bjango. So buckle up, get your beverages, and get your spot in the chat staked out asap!

Want to go full screen? Head to iMore.com/live. Want to watch via iPhone or iPad? Grab the Ustream app and search for "mobilenations"!

We've talked about iOS 6 and it's unusual focus at length already, but it's been in bits and pieces, scattered across a range of articles, and tangential to other points. I think it's valuable to collect it all together, though. Unlike any full point release before it, iOS 6 is more about Apple, their platform, and its future, than it is present user attraction. And it's worth collecting that, exploring why it is, and looking at what it means for iOS users.

At WWDC 2012, Apple senior vice president, Scott Forstall, introduced iOS 6 and showed off 10 of its over 200 new features. The response was decidedly mixed. Many saw it as more tick than tock -- a minor point release rather than a major new OS version that was inattentive to power-user interests, and a sign that Apple was slowing down. And it didn't help that Google's minor point release, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, shown off the very same month, seemed to pack just as much punch as Apple's major new OS version, if not more.

Sure, the low hanging fruit is gone for iOS, but a lot of higher-hanging fruit remains. Yet clearly that's not Apple's focus this year.

This year, there's no iPhone OS 2.0 App Store-level feature addition for iOS. No iOS 5 PC-free/iCloud-level addition either. There's not even an iOS 4 or iPhone OS 3.0 multitasking or cut, copy, and paste-level addition. No new Home screen interfaces or fast app switcher visualizations. No actionable notifications or methods for inter-app communications.

What there is, is all about Apple.

Removing Google's data hooks

iOS 6 will excise the Google-powered Maps app from the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and replace it with an Apple-powered Maps app. It will remove the Google-powered YouTube app, and replace it with nothing. It won't remove Google search, but it will increase Siri's scope, and Siri's ability to intermediate and broker even more search queries away from Google.

That's not a coincidence.

While the exact numbers are hotly debated, it's long been said Google makes more money off iOS than they do off their own Android operating system. The reason for this is simple -- mainstream iOS users tend to use the web and apps more than mainstream Android users, and iOS is currently filled with Google services. The built-in iOS 5 Maps app is powered by Google and provides sponsored search results and a huge amount of location data to Google. The built-in iOS 5 Safari web browser defaults to Google Search, serves Google Search ads, and can provide even more varied types of data. When iOS users use those services, Google makes money and gets more data.

That's Google's business. It doesn't make money when you search its index, it makes money recording your information, aggregating it, and brokering deals for it. Search isn't the product it sells. We are. If Apple steps in and makes the queries on our behalf, and returns them on Google's behalf, Google is cut out of the important parts -- the money.

Apple won't be replacing YouTube with an iCloud Video app (now featuring 100 videos!) any time soon, but they will be making people go to YouTube.com or download a Google-made YouTube app from the App Store when it ships. Both require more from a user than simply seeing and tapping a built-in icon.

Maps and Siri, however, are a different story...

Taking control of iOS location data

Both Apple and Google used to use Skyhook for Wi-Fi router location mapping, and both have now switched to in-house databases. Google used to license map tiles and has since re-mapped the world themselves. Apple has bought 3 mapping data related companies, and with iOS 6, has re-licensed map data from TomTom and created an all new, Google-free iOS Maps app.

That puts Apple, and not Google or anyone else, firmly in the drivers seat when it comes to location on iOS. The current iOS 5 maps are nowhere near as good as the current Android maps. Google, reportedly, wouldn't give Apple turn-by-turn navigation unless Apple also embedded Google's location-tracking Latitude service, which Apple didn't want to do. Likewise, Apple either didn't get, want, or implement Google's better vector maps. (Not only in the built-in Maps app, but in the APIs developers use for embedded maps in App Store apps.) Update after update, Android Maps outpaced iOS Maps.

Now Apple takes the mapping data from TomTom, draws their own vector maps, and supplies or brokers their own mapping services, and makes the app they want to make. Getting to iOS 6 Maps was undoubtedly non-trivial, but now Apple has control of the experience from the moment they acquire the map data to the moment the end user calls it up.

