Two weeks after the release of iOS 6.1 beta, Apple (News - Alert) has released the second beta of iOS 6.1 or iOS 6.0.1 in short. The new build now includes an improved Apple’s maps service and a new Passbook information card which explains the capabilities of the software app.

In response to user feedback, Apple was keen on explaining what Passbook is all about and how it can be put to use with the addition of the new Passbook information card. Passbook is Apple’s digital wallet app, which comes pre-installed on new iPhones and iPod Touch devices. The new Passbook information card, however, does not go away even after you start using the feature. This will likely allow users to stick around and learn how it all works rather than going to the App Store and look for other apps that offer Passbook integration. Passbook allows iPhone (News - Alert) and iPod Touch users to store tickets, coupons, membership cards and boarding passes and provide pop up information about account information where they are readily accessible from any location.

The new maps upgrade is a welcome to Apple maps developers. According to Apple, “The Map Kit framework introduces the MKLocalSearch, MKLocalSearchRequest, and MKLocalSearchResponse classes.” Apps can use these classes to perform map-based searches for addresses and points of interest. The results are then delivered to the app as an array of map item objects. In other words, the new Apple’s maps service will now let users search for specific places using simple terms like “coffee” to find local coffee bars or other related places.

iOS 6.1 beta 2 can now be downloaded through the Apple Developer website for the appropriate build. It is compatible with iPad 2 upwards and iPhone 3GS upwards, as well as with the fourth and fifth generation iPod Touch devices.

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