Apple today said the final version of iOS 9 will become available to most iOS devices beginning Sept. 16.
The new operating system adds a wide range of new capabilities, such as broadened powers in Apple’s Siri voice assistant. In iOS 9, for example, Siri can respond intelligently to commands; can sort through email and event invitations to automatically populate the calendar; and can prompt users to take actions, such as commuting home.
iOS 9 adds public transit support to Maps. Transit data will first be available in New York, San Francisco, Chicago Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., and can provide train arrival/departure times, as well as station entrances/exits.
Apple Pay gains support for loyalty cards in iOS 9, beginning with Walgreens and Dunkin Donuts, and also adds support for store-branded credit cards. CarPlay receives a boost in iOS 9 with support for wireless connections between the iPhone and car (Bluetooth), and CarPlay adds support for various display shapes and sizes.
iOS 9 includes a new News application, split-screen multitasking for iPads, and makes improvements to battery life thanks to a new low-power mode. iOS 9 will ship with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