Likewise, Apple reduces Google's access to iOS user location data. As explained above, data is what feeds Google, and now instead of it being the default, Google Maps will be a more involved, more conscious user-action away -- they'll have to rely on us going to a website or downloading an App Store app and independently agreeing to share our locations. Since many users simply use the defaults, that immediately cuts down the size of Google's trough.

Users lose Street View and some other specific features, but gain turn-by-turn navigation and 3D Flyover mode. More importably, Apple keeps control of direct location data, and they can roll out more sophisticated data overlays and surface more user-centric features in future versions.

Intermediating and brokering iOS search

Last year, after Apple announced Siri, I wrote about it's long term, potentially game-changing customer insight implications. Specifically, how Siri wasn't a voice control system, but a powerful, Pixar-coated way For Apple to both intermediate and starve their biggest rival, Google, gain invaluable business intelligence, and broker those services -- and potentially that data -- to a multitude of partners.

Right now, when you search Google, Google gets that data. They know what you're searching for, maybe where you're searching from, and they may even know who you are. Multiply that by hundreds of millions of iOS users, and that lets Google aggregate, analyze, and sell ads against a lot of data.

If, however, you search with Siri, some of those searches aren't even going to Google anymore -- they're going to Yelp!, Yahoo!, Wolfram|Alpha, and others. And when they do go to a provider, all that provider sees is Apple's servers making queries on your behalf. Not you, not your location, and not your identity. Sure, Siri right now still has tremendous problems to overcome, but Apple has tremendous resources to bring to bear on solving them.

And because the interface is the app, Apple can replace more and more of Google's pipes whenever and wherever they want, without users even noticing or caring, as long as the quality of the answer is sufficiently good. Instead of one ginormous provider, Apple can align many best of breed providers for everything from food and entertainment to sports and local business.

Which appears to be exactly what they're doing. If Apple could or would tie Siri into the Spotlight Search interface as well, they could do for text searching what they're doing for voice, further starve Google, and further capture and broker the lucrative search market.

Users lose the known quantity that is Google, and put up with the growing pains that come with Siri, but they gain greater and more varied information sources for natural language search. More importantly, Apple, and not Google, becomes the gatekeeper for search on iOS, and can roll out additional providers and services in the future.

Preparing for mobile payments

One of Apple's biggest advantages when launching the iPhone was iTunes -- not just the content and relationships, but the ability to handle transactions and take payments at a global scale. It's taken -- and is still taking -- years for even their biggest competitors to roll out anything approaching competitive systems, much less match Apple in terms of content available internationally and credit cards on file.

Apple can sell apps and media around the world, but there's a lot more to sell in this world than just apps and media. Apple has already begun to handle direct payments at Apple Retail Stores using the Apple Store app on the iPhone -- you show up, scan your item, and walk right out. Apple likely has far greater plans for that than just a fancy tech demo.

With iOS 6, Apple has also introduced Passbook, billed as way to easily aggregate and use all the vouchers and tickets collected by the various vendor apps on your iPhone, all in one place, and with all the benefits provided by first-party hooks into Apple's location-aware notification system. It can already work with the quaint QRC code system, and it's not hard to imagine that, in the future, it will work with RFID/NFC (near-field communications).

Start putting all the pieces together, and the technology Apple is introducing in iOS 6 sets them up to not only start staking out territory in the multi-billion dollar mobile transaction business of the future, but to do it in the extremely friendly, completely mainstream way Apple has done everything else with the iPhone and iPad.

Users get an interesting if not compelling new Passbook app today, and Apple gets to introduce the front end to what they may one day tie iTunes transactions into an entire mobile payments infrastructure.

Increasing support for Chinese markets

One look at Apple's quarterly earnings reports, and the attention given to the greater China market in the conference calls that follow, should leave no doubt as to how important China is to Apple. iOS 6 reflects that reality.

Users get better Chinese text input and dictionary support, Baidu, YouKu, Tudou, and Sina Weibo support, and Siri in Mandarin and Cantonese. Apple gets a more compelling product offering for the greater Chinese market, which will be huge for their future.

