If you already own an iPhone this one should be a no-brainer: Apple's iOS 6 is available today -- download it. You will be able to upgrade to iOS 6 in just a few hours - the iOS 6 release time should be around 10 a.m. PST/ 1 p.m. EST.

For anyone with an iPhone 3GS and up, the iPad 2, iPad 3, and the fourth-generation iPod touch, the free download of iOS 6 is a far better upgrade than dropping a few hundred dollars on Apple's new iPhone 5.

iPhone 5 reviews are just hitting the web, and they are easily the most glowing mobile phone reviews in history. Sure, the faster processor, incredible iSight camera, and larger screen are big hits, but iOS 6 is just as big a star in its own right.  

If you are upgrading to iOS 6 today, we have included all of the tips and tricks that you need to know to upgrade, as well as a list of some of the best new things iOS 6 has to offer.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the iOS 6 release time.

iOS 6 Release Date:

iOS 6 was announced last week and the iOS 6 release date is now today. We should expect to see it available for download around 10am PST/ 1pm EST. You will be able to download iOS 6 on Wednesday September 19th. Apple announced iOS 6 at Apple's Word Wide Developers conference, however, it has only been available for developers since then.  iOS 6 will be supported on the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, new iPad and fourth gen iPod touch.

Over the Air Update

This is the first time that you will be able to upgrade operating systems without plugging in your phone to your computer. If you are currently running iOS 5 you will be able to upgrade to iOS 6 over the air.

iTunes 10.7

You will need iTunes 10.7 before you upgrade to iOS 6. Download it now!

Make Sure You Back Up

Upgrading operating systems always runs the risk of data loss. Make sure you back up all of your data before hand.

Charge Your Phone

Make sure your phone is charged or a power cord is nearby. Running out of battery during an upgrade could spell disaster.

What we know about iOS 6

No YouTube or Google Maps

As the battle between Apple and Google heats up, Apple has dropped the preloaded YouTube and Google Maps applications. Not much word yet on the quality of the apps Apple has implemented on its phone instead. We'll just have to wait and test for ourselves. If Apple's new Maps feature can at least figure out which direction is "left" color us impressed.  

Major upgrade for Siri:

You can now get sports game updates, make restaurant reservations on OpenTable, watch movie trailers and more on Rotten Tomatoes, launch apps, and even tweet by voice. Siri is now also available for the iPad.

App Store

According to a report today, the App store is getting a one touch download for free apps. Fantastic news for everyone sick of the three clicks it currently takes.

Facebook Integration:

Facebook will integrate with iOS 6 in a similar way Twitter currently integrates with iOS 5.

New Phone App Features:

You can now set reminders to call people back, send messages instead of calling, apply a "DO NOT DISTURB" feature that does not alert you with notifications.

iCloud Tabs:

iCloud Tabs will integrate Safari across all  iCloud-connected devices, allowing users to go from device to device with the same internet browsing tabs remaining open on each.

Mail VIPs:

iOS 6 Mail VIPs will enable to users to mark certain contacts as important, and in turn, all their messages will be starred.

FaceTime over 3G:

Once reserved for Wi-Fi only, you can now FaceTime over your cellular network.

Photo Stream:

Photo Stream will allow you to easily share photos in real-time with your friends. Sounds familiar to us ... cough Samsung Galaxy S 3 cough.

Maps:

Apple has waved goodbye to Google Maps and reveled a new Maps app made completely in-house. 3-D maps, aesthetically pleasing functionality, and voice-prompted turn-by-turn navigation are where Apple's new app shines brightest. Although, users seem divided on whether or not this is an improvement over Google Maps.

Guided Access:

Guided Access allows you to lock an app when it's in use so that other controls won't be accessible.

Passbook:

We've already discussed the great potential of Apple's new Passbook app, and there's a lot to get excited about here. The app is one of only a few technologies poised to bring us the next big tech innovation crown: making your phone a digital wallet.

Passbook is an app that will put all your digital coupons, tickets and loyalty cards in one place, and potentially, be a way one day to use the iPhone as a digital wallet. There has been much talk in the past few years about turning phones into digital wallets -- letting people use their phones to surf the Internet, make calls and pay for lattes and muffins.

"Every opportunity I have to get in front of a client, it's the first thing I talk about," says David Reeves, vice president of the 22squared advertising agency. "This is huge. Apple doesn't do anything halfway. This is a tremendous opportunity to revolutionize the way we use our wallets."

The iPhone 5 is choosing Passbook over NFC, partly because many analysts, like Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee, argue the technology just isn't there yet, and that the chip hogs too much battery power.

But Wu does expect Passbook to pave the way for mobile payments eventually. Apple just has to get a critical mass of consumers using it. At that point, Apple will be able to persuade retailers to modernize their payment equipment to work with the iPhone.

Visa, MasterCard, Starbucks, Google, Square, PayPal, Intuit and others have been working feverishly to make mobile payments a way of life, but the practice has yet catch on in the mainstream, because businesses are waiting for it to become more widespread.

"With Passbook, you can scan your iPhone or iPod Touch to check in for a flight, get into a movie and redeem a coupon," Apple says on its website. "You can also see when your coupons expire, where your concert seats are, and the balance left on that all-important coffee bar card."

"Your mobile device will become your wallet. Whether it's in a few months, a year from now or longer, it's going to happen," Daniel Delshad developer of a new app, Loyaldash, says.

According to Wu, the long-range game plan for Apple is to have the smartphone do everything -- start the car, lock it, open the house and garage, turn on the air conditioner and heater -- and, of course, become the vehicle to pay for goods with a swift swipe of the phone.

"(Passbook) is just the beginning," Delshad says.