Stop clamouring after the iPhone 6S and iPad Pro - starting tomorrow (September
16), your existing iDevices are going to offer much of the same functionality
as these future models thanks to the iOS 9 update.
Landing as a free patch, the sizeable software refresh brings a mass of new
features and functions to your existing iPhones and iPads. Some are dependent
on device, some are more useful than others, but now there's no need to go
wandering through it blindly. Here are a few of our favourite iOS 9 tips and
tricks so far.
1. Enjoy split-screen multitasking because it's finally possible
This one's only available for the iPad Air 2 owners among you, but bear with
us, it's a good 'un. Multitasking has been transformed in iOS 9 and it's
pleasingly simple to use. Pulling in from the right side of your slate's screen
while in an app launches a multitasking side bar - without dropping out of your
primary app.
While here you can get a slim-line snapshot of multiple additional apps - from
email and videos to Notes, Contacts and your Calendar - dragging your selected
choice across further allows it to sit side-by-side with the lead app, sharing
on-screen real estate equally.
2. Watch Breaking Bad (or Home Alone) while you work
With the world's entire video catalogue at your fingertips, getting work done
on your iPad can be a bit tricky - go on, just one more cat-themed YouTube
search. You no longer have to pick between work and play, however - you can
enjoy both, simultaneously.
In your iPad Air 2's video player (sorry, another iPad exclusive), tapping the
right-most control on the player bar (it's a big square and a little square
joined by an arrow) launches picture-in-picture viewing. Sitting atop your
other tasks, this small-scale second screen can be dragged around for
convenient placement or resized with standard pinch-to-zoom features.
3. Stretch your battery life out for more than a day
Team iPad might have picture-in-picture video and split-screen multitasking
skills, but clan iPhone has battery-boosting abilities. This is a nice, easy
one to find, too. In Settings hit the 'Battery' option and there's a toggle
waiting front-and-centre to enable 'Low Power Mode'. Simple.
Activating this shuts down background app refreshes, disables luxurious
animations, reduces mail fetching and switches off your 'Hey Siri' features to
stretch out your phone's staying power. Low Power Mode can be kicked into
action whenever you're getting battery nerves, although your phone will prompt
its use when battery reserves slump to 20%.
4. Get access to your cloud files on your homescreen
Apple's answer to Dropbox and Google Drive is still in its relative infancy,
but transferring files between your iOS and OS X devices and Apple's
price-structured remote server space is getting a bigger focus in iOS 9. Well,
sort of. Although not populating your homescreen as standard, an iCloud Drive
app can be easily added front and centre.
You don't need to go searching the App Store either. Instead, you can follow
these simple steps: Settings >> iCloud >> iCloud Drive >> Show on Home Screen.
Toggling this option should see a handy app shortcut pop-up on your home
screen. If only there were similar toggle options for Apple's Stocks and
Compass apps.
5. Cut keyboard corners with touchpad-style controls
Keyboard shortcuts might not sound like a glamorous tip, but they'll transform
the way you use your iOS-powered tablet, with bold, italic and underline
options having made their way to the fore.
Selecting desired sections of text is no longer the fiddly, infuriating process
it once was, either. Like a MacBook Air trackpad, try swiping two fingers over
your iPad's digital keyboard - this should see the letters disappear and your
cursor effortlessly glide to your desired location.
6. Check your shopping list anytime, anywhere
Notes - that oft-used, rarely-appreciated app - has been completely refreshed
in iOS 9, and it's about to become your one-stop-location for all things
productive - yes, really.
Far more than a digital yellow legal pad, the app now lets you throw in
checklists - ideal for shopping - images, links, screen grabs and annotations.
The iPad Pro's Apple Pencil might be primed to make use of these updates, but
your existing iPhone and iPad will enjoy them until the monster tab's launch.
7. Open your wallet, the easy way
Unlocking your phone, opening the Wallet app, that two-stage process is like
soooo laborious. Now though you can cut out the middleman and open things
directly into your Wallet. "How?" we hear you cry? Try giving your Touch
ID-hosting home button a double tap from the lock screen and see what happens.
8. Make use of the new "Hey Siri" features
In iOS 9, Siri's always listening, but don't be freaked out, the iPhone PA
isn't snooping on you. It's more like an overly excited puppy, just waiting for
your every command.
Simply saying "Hey, Siri" - there's no button bashing required - will launch
your favourite gobby assistant - even from the lock screen, meaning your
hands-free queries and commands are now no longer confined to your mind.
You'll need to enable this feature first though - Settings >> General >> Siri
Siri ear familiar with your voice so that that firecracker mate we all haveAllow "Hey Siri". Once activated you'll have to get your own, individual
