Mail in iOS 6, just as in Mountain Lion, gets its very own VIP box, where messages from contacts you've listed as VIPs are stored. The VIP box makes it easier to keep track of messages from your most important contacts.

Passbook represents Apple's efforts to create a 21st century digital wallet, organizing store cards, coupons, concert and movie tickets, boarding passes, loyalty cards, and more in one app. As Apple envisions it, Passbook will have all the information you need, including card balance, expiration dates and seat information. And a scan-able barcode means it's just as effective as coupons. Better still, Passbook is location-aware, so you'll get a swipe-able notification with the appropriate information when you walk into a retail store or even an airport terminal.

At this point, Passbook is more of an infrastructure-in-waiting than a finished product. Much of its success will depend on the support of outside vendors and networks. I can envision it being widely used and game-changing, or simply ignored if that outside support doesn't develop. My sense is that Passbook will be a pretty big deal eventually.

If you're a big video fan, remember that the YouTube app is no longer part of the default Apple software bundle. (Google's Maps app wasn't the only app to go away.) But the YouTube app can still be downloaded from the App Store.