Outsourcing social to Facebook and Twitter

It's interesting that Apple owns the operating system with iOS and the server with iCloud, but they appear happy enough to let Twitter, starting with iOS 5, and Facebook, starting with iOS 6, own the social infrastructure.

Part of it could be Apple's ill-fated attempts at social in the past, most notably the Ping social music network. Part of it could be the lack of persistence social networks have shown to date. Friendster gave way to MySpace gave way to Facebook, and Google+ is at play in there, somewhere, as well. OS X and Windows span decades. Social has been far more migratory.

Apple needs social features, but they don't need to own social features. At least not yet. For now they just have to integrate with whomever has large user populations at any given time, which means Twitter and Facebook.

Users get to share what they're doing, and yes, give Twitter and Facebook the same kind of data Apple doesn't seem to want to give Google, but iOS gets the social features users want without Apple having to provide them.

Perhaps one day Apple will do to Twitter and Facebook what they're doing to Google now (and vice versa). But not today, and probably not for a while.

The bottom line

iPhone OS 1.0 was all about delighting users with a an enthralling multitouch interface and a fresh new take on the smartphone. iPhone OS 2.0 to iOS 4 were about filling in and rounding out features and functionality, and making the iPhone, and later the iPad, an ecosystem. iOS 5 was about taking the iPhone and iPad to the iCloud.

Now that's all done, and for mainstream users -- the users Apple is targeting -- iOS does what they need it to do.

Meanwhile Android and its various device manufacturers are still pushing out new features fast and furiously, yet at the same time they're being forced to go back and work on user experience and consistency, something Apple nailed in iPhone OS 1. webOS has floundered, Windows Phone has yet to find a place in the market, BlackBerry won't even have a shot at a relaunch into early 2012, and the Facebooks and Amazons are still testing the waters.

Apple has a unique opportunity, a unique moment in time, to fix some of the problems they themselves have been facing with iOS, and need to fix to better ensure the future of their platform. Unfortunately, that comes at the expense of user-centric, perhaps even geek-centric features. This time.

In a perfect world, Apple would be able to do everything all at once. We live in the real world of opportunity costs, however, where time and money spent on one thing negates that same time and money being spent on anything else. Even a company as massive as Apple has limits on how much carefully focused software they can project at one time. Sure, there's Do Not Disturb, FaceTime over 3G, VIP mail, Safari image uploads, kiosk-mode, and a few other enhancements, but making a new Maps app was a huge amount of work for Apple, even if replacing one maps app for another doesn't seem like a huge benefit for users. Likewise positioning Siri and Passbook for what comes next.

So iOS 6 is more about Apple and the future of the platform than it is about revolutionary user-facing features today. And that's fine, because a strong platform means more user-facing features for tomorrow...

FireCore's popular aTV Flash software for jailbroken Apple TV's has just been updated to add even more features for first generation Apple TV users. If you have a jailbroken Apple TV, aTV Flash is definitely an add-on package you'll want to check out.

For those not familiar with FireCore or aTV Flash, it's basically a software suite that will run on a jailbroken Apple TV and add a ton of additional functionality such as playing movie formats other than iTunes, surfing the web, creating playlists and more. While this update is specific to the original Apple TV, there is also software available for newer Apple TV models as well.

The 4.5 update in particular brings with it Mountain Lion support and more.

• Added support for OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
• Added active memory management (to keep things running smoothly)
• Added ability to copy files between playlists
• Resolved Smart Installer bug
• Other miscellaneous improvements and fixes

If you don't already have aTV Flash, you can purchase it for a one time fee of $39.95. If you've already got it you can update straight from your Apple TV by choosing Maintenance and then going to the manage plugins menu. Hit the link below to find out more and to purchase aTV Flash.

Source: FireCore

Square, the trend-setting mobile payment system, has announced that they've been picked up by Starbucks. This fall, Starbucks will beging accepting mobile payments using Square throughout their 7,000 locations in the U.S. As noted on the Square blog:

It's amazing to think that Starbucks began as a single coffee shop in Seattle. The concept of taking a good idea and helping it grow is not foreign to them, and Starbucks doesn't just view Square as the simplest way to accept payments. They see an opportunity to extend and accelerate a model they grew up with: the idea that business is local and that community plays a vital role in job creation and economic vitality. When Starbucks builds the Square Directory into their apps and in-store Digital Network, it gives Square new visibility, driving more customers to opt-in to Square. And with nearly 7,000 Starbucks stores soon accepting Square, these new payers will be able to find your business (including coffeehouses) and pay with their name, building community and creating value.

