iOS 9: A Redefined User Interface. A Software Update for Doing.

As iOS 9 is finally available now to download via Software Update in Settings, I am delighted to give you all a run-down of all of the features that iOS 9 brings to the table. Gone are the days where you would need to free up countless amounts of space in order to download an all-important software update in order to get the full experience of a new operating system. Well, now those days are over, as iOS 9 weighs in at a small 1.3 GB, while the installation of iOS 8 was 4.58 GB.

For the first time, the ability of having a 4-digit passcode now expands to 6-digits, as it was felt by Apple that four just wasn’t enough to keep your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad secure, and it is much better this time around as you are given more of a chance to give your iDevice just that extra bit of security.

iCloud Drive, which allows you to store files that you may have been working on in applications, such as Keynote, Pages & Numbers, now has officially got its own standalone iCloud Drive app, which can be enabled by going to Settings –> iCloud –> iCloud Drive –> Show on Home Screen. This is beneficial for those of you who may be looking to reorganise or delete files that you feel you may no longer need or may possibly want to move.

For those of you who may be power-hungry users of the iPhone product line, a new feature is included that will allow you to extend your battery life by more than a few hours if your battery is running low on energy. Low Power Mode is a new feature for the iPhone, which, if you have it turned on, will turn the battery indicator yellow, indicating that the battery’s usage will be extended a few hours beyond the usage time, meaning that you will get to use your iPhone for a few hours longer, without the need of having to worry about charging your iPhone for longer.

iOS 9 also sees the introduction of the all-new News app, which was the most-talked about app shortly after it was introduced back in June during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on the 8th June 2015. This news app is very useful for if you want to keep up-to-date on the news whilst on the go and even if you’re at home, all of the news articles you want will be right at your fingertips.

Throughout the whole of iOS 9, the font has been changed after a very long while from the Helvetica font to the newly-used San Francisco font, which is also a pre-installed system font for the Apple Watch.

A major change has been made in iOS 9, as Passbook has officially been renamed as “Wallet“, along with an all-new application icon.

Also, the Notes app has officially been redesigned, and is bundled with some new features as well that will make note-taking a whole lot easier.

The Photos application finally gets what we’ve all been waiting for. If you are familiar with taking selfies with your friends, they will automatically be sorted into a “Selfie” photo album, and if you’re screenshotting any apps, they will also automatically be sorted into a “Screenshots” photo album of their own. This is useful for if you don’t want to have to scroll through your whole photo album just for that one particular photo you want to set as your wallpaper, or if needs be, to share with your friends, your family, and even your relatives. This is a welcoming new feature for iOS 9 and is also a useful photo & video organiser.

For the first time in Apple history, Apple have given those who are not developers the opportunity to test a Public Beta of iOS 9, after announcing the developer and public betas back in June, and since the first public beta of iOS 9 went live in July, this was a massive opportunity, as this would give you all, including myself, the chance to test out a public version of the software while it’s in development, in order to make the future releases of iOS better than ever. iOS 9.1 was recently released to developers, shortly after the Apple Special Media Event that took place on Wednesday 9th September 2015, and was also released to Public Beta testing. If you want to take iOS 9.1 for a test drive, click here and then click on sign in, and enrol your device or devices for public beta deployment, then follow the instructions listed and download the profile they’ll provide you.

Below are some photos of iOS 9 in action, with notable new features, such as the all-new News app.

iOS 9 and iOS 9.1 are both compatible with the following devices:

• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 5
• iPhone 5S
• iPhone 5C
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone 6S
• iPhone 6S Plus
• iPod touch (5th Generation)
• iPod touch (6th Generation)
• iPad 2
• iPad (3rd Generation)
• iPad (4th Generation)
• iPad Air
• iPad Air 2
• iPad mini (1st Generation)
• iPad mini (2nd Generation)
• iPad mini (3rd Generation)
• iPad mini (4th Generation)
• iPad Pro

My final thoughts on iOS 9 and iOS 9.1? I must say, Apple have most certainly pulled out all of the stops on this update, the battery life has improved, and not only that, but the all-new News app works effortlessly without a problem, and I absolutely love it. It’s a lot quicker now to get around iOS than how it was before, and iOS 9 is working at full speed even though I own the iPod touch (5th Generation). I am absolutely pleased to say that I am 100% not at all disappointed with this new update, in fact, iOS 9 is perfect.

If you have already downloaded and installed iOS 9 or iOS 9.1, please feel free to comment below your thoughts on the update, and what you think about this update, and how you feel about iOS 9 overall.

Alex Smithson

© iOS Logo Copyright of Apple & Cisco. No Copyright Infringement Intended.

© Font used for iOS Logo in Featured Image: Segoe UI Light

© Applications visible in the Image also Copyright of Apple

© The photos above were taken on the Nikon D3300 DSLR.

This article is dedicated to Tim Cook, and also the late Steve Jobs.

© Apple 2015