Today at WWDC, Apple announced iOS 9, the latest version of its mobile operating system. iOS 9 has four central areas of improvement: intelligence, apps, iPad and foundation. Intelligence includes updates to Siri, which has a brand new design similar to its Apple Watch interface, and a new proactive assistant called...Proactive.
The new, more proactive Siri is contextually aware and can offer you more information than ever. For instance, if a user runs every morning Siri can offer music to listen to when the user plugs in their headphones. The music is context sensitive and is dependent on time and place, so if a user is in the car Siri may offer an audiobook or podcast instead of music if that's what the user usually does. If someone calls a user with a number not in their address book, Siri can now look through email to see if it can identify the number. If it can, it'll display it.
iOS 9 has also been updated with a brand new Search window, which offers commonly used apps or contacts, one-tap links to nearby locations and breaking news. There's also a brand new API for Search, which means that it can now pull up content from within apps. When you tap on the information, you're deep linked into the app.
The new Search and Siri have heavy privacy limitations in place. It's anonymous and doesn't use a user's Apple ID, instead using a randomized identifier and isn't linked to other Apple services. Apple says that users are in control of their data and content.
The Cupertino company also announced an update to Apple Pay, saying that store credit and debit cards will now be accepted within Apple's payment service. Kohl's, JCPenney and BJ's are some of the early store credit and debit cars that'll be accepted, with other vendors like Dunkin' Donuts coming this fall. Additionally, Apple announced that Passbook was being renamed Wallet.
The Notes app is getting a sizable revamp in iOS 9, with brand new formatting options, photos, checklist options and drawing and sketching tools. Users will also be able to share notes from Share Sheets.
Maps, which Apple says has 5 billion user requests per week, has a brand new map called Transit. This map version emphasizes various transit lines in a city, from buses to trains to subways. The transit options are integrated into directions, allowing users to get step-by-step directions in between transit stops. Siri is also integrated into Transit, so users can ask Siri how to get to a location via a transit option. Transit is coming to a limited number of cities, including many in China.
Apple also announced a brand new, Flipboard-like app called News. The app, like Flipboard, takes content from sources like ESPN, Politico, the New York Times, Conde Nast publications and local news and presents them with rich typography and beautiful imagery. Users can also keep track of specific topics they like to read about, like Taylor Swift. News is also big on privacy and isn't linked to other Apple services. The new app will roll out to the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
The iPad is getting some exclusive updates in iOS 9, including multitasking and a brand-new QuickType keyboard. Users can now bring in apps on the side of the screen in a new feature called "SlideOver", which brings in smaller versions of apps like Notes, Mail and Messasges with a quick gesture. Multitasking also allows users to put two apps next to each other with SplitView. Additionally, there's also a picture-in-picture feature that allows you to keep watching video from another app while you do something else, like check email. While most features are available for all iPads, SplitView is only available for iPad Air 2.
Performance and battery life have also been improved in iOS 9, with a brand new Low Power mode that can extend battery life for 3 hours. The Cupertino company has also updated its Software Update feature, improving the time it takes to download its latest software updates. Additionally, Apple has reduced the free space needed to download iOS 9, from 4.6 GB to 1.3 GB.
iOS 9's various kits have also seen improvements in in the new software. GameplayKit has AI and pathfinding while ReplayKit allows users to to record their gameplay and share it, much like users can do on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. HealthKit has gained new health metrics. And finally, HomeKit has support for Window Shades, CO censors, motion sensors and security systems. Users will also be able to remotely and securely access their home from iCloud.
CarPlay also got an upgrade in iOS 9, as it now supports apps by automakers that control things in the car. It also supports more kinds of car screens, including HiDPI screens. Finally, CarPlay is now wireless, allowing users to keep their phones in their pockets while in the car.
Apple also announced that its programming language Swift, announcing Swift 2 and saying that the language was going to now be open source.
Finally, Apple announced that the developer beta of iOS 9 would be available today. For the first time ever, Apple is also launching a public beta of iOS 9, which will start in July. Users who want to participate in the public beta must sign up at beta.apple.com.
iOS 9 will be a free upgrade in the fall, and will support every device that supports iOS 8.
Source:http://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/08/apple-announces-ios-9-with-proactive-siri-and-more/
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