In addition to that news, Square and Starbucks have also confirmed that Starbucks will invest $25 Million to help with Squares latest round of funding. Something that will surely help Square gain some advantage over competing companies that are now arising to take on mobile payment solutions.

For the past couple of years now Square has slowly been making it into the mainstream. Going full steam in 2010, they eventually launched their Square POS application for iOS with hopes to replace a traditional POS (point of sale) cash register with an iPad.

Overall, this new agreement between the two companies is a resounding nod of confidence in Square and their future in the mobile payments space while placing Starbucks at the forefront of that technology.

Source: Square

Google has announced they're updating their voice-powered Google Search app for iPhone and iPad with functionality that sounds like it's much more competitive with Apple's own voice-powered service, Siri.

In the latest version of the Google Search App for iOS and Android, not only can you say your question out loud, but your search app can speak your answer right back to you. And, using Google's Knowledge Graph, your search app gives you smarter answers loud and clear.

While Google's original iOS apps were disappointing native wrappers around web views, they've really stepped up their game lately with the new Google+ app and improvements to the still middling Gmail app. Google is also reportedly working on an iOS YouTube app to replace the built-in YouTube app that's been removed in iOS 6 beta 4, and it's widely expected they be making a Google Maps app for iOS, or refreshed Google Earth app, since Apple is replacing the Google-powered built-in Maps app with a new, Apple and TomTom-powered iOS 6 Maps app.

Making Google Search competitive with Siri will be important for Google as Apple continues to remove them from the built-in systems, and intermediate and broker search traffic -- and the all-important user data that comes with it -- away from Google.

Since most users stick to defaults and built-in functionality, and App Store apps require users to learn about them and go to the trouble of downloading and manually launching them each time they want to use them, even an improved Google Search isn't on equal footing with Siri, but at this point, Google's business model needs every iOS user they can hold on to. The only way to do that is by providing compelling apps and services that make users seek them out.

Sadly, the App Store doesn't provide the the type of system-level access Google would need to build something on the level of Google Now for iOS -- something that proactively, almost pseudo-precognitively finds out information for you, but what they're doing on Android should certainly keep Apple on their toes.

Look for the new Google Search app on the App Store soon. Meanwhile, here's a link for the current version, and a video of what's to come...

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For the very first time, Apple has started listing the new iPad in its refurbished section of the online Apple Store. Starting today, you can save $50 off the price of a brand new iPad with retina display; if you are prepared to go down the refurbished route.

The question is, what does refurbished actually mean? The dictionary definition is to make neat, clean, or complete, by renovating or restoring. But this is Apple that we are talking about; it goes a little further than that.

Apple Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple's stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, all units undergo Apple's stringent quality refurbishment process.

Every refurbished Apple product is fully tested, parts replaced where necessary, fully cleaned and inspected, repackaged with the same packaging as a new product and finally given 12 months Apple warranty. Apple stands by its refurbished products and is even happy to offer its Apple Care extended warranty on products purchased in this way. If you take out Apple Care when you buy a refurbished iPhone or iPad you can have two years peace of mind with great support from Apple.

If you are happy to buy refurbished, you can save $50 off the normal price of any new iPad. That includes the WiFi only versions and those models with LTE too. That saving works out between 6-10% across the range.

The downside is that refurbished item stock is very unpredictable so if you are after one, you need to decide quickly.

Have you bought a refurbished product from Apple before? If not, would you consider buying an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch via the refurbished route?

Source: Apple Store

Discovering Colors - Animals is a coloring book for the iPhone and iPad that aims to teach young children (ages 2-5) about matching colors in drawings of animals. In each drawing, different sections are marked by a colored circle indicating which color should be used there. To color the picture, the child simply needs to tap the section with the correct color. When the drawing is completely colored, it will animate.

