Ever since they moved away from skeuomorphics in version 7, iOS has been in a state of flux - one that many iPhone and iPad users and reviewers noted came at the expense of stability.
With the release of iOS 9 to the general public, Apple continues refining the appearance and behavior of the software that powers the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. And just as it's doing with OS X 10.11 El Capitan, Apple is adding a variety of under-the-hood improvements and new tricks that focus on pro-activity, UI refinements, and best of all, stability and performance.
According to Michael deAgonie, here are a few of the features iOS users should be looking forward to:
Find more, faster
As in El Capitan, Search in iOS 9 is growing up - and growing more inclusive in the information it provides. It can now offer suggestions about local establishments and access to frequently used contacts and data (you can text or call people in your contacts list right from the search results). Queries that once had to be dictated to Siri can now be typed in manually; and Search can act as a calculator and even perform conversions.
Perhaps one of the most useful search-related features is the one found to the left of the Home Screen. When the user swipes to the right from the home screen, they will see a pre-populated list of information iOS 9 thinks is important to them: recent contacts, recent apps, suggestions to find nearby locations like gas stations, theaters and bars, and some of the latest headlines, based on trending local news.
Each section also has a toggle to display more (or less) suggestions. In its new incarnation, the Search screen will be really handy, both as a quick launch for contacts and apps, but also as a way to find local businesses and other hotspots.
Proactive results are a running theme throughout iOS 9, as the OS - via Search or Siri - tries to anticipate user's needs and offer to help them out. Event invitations and contacts in Mail are suggested as Calendar and Contact entries, respectively. Plug in the headphones or connect to a bluetooth receiver and the last played media will display on the Lockscreen, saving the user a trip to the Music or the Podcast app.
When they hop in their car, Maps guesses where they are heading based on recent history and offers an estimated time of arrival based on current traffic conditions right on the Lockscreen. And when a phone call comes in from a number that's not in among their contacts, iOS 9 will look to see if that number resides in old emails.
Get there faster
When using guidance in Maps - the user can tell Siri to take them to work, for instance - iOS 9 will prompt them when to leave based on current traffic, and then volunteer traffic updates along the way, as well as alternative routes around traffic any tie-ups ahead.
The built-in Maps application has been updated to display recent locations underneath categories that automatically search for local selections - the same kind of information that populates the search screen when the user swipe left off the Home screen.
Categories such as Food, Drinks, Shopping and Transit are listed, and tapping any of those selections conveniently displays subcategories that help users further refine what it is they are searching for, all without typing anything in.
That Transit view is new to Maps, and is designed to help users plot detailed instructions on how to get to a destination using public transportation. Though only a few major cities in the U.S. will be supported initially, the ones that are built in have detailed instructions including the exact entry and exit points to subways stations and bus stops.
Room to grow
When iOS 8 was released last year, a lot of users ran into installation problems because they lacked the space needed to download the software and update their devices. That shouldn't be a problem this year.
The iOS 9 can now stream updates so that the data doesn't have to be first downloaded and fully unpacked; this means updates require less space to run. In addition to that, the software update sizes are much smaller - again avoiding the error that prevents installation due to insufficient disk space. (iOS 8 needed 4.6GB of room; iOS 9 only needs 1.8GB.)
The iOS 9 is also better at discerning which application assets are needed; they're selected, downloaded and installed on a per-device basis, automatically and without user intervention. The components for apps and software updates downloaded are exactly those needed to run on your current device. That helps eliminate space being taken up by app features and libraries that are never used.
Finally, Apple has added a workaround for devices without enough space to install updates: automatic app deletions. The technology will keep user app data intact while removing the largest apps to temporarily allow space for the update. Once the update is done, the apps are automatically downloaded and installed again. It's a deceptively simple solution to a nagging problem.
With the release of iOS 9 to the general public, Apple continues refining the appearance and behavior of the software that powers the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. And just as it's doing with OS X 10.11 El Capitan, Apple is adding a variety of under-the-hood improvements and new tricks that focus on pro-activity, UI refinements, and best of all, stability and performance.
According to Michael deAgonie, here are a few of the features iOS users should be looking forward to:
Find more, faster
As in El Capitan, Search in iOS 9 is growing up - and growing more inclusive in the information it provides. It can now offer suggestions about local establishments and access to frequently used contacts and data (you can text or call people in your contacts list right from the search results). Queries that once had to be dictated to Siri can now be typed in manually; and Search can act as a calculator and even perform conversions.
Perhaps one of the most useful search-related features is the one found to the left of the Home Screen. When the user swipes to the right from the home screen, they will see a pre-populated list of information iOS 9 thinks is important to them: recent contacts, recent apps, suggestions to find nearby locations like gas stations, theaters and bars, and some of the latest headlines, based on trending local news.
Each section also has a toggle to display more (or less) suggestions. In its new incarnation, the Search screen will be really handy, both as a quick launch for contacts and apps, but also as a way to find local businesses and other hotspots.
Proactive results are a running theme throughout iOS 9, as the OS - via Search or Siri - tries to anticipate user's needs and offer to help them out. Event invitations and contacts in Mail are suggested as Calendar and Contact entries, respectively. Plug in the headphones or connect to a bluetooth receiver and the last played media will display on the Lockscreen, saving the user a trip to the Music or the Podcast app.
When they hop in their car, Maps guesses where they are heading based on recent history and offers an estimated time of arrival based on current traffic conditions right on the Lockscreen. And when a phone call comes in from a number that's not in among their contacts, iOS 9 will look to see if that number resides in old emails.
Get there faster
When using guidance in Maps - the user can tell Siri to take them to work, for instance - iOS 9 will prompt them when to leave based on current traffic, and then volunteer traffic updates along the way, as well as alternative routes around traffic any tie-ups ahead.
The built-in Maps application has been updated to display recent locations underneath categories that automatically search for local selections - the same kind of information that populates the search screen when the user swipe left off the Home screen.
Categories such as Food, Drinks, Shopping and Transit are listed, and tapping any of those selections conveniently displays subcategories that help users further refine what it is they are searching for, all without typing anything in.
That Transit view is new to Maps, and is designed to help users plot detailed instructions on how to get to a destination using public transportation. Though only a few major cities in the U.S. will be supported initially, the ones that are built in have detailed instructions including the exact entry and exit points to subways stations and bus stops.
Room to grow
When iOS 8 was released last year, a lot of users ran into installation problems because they lacked the space needed to download the software and update their devices. That shouldn't be a problem this year.
The iOS 9 can now stream updates so that the data doesn't have to be first downloaded and fully unpacked; this means updates require less space to run. In addition to that, the software update sizes are much smaller - again avoiding the error that prevents installation due to insufficient disk space. (iOS 8 needed 4.6GB of room; iOS 9 only needs 1.8GB.)
The iOS 9 is also better at discerning which application assets are needed; they're selected, downloaded and installed on a per-device basis, automatically and without user intervention. The components for apps and software updates downloaded are exactly those needed to run on your current device. That helps eliminate space being taken up by app features and libraries that are never used.
Finally, Apple has added a workaround for devices without enough space to install updates: automatic app deletions. The technology will keep user app data intact while removing the largest apps to temporarily allow space for the update. Once the update is done, the apps are automatically downloaded and installed again. It's a deceptively simple solution to a nagging problem.
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