This week Apple announced their new operating system, used on iPhones and iPads, iOS 9. The new iOS comes with a huge amount of new features, such as making your regular apps that much more essential, improving productivity, and a far superior Siri. Not only do you get an extra hour in battery life, as well as more storage (iOS 9 takes up less space on your device, as it now only takes 1.3 gigs, instead of 4.6 gigs in iOS 8), you also get a range of new features. We have highlighted a few so that you can have an idea as to what to expect when iOS 9 launches later this year.

News

With the update, the newsstand app disappears and is replaced with a more suitable News app that gathers articles based on the type of stories that you like to read. This News app eliminates the hassle of switching from app to app to stay informed. The content is optimized for both iPhone and iPad, so articles can easily be read. The News app will also learn more about the style of articles you prefer as you continue to use it, making it easier to find out about the news that is important to you.

Proactive

Proactive is Apple’s new Siri update, designed to learn your behaviors, so that it can predict what you are interested in doing when you use your device. As you use your iPhone/iPad throughout the day, Proactive learns how you use it, and makes it much easier for you to jump right in to a certain app, based on that time of day, such as listening to music to wake up. It can also potentially identify an unknown number should you have received an email from the same person. Proactive improves as you continue to use it, and will even make app suggestions at particular times of the day, as well as your location.

Multitasking for iPad

At long last, your iPad will gain the ability to multitask, with three main features. Firstly, there is the “Slide Over”, which enables a secondary app to be swiped over, keeping the primary app open, and can be just as easily dismissed. Secondly, there is “Picture-in-Picture”, which enables you to play a video in the corner of your screen while you use another app, such as watching sport while doing work. Finally, iOS 9 gives us the ability to “Split View”, which splits the iPad space into two, running two apps at the same time. Just be aware that this particular feature only works on the Apple iPad Air 2.

Notes

For those who have been with Apple for a while, you have an idea as to what the app Notes can do, as it lets you take down notes to be used for later. The app is going to receive a huge update, making it more useful than imagined. You can now draw in it, add maps and photos, set up a checklist, and take anything you see from any app and add it straight to notes.  This will make it that much easier to show off or keep track of those little aspects that are important to you.

Maps

The Apple Maps also receives an improvement. Public transport has been integrated into their system, making it easier to plan your trip from A to B. Another feature is “Nearby”, which informs you of the local facilities in the area, such as shops, restaurants and much more, letting you find precisely what you’re in the mood for.

Security

Security is a very important feature within Apple’s latest iOS, and is now stronger than ever. Instead of having a 4-digit code, there will be a 6-digit code, making it that much harder for your phone to be used by someone else (there is going to be approx. 1 million codes, instead of 10,000 in the 4-digit version). Should you be using the touch ID, you wont notice any changes. There will also be two step authentication factored into the system, which prompts for a verification code when signing in from a new browser or device.