Apple iOS 9 Vs iOS 8: What's The Difference?
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| iOS 9 Proactive – image credit Apple |
Today Apple has officially unveiled iOS 9 and, despite a very similar appearance, the ninth edition of iOS comes jam packed with welcome changes from its troubled predecessor.
So let’s get straight to it and break down exactly where Apple has made the biggest changes from iOS 8 and the benefits they will bring to your iPhones and iPads:
Proactive Assistant
In recent years Apple has made a conscious attempt to reduce its reliance on Google and the highlight of iOS 9 illustrates this strategy once more.
Leaked late last week ‘Proactive’ is essentially Apple’s version of Google Now: an assistant which aggregates data across Siri, Contacts, Calendar, Passbook, and third-party apps to create contextually aware real-time information.
This ranges from map directions before a meeting (taking into account current traffic conditions), boarding passes ahead of a flight and automated calendar entries from emails and messages.
In addition (and in a break from Google Now) Proactive also recognises patterns in your daily schedule so, for example, if you run every morning listening to music when you connect your headphones in that time period Proactive will automatically open your music app. Proactive can be granular as well, differentiating what you listen to when running compared to the times you are usually driving (where it might typically be to podcasts or audiobooks).
Much like Google Now, Proactive will also open up this intelligence to third party apps but Apple stresses that none of your data leaves your phone – a clear dig at Google. Out the gate Proactive looks capable of competing head-on with the current version of Google Now, but not with the radically enhanced version previewed in Android M.
Siri is far more powerful in iOS 9 – Image credit Apple
In order to make the most of Proactive, Siri also needs to get a lot smarter in iOS 9- and it does.
In the new release Siri gains much wider support for natural language commands across all aspects of your phone. This means far more than just “Is it raining?” with examples given when searching camera photos like “Show me photos from Utah from last August “ or in contextually aware Note taking like “Remind me to get my coffee off the roof of the car when I get in” (possible if used in conjunction with Apple CarPlay).
Apple is also making a big deal of Siri’s greater accuracy, pointing to a 5% word recognition error rate. It will also open up further to third party apps with requests within Spotlight able to tie queries into specific apps, locations and searches.
Siri combines further with Spotlight results – Image credit Apple
The result of Proactive and ‘super Siri’? A new Spotlight. In iOS 9 swiping left on the homescreen will bring a rich page of contextual data with links to common contacts, suggested apps, geo-sourced local information, calendar events and more.
Real time search gets a
boost too with a wider array of questions answered as you type (think
calculations, conversions, weather, etc). Spotlight will also integrate
with third party apps, which creates almost endless possibilities.
Faster, Longer Lasting iPhones and iPadsWhile ‘new’ is welcome, the biggest cry from many users is simply for their devices to work faster and last longer… and in this respect iOS 9 is just what the doctor ordered.
As expected, iOS 9 is all about optimisation. Using the example of an iPhone 6 (no name drops for the heavily leaked iPhone 6S), Apple claims iOS 9 will add an extra hour of usage (aka ‘screen on’) time and a new power saver mode will add another three hours when enabled.
Apple didn’t delve into what features would be restricted in this low power state (or if the 3 hours was calculated based on a full charge), but it should help those looking to squeeze more juice out of their devices.
Read more – Apple iOS 8.3 Has 3 Great Secret Features
iPad Multitasking
This is potentially huge and something which can help bridge the gap in functionality between the PC and ‘post PC’ eras: Split View and Picture-in-Picture.
iPad split screen multitasking is a massive iOS breakthrough – Image credit Apple
As for picture-in-picture, this is exactly like what we’ve seen on TVs for years. When playing video you’ll be able to exit an app and keep the video window open, or even just its audio.
The combination of the two features means both productivity and slacking off potential will hit whole new levels. Sadly these levels will only be attained by some as a iPad Air 2 is required for the full functionality, while the iPad Air and iPad mini range will get support for just glanceable split screen apps and picture-in-picture. Other iPads are out of luck.
iOS 9 multitasking ‘glances’ – Image credit Apple
As for compatible split screen apps, Apple states that any which use its ‘Auto Layout’ coding feature can easily be made compatible. For others, the race to add to tick this box will begin in earnest – I suspect
Better Apple Maps
Looking to shake off its unfashionable reputation, Apple says Apple Maps is now by far the most used mapping application on iOS (3.5x higher than “next leading mapping app”) and this should get a further bump as it was revealed iOS 9 will add much awaited transit directions.
In iOS 9 Apple Maps adds detailed public transport information – Image credit Apple
These will be limited to
major US and Chinese cities initially, but do look worth the wait with a
nice Google Maps differentiator being it recognises multiple exits at
major airports and stations and plans your directions accordingly.
In a clever (and self
serving) touch, Apple Maps will also now show whether any store,
restaurant or bar supports Apple Pay in its search results.
forbes.
