14 DAY TRIAL // Just a few hours ago, Apple unveiled the newest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 9, an update that focuses more on performance than on bringing to the table a revamped look.
Surely, Apple has embedded a bunch of new features into its latest software update, but iOS 9 mainly focuses on speed, optimization and stability.
Last year, the Cupertino tech giant unveiled iOS 8, which marked an important redesign push. The company also made sure it packed the operating system with enough new features to satisfy everyone. But all this came at the expense of fluidity in operation, so in 2015, Apple is looking to make things right in this department.
As we mentioned above, even if this year the iPhone maker focused on ways to improve performance, it also added some pretty interesting new features. And we’re here to detail the most important ones for you.
Multi-tasking
Apple is finally bringing multi-tasking to the iPad with iOS 9, a feature which has long been available on some of Samsung’s competing products. But Cupertino has a slightly different approach to it, offering three ways of taking advantage of it, including SlideOver, Split View, and picture-in-picture.
The picture-in-picture feature allows you to open a small video window on top of a larger one, while SlideOver is conjured by virtue of a simple slide from the side. Split View, on the other hand, allows two apps to be open and active on the same screen.
Proactive Siri
Apple has made Siri smarter in this software iteration, allowing the virtual assistant to become proactive and make its existence felt even if you are not directly engaging with it.
Aimed to be an obvious Google Now competitor, Siri can now learn your daily habits. For example, it will know that you’ll be travelling if you have a meeting scheduled for later today, so it will automatically pull up traffic information without you requesting it.
Notes
iOS 9 will now allow users to turn their lists into a checklist by adding bullets. There’s also the possibility of snapping a picture or shoot a video and sketch your thoughts by drawing with a fingertip right in the note. All these functions will be available in the new iOS Note app.
Maps update
Apple bestowed a much needed update to Maps, by adding coverage and interface perspective. On top of that, the Cupertino tech giant is now offering a public transit option, which is reminiscent of what Nokia’s HERE Maps grants.
News app
Moreover, the company is throwing in a personalized news app in iOS 9, which takes advantage of a Flipboard-style layout, customized layout, and recommendations. The app will also embed photos and video in the text layer.
Apple has partnered up with the New York Times, Rolling Stones and other blogs in order to deliver the best free content every day.
Performance and battery life upgrades
After Google introduced Doze and App Standby at the I/O 2015 conference last month, Apple now counters its rival’s offers with a complete rethinking of real-life usage scenarios.
The iPhone maker has added standby and power consumption optimizations that add an extra hour of battery to its handset. On top of that, interface animations have been revised too, and there’s a new low-power mode capable of delivering up to three extra hours of juice.
Apple Pay and Wallet
With iOS 9, Apple has renamed the Passbook app into Wallet. The company also said Apple Pay would reach one million locations next month. Discover credit card owners will also be able to jump on board with the paying service.
iOS 9 weighs a lot less
iOS 9 has been made a lot lighter than its predecessor which came in at 4.6GB. So in this regard, the good news is that iOS 9 will take only 1.3GB of your internal storage, which is quite convenient for owners of the 16GB version.
