Apple announced the grand and brand new iOS9 at the Worldwide Developers Conference on 8^th of June at San Francisco. As we have experienced earlier, Apple has always dropped support for older version whenever a new OS version launch is made. This time however, iOS8 users will be able to upgrade to iOS9 at zero cost. The public beta version (also a first for Apple) will launch in July but Apple is already ecstatic about the fall launch and consequently, we would like to know about the new iOS9 experience. Here are some of the lesser known features that users can expect.

1.       Search feature in settings

For someone not quite conversant with the hardware and software features of their phone, a search setting has been long denied under the settings tab. With iOS9, if you know what to change/modify, you can directly access the same from the search bar.

2.       Siri speaks and listens everything

Siri allowed users to communicate with their devices in several dialects and multiple accents. However, until iOS 8, choosing to listen to British Siri also meant that the phone was tuned to understand only British voice commands. IOS9 changes that and language input and voice will be two separate functionalities. You may talk in an Indian accent and receive response in a Brit tone.

3.       Siri doesn’t work with a silent ringer

If you want Siri to shut down when you have silenced your device, iOS9 adds an option. Especially in a crowded area, Siri can now communicate using text messages.

4.       Low power mode

Smartphones consume a lot of battery. However iOS9 has an answer in the form of Low Power Mode where the device will turn off background effects, animated wallpapers, disable app refresh to give you extra hours of usage.

5.       No more “Is my Shift key on?”

This had been bothering all Apple users since long. However, iOS9 introduces optional lower case keys that doesn’t require Shift key anymore.

6.       Keyboard shortcuts

If you had been using an external keyboard with your iPad, you’ll soon be able to do more. Apple introduces several new keyboard shortcuts. A good example would be the Command + Tab to switch between active apps.

7.       Introducing an iCloud Drive app

A long awaited feature, iCloud will now be available as a physical app. After you have installed iOS9, just go to the iCloud Settings and enable the option.

8.       Easier to move out from Android

Apple introduces “Move to iOS” app for users who are planning to switch from their Android devices to iPhones. The app expedites the data transfer to a great extent and also does a clean job.

9.       Six digit pass code

As opposed to a four digit pass code until iOS 8, iOS9 will ask for a 6 digit alternative to enhance the security.

10.   Have your devices organized for separate functionalities

Many Apple users have complained about receiving phone calls on their iPad rather than their iPhone. Similarly, text messages on the Mac are irritating. Thankfully, iOS9 introduces granular control that will help you manage your devices and their preferred functionalities.

Few would have expected the amount of tweaks and updates announced at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) currently underway in San Francisco. What has unraveled so far is a big list of updates across the board – technology, software and hardware. The new versions of OS X, watchOS and iOS were just a few of them.

Here are some of highly exciting details that hogged the limelight at the annual conference –

• Improved version of OS X– An interesting update was the release of OS X 10.11. Here the focus was on polishing the existing firmware for better user experience and improved efficiency. For instance, in Safari ‘pinning sites’ allow you to load them faster. Also audio can be muted from the tab itself rather than going to the actual webpage. Spotlight ensures better search capabilities, while Metal optimization tool will look at boosting performance on Apple devices.

• iPad split screen – What was present for last 3 years on Samsung and other Android devices has now come to iPad. Yes, iPad now has support for multiple apps on a single screen. iPad Air 2, Air, mini 3 and mini 2 users can now access multiple apps at the same time on the screen either in 50:50 or 70:30 ratio.

• Release of iOS 9– The release of iOS 9 was a surprise to many Apple aficionados. It sees more refinements to existing functionalities and UI from iOS 7 and 8, rather than wholesale updates. It comes with a reduced setup size and adds 3 extra hours to battery time with its ‘low power mode’. While the beta release is scheduled for July, it will be released publicly by the fall season.

• News App– Taking on Google Newsstand and Flipboard, Apple announced its own News app that presents highly customized news feeds and content to users (i.e. provide only from those sources that the user selects), but in a visually appealing presentation format. 

• Transit directions in Maps– When Apple announced that Apple Maps is used 3.5x more than other similar maps apps, it made sure there was something for this app too. Now users can access transit direction to nearby places on Apple Maps. It also provides Location cards in case the destination store or restaurant is featured on iOS app store.

• Software upgrade for Apple Watch – Its been just 60 odd days to the Apple Watch launch but its already getting a major software update in the form of watchOS 2. It now gets third party app support, which means a radical explosion of possibilities to which the watch can now be put to use.

• Music Subscription– A big update, the Apple Music transforms iTunes and for a $10 monthly subscription of streaming music, unleash a host of exciting features on the subscriber; all this in a bid to win over defectors to Pandora and Spotify.

• Siri gets an update– Just like Google Now, Apple’s proactive assistant, Siri, will check data in your calendar, contacts, emails, and schedules to provide contextual information or reminders. For users wary of privacy, Apple is promising security of the data residing wholly on the cloud.

Liked any other update that you might have heard or seen of? Do write in with your comments and let us know.