With Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference for 2015 now a thing of the past, we take a look at some of the standout features in iOS 9 that Apple announced last week.

Longer battery life

Using ambient light and proximity sensors, an iPhone running iOS 9 can detect if it is face down on a table and keep the screen off, even when a notification comes through. Apple claims this, and other improvements, adds up to one hour of battery life to iPhone.

A new Low Power mode can add an extra three hours of battery life if turned on when an iPhone’s battery drops to 20 percent or 10 percent.

Smaller, more convenient updates

With iOS 9, Apple has reduced the size of the update from 4.58 GB for iOS 8.4 to 1.3 GB for iOS 9 – a significant drop. This means a faster update and users need less free space on their iPhone.

Users will also be able to decide when they’d like to update their iPhone to iOS 9. For example, users can run the update immediately or schedule it to run (fully automated) while they sleep or aren’t using the device.

Longer Passcode, two-factor authentication

In iOS 9, the default setting when creating a Passcode requires six digits instead of four, as in iOS 8.x and older versions. Users can still continue to use a four-digit Passcode if they prefer by changing the default in ‘Passcode Options.’

iOS 9 also requires two-factor authentication when users sign in using a new browser or new device. The verification code is sent to users’ other Apple devices or iPhone.

More productivity on iPad

Apple announced a set of features in iOS 9 for iPad that bring true multitasking abilities to the iPad – perhaps in preparation for its rumored 12 inch iPad Pro.

Slide Over and Split view in iOS 9 allow users to open and use multiple apps on one screen, while Picture in Picture, for example, lets users check their Facebook timeline or email while watching a video.

Intelligent Siri and Proactive search

Siri, in iOS 9, is contextually aware and can surface content and information based on time and place. Siri can, for example, suggest music to go with a regular morning run – all without input for the user.

iOS 9 also brings Proactive, Apple’s version of Google Now. A user’s iPhone can make suggestions based on habits, Calendar events, and more to offer suggestions and perform actions.

Image via apple.com