@Appstem’s Top 5 WWDC15 Announcements

 

What’s Apple’s iOS 9 mean for mobile?

Apple just dropped a ton of news at its annual World Wide Developer Conference in San Francisco. As per tradition, the biggest announcement is once again the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system powering iPhones and iPads. Coming this fall, iOS 9. If you’re a registered developer, why wait? You can check it out now.

So what’s all the fuss about? iOS 9 is not so much a revolutionary upgrade as it is a natural evolution. This update is all about refining the user experience. Here are the highlights.

— Battery life! An always-welcome upgrade is improved battery life, as iOS 9 introduces a low power mode, which combined with lower power consumption versus iOS 8, promises four bonus hours of Angry Birds.

— Menstruation tracker! Healthkit gets a noteworthy upgrade: the ability to track menstruation. Just one of many metrics Apple can now track as part of reproductive health.

— Transit maps! Trying to keep up with Google and its amazing map app, Apple gives Apple Maps a much needed upgrade. Public transit routes for buses, trains, trollies and the like will finally be available, but in select cities only.

— Smarter Siri! If you’re tired of asking Siri what her favorite color is, Apple’s digital assistant is getting more robust. And proactive. Let’s say you want to be reminded about something when you get home, Siri can do that. She will also handle music requests like any good DJ. All welcome additions, and necessary as Google continues to dominate with the Google Now virtual assistant.

— iPad multitasking! Tired of flipping back and forth between apps? Now you can use picture-in-picture and split-screen functionality to get the most out of Apple’s slick little tablet, provides it’s an iPad Air or iPad Mini 2 and up.