iOS 9 is Apple’s newest operating system for iOS devices. Introduced at WWDC in June and set to release this fall, iOS 9 builds on the content introduced with iOS 7 and iOS 8, bringing subtle design changes, refined features, improved functionality, and performance enhancements. iOS 9’s biggest focus is on intelligence and proactivity, allowing iOS devices to learn user habits and act on that information. Opening up apps before we need them, making recommendations on places we might like, and guiding us through our daily lives to make sure we’re where we need to be at the right time.
Siri is at the heart of the changes, and the personal assistant is now able to create reminders and search through photos and videos in new ways. Swiping left from the home screen also brings up a new screen that houses Siri Suggestions putting favorite contacts and apps right at your fingertips, along with nearby restaurant and location information and important news. Deeper search capabilities can bring up results like sports scores, videos, and content from third-party apps. Notes now includes new checklists and sketching features. Maps now offers transit directions. Mail allows for file attachments. There’s even a new News App that learns your interests and delivers relevant content you might like to read. Apple Pay is being improved with the addition of store credit cards and loyalty cards, leading Passbook to be renamed to Wallet in iOS 9.
Apple’s described iOS 9 as being more intelligent thanks largely to Proactive Suggestions. Proactive Suggestions, the major feature addition in iOS 9, turn the iPhone into a lifestyle management tool and make Apple’s personal assistant Siri more responsive and able to complete more tasks than ever before. Proactive suggestions are system-wide and will work in a myriad of ways, offering up apps and recommendations at appropriate times. For example, if you often listen to music in the morning, iOS 9 will automatically open the Music app to a favorite playlist when you plug in your headphones. If you always open up the weather app to check what’s going on outside, it might open it automatically after your alarm goes off. Split-screen multitasking has been a much anticipated feature for the iPad that’s been rumored to be in the works for over a year. With Split-screen multitasking, it’s possible to use two different iOS apps on the same screen, so you can read a website while on a FaceTime call, or watch a video while composing a message in Mail. iOS 9 includes three different multitasking features: Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture. Slide Over can be activated within any app by swiping left from the right side of the iPad. This gesture brings up a small side pane that displays a secondary app alongside the first app, in a 1/3 screen space arrangement. Choosing a new app for the side pane can be done by swiping downwards from the top of the screen within the pane.
So, as you can see it’s going to be awesome! Can’t wait until the fall for the new OS? The public beta is available now for those wanting to get their hands on it early!