iOS 9 rumors: new features or pie in the sky?
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2015) is taking place in San Francisco from June 8-12. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil a new version of OS X, a revamped Apple TV box, a new web-based TV service and its new Beats-based music streaming service.
Developers are also anticipating learning more about the company’s next version of iOS. Developers may even get beta access to iOS 9, likely to be released in September alongside new models of the iPhone.
The iOS 8 update journey
The current iteration of iOS has seen numerous updates since its debut last September, each adding a slew of new features alongside the usual bug fixes.
In iOS 8.1, Apple added support for Apple Pay and a Continuity feature that allows users to seamlessly switch between Apple devices.
The iOS 8.2 update rolled out support for Apple Watch, introduced the Apple Watch companion app and brought updates to Apple’s Health app.
The release of iOS 8.3 marked the first time Apple offered a public beta for its mobile operating system, likely in an effort to iron out as many bugs as possible before its general release. The update added diverse emoji (new skin tones and same-sex couples), new languages for Siri, Wireless CarPlay operation and more.
Currently in beta for developers, iOS 8.4 includes a brand new Music app and is also expected to include Apple’s new Beats-based streaming music service. It is likely iOS 8.4 will only be released after WWDC 2015, as Apple is expected to only unveil its new streaming music service at the event.
It has been widely reported that iOS 9 will focus on install size optimizations and performance improvements rather than a design overhaul or new features. Going hand-in-hand with optimization will be the usual bug fixes.
While very little is known about iOS 9 right now, and the rumor mill is hard at work. Here is what you may – or may not – see in iOS 9:.
Quick Access menu on the iPhone’s lock screen
Designer Simon Rahm posted a video to ConceptsiPhone’s YouTube channel showing a conceptual new user interface containing a Quick Access menu on the iPhone’s lock screen. Quick Access shows a user three basic pieces of information: notifications, missed calls and reminders. Users can dismiss or act on items directly from the lock screen.
See the Quick Access concept in action below:
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Apple Maps to include public transit directions
An Apple job listing discovered by AppleInsider revealed that the company wants to hire a software engineer to join the Maps division’s Routing team. Specifically, the job listing states that as a member of the Routing team, the engineer will “work on one of the most anticipated features of Apple Maps” and that candidate must have “in-depth knowledge about public transit.”
Maps lost public transit directions in iOS 6 when Apple started stripping out Google content in favor of its own.
Contact availability status
Apple was recently granted a patent that hints at a possible new feature coming to iOS. The technology described in the patent will let iPhone users see location and availability information for their contacts.
Photo credit: Gonzalo Baeza | Flickr
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