iOS 9 released, features and news

[Kimbo]

Apple's iOS 9 launched today and is now trickling out to your iPhone and iPad, and the big update brings a smarter Siri, public transit directions to Maps, true tablet multitasking and new built-in apps.

iOS 9 became available to download today at 10:00am PDT, 1:00pm EDT, 18:00 BST, so check the software update menu within settings for that all-important over-the-air updated at that time.

It's the company's latest software, available to just ahead of the release dates for iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPad Pro and new Apple TV, all revealed during September 9's keynote.

iOS 9, and iOS 9.1 beta for testers, has improved stability, a smaller download size and legacy phone and tablet compatibility. That older iPhone and iPad you have works with this update if it runs iOS 8.

New iOS 9 features consist of redesigned built-in apps and a few new ones. There's more multitasking functionality than ever for iPads, while 3D Touch and motion wallpaper are coming for new iPhones. That will make new rose gold iPhone 6S color really pop.

iOS 9 compatibility

iOS 9 is proving to be more inclusive than previous iOS versions. Apple is choosing to make this update compatible with older iPhone, iPad and even iPod touch devices, too. Okay, it's not technically more inclusive beyond the immediately launched iPad mini 4. The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus still have to launch next Friday, September 25, and the iPad Pro lands sometime in November. Then the list will grow by three. It'll become a total of six when the iPad Air 3 and iPhone 6C eventually release.

Basically, right now, if your dated hardware runs iOS 8, it can run iOS 9, and that's good news, as older phones and tablets aren't getting muscled out. The iPhone 4S and iPad 2 are safe, for now, and a few 30-pin dock devices live on for another year.

iOS 9.1 update

Before we dive into new iOS 9 features, we can already explore what's even newer in iOS 9.1, which is now available to beta software testers using a compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

As you can see from the screenshot above, it include new emojis, including a taco, burrito, unicorn face, hot dog, popcorn, turkey and cheese wedge, and yes, even a silly middle finger.

This over-the-air update may also bring new compatibility to the iPad Pro, with its high resolution screen and Apple Pencil stylus, but so far there are new detailed release dates.

iOS 9.1 can be downloaded through the Apple Beta Software program (instructions above), and should be available to everyone else soon. iOS 8.1, for example came out in October

Smarter Siri

Siri in iOS 9 gets the much-needed smarts to rival Google Now. Apple's personal assistant understands the word "it" within context and brings proactivity to the operating system.

For example, if you're talking about a topic with someone in iMessages and ask Siri to "Remind me about 'this' later today," it'll scan the open app and try to understand what "this" means.

iOS 9 proactivity puts even more at your fingertips through Siri. It suggests appointments to add to Calendar, and pulls up photos based on location and time with the sound of your voice.

Siri's location-based knowledge appears to be most promising when you're out and about. Plugging in headphones at the gym? It offers the Now Playing interface right on the lockscreen.

Plugging it into your car? It brings up that audiobook you were listening to before. It even tells you when to leave for an appointment across town, a feature that has made Google's app for iOS a must-have.

Saying "Hey Siri" to issue commands while untethered from the usually-required light cable is going to be possible, too. However, this iOS 9 feature has only been announced for the new iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.

One of the most convenient new iOS 9 features is giving context to random numbers that call you, diving into your email to see if it can match the digits. Goodbye, telemarketers – we hope.

Siri already takes over one billion requests a week, according to Apple. That should only increase now that iOS 9 promises to make Siri 40% faster and 40% more accurate.

[Kimbo]

Under the hood

New features are exciting and all, but iOS 9 needs to run better than iOS 8, which had a series of Wi-Fi and battery drain problems from the get-go. Some users are still complaining about last year's software.

Longer battery life is a chief concern of iPhone users, but they can squeeze out an extra hour thanks to a new Low Power mode. Apple says iOS 9 pulls switches you didn't even know existed to save juice.

You may be able to install iOS 9 this time around without deleting all of your photos. It takes about 1.4GB, whereas iOS 8 needed a massive 4.5GB of internal storage. That was awful on a 16GB iPhone.

CPU and GPU usage will be more efficient thanks to iOS 9, further improving performance, and security is said to be stepped up. Hopefully that means last year's iCloud hack isn't going to be an annual incident.
Not mentioned during Apple WWDC keynote, a "Move to iOS" app is hidden within iOS 9. It's now easier to wirelessly switch from an Android device to a new iOS phone or tablet.

iPhone and iPad users may be surprised when asked to enter a six-digit passcode instead of an easier-to-crack four digit code. But it's the difference between one million possible combinations and 10,000, and Touch ID really makes the hassle a moot point. Better safe than sorry.

Apple's was so confident that it launched a sweeping iOS 9 public beta, and it really shows why, even if this an incremental update. Google's Android Marshmallow is taking the same cautious approach.

Multitasking for iPad

iOS 9 brings true multitasking to its newer iPad tablets, and we're not talking about the "multitasking" app switcher that premiered with iOS 4 back in 2010.

iPads is finally be able to handle more hefty productivity tasks. That's to the delight of enterprise users who prefer iOS for personal use, but feel forced to opt for a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 or Android tablet at work.

There are three ways to view multitasking windows on an iPad. Slide Over brings a second app from the side so you can answer a text or write something in Notes. It's just as easy to slide away.

There's also a special Picture-in-Picture mode that puts videos and FaceTime calls in the corner of the display when the home button is pressed. From there, you can use any other app while watching the video. Google's YouTube app for iOS works this very same way, at least within that specific app.

Both Slide Over and Picture-in-Picture are compatible with newer iPads: iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3. The last mode, Split View, is an iPad Air 2-only affair, though Apple announced that iPad Pro will support all multitasking functionality, too, when it arrives in November.

Split View is the mode that everyone imagines when they hear the word "multitasking." It enables two apps to be open side-by-side and they're both active at the same time, with full multitouch support.

Apple is clearly honing on the enterprise user with its latest tablet software features and be swayed to buy that new iPad Pro that puts them to the best use.