With just a few days before its official release, the iOS 9 excites Apple fans with its brand new features that focus on three core areas: improved display technology, enhanced privacy, and boosted performance. Apple has recently released a developer preview version in the form of the iOS 9 Beta 5 update.
First improvement on the list is the more intelligent and more proactive Siri as reported by Digital Trends. Apple's virtual assistant gets a major upgrade with an additional feature dubbed as Proactive Assistant. It studies a user's daily habits and provides options based on these, much like Now on Tap by Google.
Another similar feature with the Big G that Apple has is the updated Apple Pay and Wallet. This is Apple's take on the mobile payments platform. Passbook, as known from previous iOS versions, is now renamed to Wallet in this latest OS update.
iOS 9 gives a big revamp to the keyboard interface design which unfortunately, is only available for iPad. The new keyboard can transform to a trackpad for easier cursor control. It offers a more convenient way to hover between letters when typing. It also comes with an integrated shortcut bar where word suggestions pop up.
The previously unpopular Apple Maps also gets transformed in the new iOS 9 as well. It now has a Transit feature for bus, metro, and train routes. It will include a few major cities for the meantime like New York, Mexico City, London and some Chinese metros.
Tech Radar gives details on the multitasking features which allow for using multiple apps at the same time like in a desktop: the Split View, Slide Over, and PIP (picture-in-picture) which is available only for iPad. The Split View, as the name suggests, divides the screen to present two apps side-by-side supported by multi-touch. On the other hand, PIP enables the user to watch videos while using an app.
According to Know Your Mobile, iOS 9 gives power-saving options like the Low Power mode to extend battery life. Apps are also optimized for efficiency and less battery use. The ambient light and proximity sensors built-in with the phone also play a role in making effective use of the device's battery power.
Other features include the Move to iOS which allows for wireless switching from an Android device to iOS, an overhaul of the Notes app, and a slimmer file download size as compared with iOS 8 that has a 4.5 GB file size.
Apple's iOS 9 is compatible with the latest Apple devices and those that have the iOS 8 installed. Devices included range from the iPhone 4s up, iPad mini and iPad 2 up, and fifth-gen iPod Touch. It has been made available to those who enrolled in its free beta program last July. But for those who wants its final version, the company teases its release is set "later this year".
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