Apple has just released iOS 6 – its eagerly awaited next generation mobile operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Apple had given us sneak peak of iOS 6 at WWDC 2012 Keynote, which includes over 200 new features such as an all-new Maps app, improvements to Siri, new Passbook app, improved notification system, Facebook integration, Panorama camera mode etc.

iOS 6 is available as a free upgrade for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3 (the new iPad), iPad 2 and 4th generation iPod touch. It seems to be available as over the over-the air update currently.

If you have jailbroken and/or unlocked your iPhone and cannot live without your favorite jailbreak apps and tweaks then you should avoid upgrading your iOS device to iOS 6.

If you are on iOS 5 or later, then you will be able to download and install iOS 6 wirelessly. Check out our step-by-step installation guide on how to update your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch over the air (OTA).

You can also update your iOS device to iOS 6 using iTunes by plugging it to your computer. We’ll be publishing direct download links as soon as they’re available.

Please don’t forget to tell us how it goes.

Update 1:

It may not be available to everyone, so please be patient. Let us know if you’re able to download it and your location as it would help fellow readers.

Update 2:

It also seems to be available for update via iTunes for some users.

Update 3:

Apple has provided the following long list of new features of features and improvements in the release notes:

• Maps
  • Apple designed vector based maps
  • Turn-by-turn navigation with spoken directions on  iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (2nd and 3rd generation)
  • Real-time traffic information
  • Flyover for photo-realistic, interactive 3D views of major metro areas on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation), and iPod touch (5th generation)
  • Local search results with Yelp photos, ratings, reviews, and available deals
  • Siri integration for requesting directions and finding places along a route
• Siri improvements
  • Sports: scores, player stats, game schedules, team rosters, and league standings for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey
  • Movies: trailers, showtimes, reviews and facts
  • Restaurants: reservations, reviews, photos and information
  • Send a Tweet
  • Post on Facebook
  • App launch
  • Eyes Free in supported automobiles
  • Local search available in Siri supported countries (availability may be limited during initial rollout)
  • Additional country and language support for Canada (English and Canadian French), China (Mandarin), Hong Kong (Cantonese), Italy (Italian), Korea (Korean), Mexico (Spanish), Spain (Spanish), Switzerland (Italian, French, German), Taiwan (Mandarin), US (Spanish)
  • Supported on iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd generation) and iPod touch (5th generation)
• Facebook integration
  • Single sign-on from Settings
  • Post from Photos, Safari, Maps, App Store, iTunes, Game Center, Notification Center and Siri
  • Add location and choose audience for any post
  • View up-to-date Facebook profile photos and contact information in Contacts
  • View Facebook events and birthdays in Calendar
  • Like content and see your friends’ Likes in App Store and iTunes Store
• Shared Photo Streams
  • Share selected photos with the people you choose
  • Friends can view shared photos in Photos app, iPhoto and Apple TV
  • Friends can like and make comments on individual photos
• Passbook
  • One place for boarding passes, store cards, movie tickets and other passes
  • Barcode display for boarding flights, buying coffee, getting into movies and other actions
  • Passes displayed on Lock Screen based on time or location
  • Passes can be automatically updated
  • Supported on iPhone and iPod touch
• FaceTime improvements
  • FaceTime over cellular support for iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation)
  • Receive FaceTime calls, sent to your iPhone number, on your iPad and iPod touch
• Phone improvements
  • Do Not Disturb to suppress incoming calls and notifications
  • ‘Reply with message’ option when declining a call
  • ‘Remind me later’ option based on time or location when declining a call
• Mail improvements
  • VIP mailbox to quickly access mail from important people
  • Flagged email mailbox
  • Insert photos and videos when composing email
  • Open password protected Office docs
  • Pull down to refresh mailboxes
  • Per account signatures
• Safari improvements
  • iCloud tabs to see open pages on all your devices
  • Offline Reading List
  • Photo upload support
  • Full screen landscape view on iPhone and iPod touch
  • Smart app banners
  • JavaScript performance improvements
• App Store and iTunes Store improvements
  • Updated store design
  • iTunes Preview history
  • Complete my season
  • Complete my album
• Game Center improvements
  • Challenge friends to beat high scores and achievements
  • Post high-scores and achievements to Facebook and Twitter
  • Friend recommendations based on your Facebook friends
• Accessibility improvements
  • Guided Access to limit device to one app or restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen
  • VoiceOver integration with Maps, AssistiveTouch and Zoom
  • Support for Made for iPhone Hearing Aids for iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S
• Improved privacy controls for Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos and data shared over Bluetooth
• Reminders can be reordered in the Reminders app
• Custom vibrations for alerts on iPhone
• Clock app for iPad
• Clock alarm with song
• Search all fields in Contacts
• Automatic movie mode for improved video sound quality
• Definitions of a selected word for Chinese, French, German and Spanish
• New keyboard layouts for French, German, Turkish, Catalan, Arabic and Icelandic
• Keyboard shortcuts shared across devices via iCloud
• Bluetooth MAP support
• Global network proxy for HTTP
• Features for China
  • Baidu web search
  • Sina Weibo integration
  • Share videos to Tudou
  • Share videos to Youku
  • Improved text input for handwriting and Pinyin
• Bug fixes

Update 4:

MuscleNerd of the iPhone Dev team has just confirmed that it will be possible to re-restore to iOS 5.1.1 with the new version of Redsn0w, so please don’t forget to save SHSH blobs. Update: But he has advised staying on iOS 5.1.1 and save the SHSH blobs.

Update 5:

You can also download iOS 6 using the direct download links available in our iOS download pages:

• iPhone
• iPad
• iPod touch

Update 6:

iPhone Dev team has provided details about downgrading from iOS 6 to iOS 5.x.

Update 7:

Check out our comprehensive list of iOS 6 features.

Update 8:

If you’re facing Wi-Fi connectivity issues after upgrading to iOS 6 then check out this post.