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iOS 9 Vs. iOS 8: A Brief Look

Apple has recently announced the next version of its mobile OS called iOS 9 at the WWDC 2015. This latest version of its mobile platform is aimed at making iOS 9 smarter than its predecessor iOS 8. Some of the feature differences that users will immediately be able to spot are changes to Siri – the proactive assistant, the enhanced multitasking for iPad and a lot more. However, let us describe the differences and the changes in brief without any delay:

San Francisco Font

The San Francisco Font is now part of iOS 9. The font that it has replaced which was part of iOS 8 was Helvetica Nue. Many people claim that they like the former font due to its sharpness and better visibility on the iPhone screen.

Redesigned Podcast App

This redesigned podcast app in iOS 9 compared to iOS 8 includes new tabs such as un-played, which displays the un-played episodes from the user’s favorite podcasts. These can be tapped upon for playing immediately. The podcast app screen also has been redesigned. Further, the podcast app also gets a mini player that is available just above the tabs. The down arrow at the top left corner of the Now Playing Screen for the mini player can be tapped.

Apps Switcher

Apps switching is much better in iOS 9 compared to iOS 8. The app switcher has been overhauled by giving it a new cards-like view. The apps now pile on one another i.e. stack, rather than being laid side by side.

Battery Usage details

Users can now find out the battery usage details in the iOS 9 in an innovative manner compared to iOS 8. The battery usage details in the iOS 9 actually have a hidden feature. When the “detailed view” icon is tapped, the amount of on-screen time as well a background time for each app or process is obtained, which helps let the user know which apps are draining the battery more than essential.

Siri

A new Siri interface has been unveiled. This is a much advanced version of Siri than you can find in iOS 8. This update can actually understand voice commands and can show pictures and even play music whenever you are in a particular situation such as when you are in a car or are at the jogging track. Since Siri can learn your habits over a period of time, it learns what you like and can act according to your liking.

Siri can also retrieve an invite from email and automatically add it to your calendar, without the need of opening another app. Moreover, Siri and Spotlight now interact more closely in iOS 9. With this enhancement, it should be possible for Siri to make suggestions such as contacts that are based on email as well as contacts whenever spotlight panel is accessed.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay is now being introduced for iOS 9. Apple Pay is similar in many respects to Android Pay, wherein it lets certain apple mobile devices to make payments at retail as well as outline stores. The routine magnetic stripe card is now called up in a digitized form at credit card terminals. With the help of an NFC antenna, the dedicated chip is able to communicate the stored encrypted payment information. This service is compatible with the iPhone 6, iPhone 6+, and the Apple Watch.

Pass Book

The Passbook is now called Apple Wallet. The company is also working with Pinterest, which is launching buyable pins. Hence, you can buy products directly from Pinterest. Buyable pins are for iOS only, for the moment.

Notes and Maps

The Notes feature now includes a tool bar that has formatting options. There are new functionalities with the new notes app, such as the ability to make checklists and add photos to notes. Additionally, users can draw as well as sketch within the notes application, while add a link to notes right from the share sheet along with lots more, as the app allows all of this to be done from within it.

Apple Maps is now capable of handling more than 5 billion user requests per week. It accounts for more than 3.5 x higher usage on iOS than the next leading competitor. According to the company, it is including transit directions to its Maps app.

Users can search for information from trains and the app can also display the entrances as well as exits to several train as well as subway stations. Travel time can also be calculated, but transit directions will come out it select cities first. The two beneficiary countries will be the US and China.

News

A new app called News for iOS 9 has also been launched. Called News, it is all about “Custom layout as well as rich typography” The app pulls articles as wells as news from various sources such as wired and the Atlantic, and updates it every time the user checks it. Every article or news item has the ability to display or feature large photos as well as graphics, infographics, built-in-videos, and the like.

There is a personalized feed which has been labeled “For You”. This app also has the ability to bookmark articles as well as read it later. The Explore feature helps users to discover various other news articles and topics that haven’t been read before. The Favorites area allows for storage of newsworthy stuff within the app also. However, the rollout has been restricted to the US, UK, and Australia for the moment.

Apple Music

Apple Music, which has been dubbed as the next chapter in music by Apple, has been launched as an app on the iphone. Accordingly, the WWDC 2015 also included a window to discuss the apple music and new features which will be available on the app. Also part of the announcement was the introduction of a new 24-hour global radio which is called Beats One, and includes DJs broadcasting from three cities.

The various components of this new feature include Beats Music, Beats One Stream, Beats Connect, and also a tab for “For You”. The personalized assistant Siri has been integrated as well. Thus, Siri can play specific song requests. Apple music, albeit a paid service, is being launched with iOS 8.4 shortly, along with a new version of iTunes.

Healthkit

According to Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President Software at the WWDC 2015, Healthkit will start tracking reproductive health. This is good news for women all over the globe.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jennifer Brown .