As another example of the movement toward convergence between iOS and OS X, iOS 6 also lets users tie a phone number to an Apple ID. "So if someone calls your iPhone, you can answer that call on your iPad or even Mac," said Forstall.

Other new features ranged from shared Photo Streams and VIP emails -- the latter automatically display, even on a locked screen -- and something called "Passbook," which Forstall described as a locker for all tickets and boarding passes that are stored in various apps.

"There are a lot of great apps that put your boarding passes and tickets right into the app," Forstall noted. "The problem is, when you get to the movie theater, you have to fumble around to find the app and then the ticket."

Gottheil didn't see one individual element today of iOS 6 that made him swoon, but in the aggregate, he saw a step forward by Apple. "There were many bright objects, but no shining star," he said.

Even so, he called out the Facebook integration and Passbook as two of those most likely to not only have legs, but to impress current iOS device owners and potential customers, too.