Apple has made some serious product launches this past week and it was at the Hey Siri event we learnt that new operating system for Apple’s mobile devices was rolling out on September 16.
Living up to the expectation, Apple launched iOS 9 on schedule. iOS 9 runs on the same hardware as iOS 8, it is not visually very different and it also feels almost like iOS 8 – but still, there are host of difference, which you must know before upgrading.
The tech giant has made refinements to the operating system at all levels and it will be available for download for free on iPhone 4S later, iPad 2 and later, all iPad minis, iPad Airs and iPod 5 and above.
What makes iOS 9 different from its predecessors is Apple involved it community of users in the development of the iOS 9 – Apple created a public beta of the OS for testing.
With the iOS 9, Apple has not abandoned what we are so used to – innovative touch. Apple has done what it is famous for – made the best mobile OS to data, which is far more stable, efficient and filled with genuinely useful features including a more powerful version of Siri voice assist, a new font called San Francisco and updated keyboard with a clear shift key that shows letters in upper and lower case.
According to Crittercism, who’s data scientists have been through 26 billion app loads of 14 various releases of the iOS to arrive at a prediction of how viral iOS 9 will be, almost 31 percent of iPhone and iPad users are going to download the iOS 9 in the first seven days of its launch. The number is going to increase to 50 percent in 25 odd days.
If this is the kind of response Apple could get, it becomes all the more important to understand the highlighting and hidden features of the iOS 9, which make the mobile OS most advanced ever.
# Shrinked platform size
The foremost benefit of iOS 9 is that the software is shrunk down to 1.5GB from 4GB. Lesser space size means more of the older iPhones, iPads and iPods can install the new OS and still have more space than previous OS would allow for installing third party apps.
# Siri is more proactive
iOS is worth upgrading to because your friend Siri is now ever more proactive. Siri can deal with a wider range of languages and it better anticipates and understands user needs. Siri Proactive Assistant can now search for traffic, schedule, photos from the last trip or even remind you to complete the email you left midway. Siri also gains better control over core iOS apps courtesy the expanded APIs.
# Apple Maps provide transit directions
Apple Maps lacked the ability to route your trip something like you could on Google maps. That’s now history with arrival of iOS 9. The new OS brings support for transit direction to Apple Maps. Apple Maps now supports public transit system, showing users’ bus, subway and trains maps along with directions to use them to get from one point to another. The feature however is limited to New York, Chicago, and Washington for now.
# Improved battery life for all devices
Apple claims the new OS will extend the iPhone and iPad battery life by almost an hour, great news if you are like me who finds the battery drained out before the end of day. Apple has managed to make the entire system of apps and onboard technologies more efficient a reason the OS can breathe some extra life into the supporting device. Additionally, the iPhone/iPad’s Low Power mode enhances battery life by good three hours.
# Move to iOS
If you are an Android user switching to iPhone/iPad for the first time – Move to iOS is tailed for you. The app allows Android users to transfer content – contacts, photos and messages for an Android device to their new iOS device.
# Enhanced app folder for iPad
iOS 9 update allows users to display apps in a 4×4 arrangement instead of the previously displayed 3×3 arrangement on the iPad. With increased apps on display in the app folder, user can see more apps at a glance. The OS permits app folders to host a total of 240 apps and 15 pages of apps per folder.
# Split-screen multitasking for the iPad
The most exciting news for the iPad is split-screen multitasking it gets with iOS 9. The feature lets users jump quickly between apps i.e. select few apps can be used side by side on the iPad. Multitasking on the iPad includes three new features – Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture.
Slide Over lets you work full screen on one app and gently swipe from the right side of the display to show up a simultaneously running app. Split View is simple extension of Slide Over feature – it allows a user to split the display in half and work simultaneously on two apps on the same screen. Picture in Picture mode lets you surf the net in full-screen and continue FaceTime call in video pane on top of the display.
# Photo segregation
If you are a selfie person iOS 9 brings Photo app folder for you. The new folder allows you to store selfies and other photos separately. Basically, the ‘Selfie’ folder aggregates all the photos clicked from the front facing FaceTime camera, while ‘Screenshots’ folder aggregates all photos captured from the rear iSight camera.
# More security in addition to Touch ID
iOS 9 will replace four-digit PIN security for a more secure six-digit PINs. In addition to two-factor authentication (to be included for your device), the tougher to crack passcode will protect the iOS device from any kind of brute force attack.
# Improved CarPlay
Apple has enhanced the ability of CarPlay in iOS 9. CarPlay which connects the iPhones to cars wirelessly will help people to go handsfree and not worry about misplacing or forgetting the cable used to connect iPhone to car.
# HealthKit tracks a range of data types
iOS 9 update will enhance the HealthKit’s ability to track a range of data types. The HealthKit can now monitor user’s movement, their water intake and even the exposure to UV rays. iOS 9 allows HealthKit to track women health metrics including their menstrual cycles.
