iOS 9 features outlined

iOS 9 will have some great new updates and new features upon release, with special attention paid to the iPad.

Joseph Lambert, Published 06/08/2015

iOS is a continuously evolving mobile operating system that receives a slew of new features when the newest version releases. This is no different for iOS 9. At the WWDC keynote, Craig Federighi spoke of all the new capabilities the new OS will bring to the table. News is a nice addition to the iPhone, which serves as a news aggregator for many different publications and sources. Notes has been overhauled so that headings, checklists, and bullet points can be added to a note among other things. Sketching is also a new feature of Notes as well as being able to add links and maps from anywhere.

Maps has been further refined and Transit view has been added. It gives an overview of all of the public transportation routes and metro stations right in the app with navigation. Wallet will replace Passbook for easier management of store credit and rewards cards, and Apple Pay will come to the UK in the fall. CarPlay with iOS 9 works with a wireless connection; the only requirement being that the user has his or her iPhone in the car.

The iPad has received a ton of tablet-specific changes that will set it apart from the iPhone and Mac. Multitasking is a huge focus. Slide Over opens a second app in a small panel next to the app already being used, and it gives a quick glance of a social media app or message thread without forcing the user to switch applications entirely. On the iPad Air 2, Split View is similar to the OS X El Capitan counterpart, which enables two applications to be used simultaneously without any delays.

Apple has also chosen to give Siri's UI a new look and enhance the commands that can be asked of her. Swiping right on the home screen in iOS 9 will open an intelligent Search with a built-in API. It shows apps, contact, and nearby suggestions as well as a news section, and the search can work with conversions, scores, weather, and more. iOS 9 is more energy efficient as well, providing an extra hour of battery life to devices and it comes with a power saving mode to prolong battery by up to three hours when it is needed most. The new version of iOS will release in the Fall, and a beta will open to the public in July.