Take a mental picture of your iPhone and iPad, because they’re about to undergo a makeover. iOS 9 is here.
As of 6pm UK time, Apple’s latest mobile operating system is available as a free update, meaning that millions of users all over the world are currently hunched over their devices, desperate for that progress bar to fill in.
For those of you rocking a 16GB iPhone, there’s good news. iOS 9 will
take up only 1.3GB of space, which is far less than the 4.58GB occupied
by iOS 8. 8GB iPhone users will still struggle to find room, though.
Needless to say, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus will run iOS 9 as standard when they’re released on 25 September. You can pre-order both of them right now.
iOS 9 features
So what will iOS 9 bring with it? Quite a lot actually. Siri has been made more “proactive”, which essentially means the digital assistant is far more powerful than before.
For example, Siri will know when you’re going out for a run in the morning and launch the music app when you plug in a pair of headphones, or automatically offer directions when you jump into your car.
Maps and Notes have also been updated and your iPhone will search through your emails and messages in an attempt to identify unknown callers. iOS 9 brings a low-power mode with it too, which Apple claims will extend your battery life by up to three hours.
The iPad has been treated to a couple of exclusives, the most interesting of which is multi-tasking, which allows you to view and interact with two apps simultaneously. It should prove particularly handy for business users.
SEE ALSO: iOS 9: What to expect
For an in-depth breakdown of iOS 9’s biggest features, follow the link above.
Are you eligible?
Most Apple fans will be pleased to hear that all iPhones from the 4S onwards and all iPads apart from the original will be treated to iOS 9. From the iPod line, only the fifth-generation Touch model is eligible for the upgrade.
SEE ALSO: Best Smartphones
If your iDevice doesn’t fall within these parameters, you may want to look into buying a new phone or tablet.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.