Apple unveils iOS9 as a free update

Source: Apple. 

Apple has announced that the iOS 9 mobile operating system will be available on Wednesday, September 16 as a free update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. iOS 9 comes with powerful search and improved Siri features.

New multitasking features on the iPad let users view and interact with two apps at once, side by side. With Picture-in-Picture, users can play video while browsing the web, composing email or using other apps. Built-in apps become more powerful with a redesigned Notes app offering new ways to capture ideas, detailed transit information in Maps, and an all-new News app for the best news reading experience on any mobile device.

“iOS 9 is packed with intelligence that makes every experience with iPhone and iPad even more powerful — Siri can do more than ever and new proactive assistance helps you get more done before you ask, all while protecting users’ privacy,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior VP of Software Engineering. “With iOS 9 we focused on strengthening the foundation of iOS with a deep focus on quality, and with the help of more than one million users who participated in our first ever public beta programme, we’re excited to release the best version of iOS yet.”

In iOS 9, proactive assistance presents the most relevant information at a given time of day and suggests actions in context, based on the apps used frequently. Siri features a new design, contextual reminders based on time and location, and new ways to search photos and videos. Search queries deliver more relevant results from more categories, including sports scores and schedules, simple math calculations, weather conditions and stock prices.

This latest release features refinements such as battery optimisation, resulting in an additional hour of battery life with typical use, and a low-power mode to further extend battery life.* Software updates require less space to install and the Install Later feature can perform updates to your device when it’s not in use. Enhanced security features in iOS 9 keep your devices and Apple ID secure by strengthening the passcode that protects your devices and improving two-factor authentication by building it directly into iOS, making it harder for others to gain unauthorised access to your Apple ID. iOS 9 apps and the user interface now take advantage of Metal to deliver faster scrolling, smoother animation and better overall performance.

Interested?

iOS 9 will be available beginning Wednesday, September 16 as a free software update for iPhone 4s and later, iPod touch 5th generation and later, iPad 2 and later and iPad mini and later. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages. 

*Battery life depends on usage and settings.