Apple released iOS 9 to run on iPhones going back as far as the 4s, iPads going back to the iPad 2, and iPod touch 5th generation and later. We discussed its common features as well as those unique to the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
First there are new and updated apps in iOS 9. The brand-new News app asks what news sources or publications and subjects you would like to follow. Then every time you open the app it will serve up the latest news from those sources like a customized newspaper or magazine. The Notes app has been beefed up to be more like Evernote and Microsoft OneNote. You can insert photos, maps, sketches, and web links, as well as create checklists. It uses iCloud to sync your notes across iOS devices and Macs. To see these new features on a Mac, you’ll need Mac OS X El Capitan, which was just released on September 30th. The Maps app now includes transit directions. Passbook has become Wallet and includes Apple Pay-supported credit cards you’ve added, as well as loyalty cards and boarding passes.
The iPad has gained new multitasking features like Slide Over that lets you view e-mails in the Mail app in a narrow window that slides in from the right, or lets you perform other tasks in apps that support Slide Over. Picture in Picture allows you to view videos in a small window superimposed over the full-screen app you’re currently using. Split View allows you to use two apps side by side on the screen. It only works on the latest iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4.
I also brought in a new iPhone 6s. One very welcome improvement is an even faster Touch ID that unlocks the phone, enables access to supporting apps such as password managers and banking applications, and enables quick access to Apple Pay for paying in stores as well as for purchases within apps. Live Photos is a neat feature that combines a photo with a short video that begins 1.5 seconds before and ends 1.5 seconds after the photo is taken.
The most signature feature on the 6s and 6s Plus is 3D Touch. It senses how hard you are pressing on the screen. For example a firm press allows you to peek at an e-mail or a web link without leaving the list of e-mails or current web page you are viewing. Press a little harder and the e-mail or web page pops open full screen. If you firmly press the icon of a supporting app on the home screen, it will show you a context menu of shortcuts. For instance, the Mail app lets you directly open the VIP Inbox, search your e-mails, or start a new message without first opening the Mail app. Third party apps such as Instagram and Facebook have started adding support for 3D Touch, so it will become more and more useful over time.