Although Discovering Colors - Animals can be easily be used by a child without the help of an adult, the folks at Frogames recommend that you sit down with your child and play with them. There are many different ways you can interact with your child, including talking about the animals featured in each drawing and identifying the name of the colors.

The free version of Discovering Colors - Animals comes with 4 different drawings and the paid version comes with 16 drawings (4 of which must be unlocked). The paid version of Discovering Colors - Animals is on sale for $0.99 for a few days.

The good

• Fun music
• Cute drawings
• Children can play alone, yet there's plenty of opportunity for parents to offer more play through interaction
• Change difficulty settings
• Drawing animates when completely colored, bringing the animals to life

The bad

• Would love to see more than 12 drawings included

The bottom line

Discovering Colors - Animals for iPhone and iPad is a great app for young children even as young as two years old. Some may complain that this coloring book doesn't actually say the names of the colors, but I actually prefer it this way. If an app does all the teaching, my daughter usually has no interest in interacting with me while playing, but Discovering Colors - Animals allows me to offer more to the experience by playing with her. This is a huge plus in my book.

Free - Download Now

$0.99 - Download Now

Today Only: Buy the Rugged QX Medium Horizontal Pouch for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and 3GS and save $15.04!

The Rugged QX is built to withstand the day-to-day rigors of work and play, and is unmatched in secure professional protection.  The triple armored front and back panels have reinforced rubber side grips that allow a firm grip on the case. Inside is a microfiber and suede lining that protects your device from scratches.  The belt clip on the back is made of an ultra-strong polycarbonate.

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The Apple vs Samsung trial is apparently mainstream enough now that even Team Coco's own Conan O'Brien is lampooning it on his late night talk show -- or at least lampooning Samsung's attempts to claim they're not a copyist.

Samsung might actually be better off at this point just admitting to the copying and arguing that it's not illegal or infringing...

Here's the video:

The iMore forums are hopping over a post from sparro who wants nothing more than an LED notification light on the iPhone 5.

Sparro wasn't satisfied with the LED camera flash accessibility feature added in iOS 5 and is hoping for a full on, front-facing, blinking, bugging notification light in the next iPhone.

BlackBerry lovers consider it part of what puts the crack in CrackBerry and some obviously feel lost when they switch to iPhone and lose it. Even Android seem content when their phones blink and beep at them like R2D2 with something stuck in his holo emitter.

So does the iPhone need it? Is it not enough that the whole display lights up when a new alert hits the lock screen? Do we need a blinking light as well? Or is getting away from the LED the whole reason you switched to iPhone to begin with?

Vote up top, and then head on over to the iMore forums and let sparro know how you feel about the notification LED!

This weekend, Wired's Mat Honan had his internet accounts hacked and iPhone, iPad, and Mac erased, thanks to his own linking of accounts, lack of two-factor authentication, and lack of backups -- but also because of severe problems with both Apple's and Amazon's online security policies and procedures. Basically, with an internet connection and a social engineering attack, anyone could get at least partially into anyone else's stuff.

Amazon was the first to respond, according to Wired's Nathan Olivarez-Giles:

On Tuesday, Amazon handed down to its customer service department a policy change that no longer allows people to call in and change account settings, such as credit cards or email addresses associated with its user accounts. Amazon officials weren't available for comment on the security changes, but during phone calls to Amazon customer service on Tuesday, representatives told us that the changes were sent out this morning and put in place for "your security."

And Apple followed up, again according to Wired:

Apple on Tuesday ordered its support staff to immediately stop processing AppleID password changes requested over the phone, following the identity hacking of Wired reporter Mat Honan over the weekend, according to Apple employees. An Apple worker with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Wired that the over-the-phone password freeze would last at least 24 hours.

Both of these reactions sound like triage -- getting some pressure on the exploit to stop the bleeding so they have time to do a proper follow up and, hopefully, change their policies to something a lot more secure.

It sucks that this happened to Honan, but it's good both Amazon and Apple are taking action, and the attention needs to stay on them until a better solution is in place, and the idea of continually appraising and updating the policies going forward is embraced.

