Apple iOS 9 News: iOS 9 Features Multitasking, a News App, a Search API and Open Source Programming
Apple recently unveiled the newest iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 9, at the recently concluded WWDC in San Francisco, California. The new OS, which was earlier reported as focusing on stability rather than introducing new features, still sported new features, even some that may rival that of Google, according to reports.
First up in the new features category is in the new News app, which for the first time will bring aggregated content from known publishers such as the New York Times, Conde Nast, ESPN, Buzzfeed. The NYT will reportedly bring 30 new articles every day. This is a first for Apple and as the report says, is a step into territory that is normally occupied by social networking apps such as Facebook.
Another first for Apple is a Search API which will allow search results to "link directly into third party app." An example given was the generation of quick links into potato or french fries recipes on a recipe app such as Yummly whenever the user does a search for potatoes. Again, the report said that the search results during the demo looked a lot like a Google search result.
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Of significance to the WWDC audience made up of developers is the announcement that iOS 9 will be backed by Swift 2, a new programming language for both the iOS 9 and the new OSX. This is a big step for Apple, having been very proprietary about its software since the start.
Siri in iOS 9 is also touted to be more intelligent and will be more "proactive." Based on the user's routines and current activities, it will make contextual suggestions such as automatically play audio whenever you plug in earphones or headsets. It will also have smart reminders which can be created by the command "Remind me of this later."
Perhaps one of the biggest upgrades the new OS will bring is the multitasking feature for the iPad. This means users can run two live apps side by side in an adjustable split screen. Switching from one active app to another will be seamless, like in Android. There is also a Picture in Picture feature, where one can watch a video in a small screen on one corner while reading or checking one's email. A new quicktype keyboard "which has a range of new shortcuts" and allows users to use the keyboard as a trackpad with two finger swipes.
iOS 9 will be available to the public starting this fall with a compact download size of only 1.3 GB.