And while Apple and Amazon are in the hot seat this time, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and ever other player large and small would do well to take this as a cautionary tale and examine and re-examine their own policies so they're not ever next.

You've all gone and set up two-factor Google verification, realistic back up strategies, and good, strong passwords for all your other accounts, right?

Source: Wired + Wired

Apple has launched another new iPad commercial, this one called "All on iPad" and once again focusing on the many things you can do with the many different apps available for iPad. The ad copy says:

Read it. tweet it. Be surprised. Be productive. Make a sale. Make some lunch. Make it movie night. Play a game. Or an old favorite. Do it all more beautifully with the Retina display on iPad.

And the description:

From reading a magazine to helping your business run smoothly, you can do just about anything on iPad. And with Retina display, it's all more beautiful than ever.

It showcases someone reading an article on Jamaica, tweeting from Safari, engaging in a FaceTime call, working on a Keynote, using Square for a transaction, checking out recipes, watching a video via AirPlay to an Apple TV and HDTV, playing Real Racing 2 HD, listening to Coltrane, and editing photos in iPhoto.

It's another solid, product and "what you can do with it" spot from Apple, and keeps up their long-going iPad theme of it not being about the technology, but the delight and value of using it. Which makes it a stark contrast from Apple's new, star-study iPhone Siri ads, and Genius-charicature Apple Store ads.

Check it out and let me know -- which type of ad do you prefer?

Oh yeah. This is totally decadent. Totally. But that's how Vaja does things,right? And the Matelasse Lucy Clutch for iPhone is the opposite of an exception. A combination iPhone case, wallet, and carry bag, it's hand crafted like all of Vaja's creations, but is it practical?

The Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch is small, easy to hold, easy to zip and unzip, and yet still has plenty of space for all of your cards, your money, and any other small item you may want to cary for example, lip gloss. There's a dedicated iPhone pocket, 2 general purpose pocket, and card holder good for 3 cards. None of the pockets zip or otherwise close, however, so loose change and other small items can tumble around as you go.

Taking your iPhone in and out is also easy. It slips into the dedicated inside pocket so you can keep it safe and secure, and slips right back out again when you want to use it. If you're the type of person who uses your iPhone constantly to game, text, etc., it might be inconvenient compared to a pocket case, but if you use your phone mostly as a phone -- or you just want to enjoy a night out in style -- it's perfect.

Now If you're worried that you might not hear your iPhone rings when it's inside the Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch, don't. There's a special mesh on both sides designed to make Marimba -- or whatever ringtone you so wish -- come through loud and clear. And because it's on both sides, it doesn't matter which way you insert your iPhone.

The Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch is made of premium Caterina leather with a distinctive quilted finish. It's well padded, so your precious iPhone and any other valuables are safe and secure. It's also available in a wide variety of colors so you can customize it pretty much anyway you like.

A sturdy strap lets you carry the Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch easily, either in your hand or around your wrist. Unfortunately, it's not quite long enough to comfortably cary around your shoulder and keep your hands free, which I prefer. The zipper is also heavy duty, and works without a hitch. It does, however, open along the bottom of the clutch, which is a little worrisome -- if I leave it partially unzipped, I may not notice, and things may fall out.

The hand crafting results in spectacular quality as well, with every stitch contributing to a functional, long lasting design. The leather comes in azalea (pink), rosso (red), birch (off white), nautical blue, and black. The padded interior comes in over 20 different colors -- several shades of the entire rainbow. That means you can get the Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch in just the right colors for you (or for your someone special.)

The good

• Classic design
• Incredible quality
• Excellent protection
• Easy to open and close
• Multitude of color options

The bad

• iPhone not as accessible as regular case
• No shoulder strap option
• No inside zippers/closures

The bottom line

The Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch is positively luxurious. It's soft, protective, easy to use, and offers space beyond what it's small size would suggest. If you're looking for a high-end, premium carrying bag for yourself or for someone you love, I highly recommend the The Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch. Fashion may change but the Vaja Matelasse Lucy Clutch is beautiful and built to last.

$240 - Buy now