Apple will tell us about its next big update for the iPhone and iPad.
Every year at its Worldwide Developer Conference, the company reveals all of the new features its planning to bring to iOS in the fall.
Although Apple hasn't confirmed anything just yet, 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman has spoken to several people familiar with the company's plans for iOS 9. Here are the biggest additions we're expecting to see based on his reports.
The next major version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 9, is already in the works at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino. We don't have many concrete details on iOS 9 yet, but rumors suggest the update may focus more on optimization and stability improvements rather than major design changes and new features. We're still expecting some changes, however. Siri improvements, a new San Francisco font, a HomeKit "Home" app, iPad split-screen multitasking, transit directions, an augmented reality Maps feature, and an overhauled search/personal assistant system may be added in iOS 9.
A note of caution: We're basing this roundup off of rumors, and it's always possible that the features listed below could be scrapped or delayed before iOS 9 is introduced at WWDC on June 8.
With iOS 7, Apple introduced a major design overhaul, and with iOS 8, the company debuted features like Continuity, Apple Pay, and new app abilities like extensions and widgets. It may seem like Apple will have a hard time marketing an iOS 9 update that doesn't come with the super flashy additions we got in iOS 7 and iOS 8, but a new version of iOS that fine tunes what Apple introduced in previous iOS updates will likely be very popular with people who have suffered from bugs in iOS 8.
Since iOS 8's release, some of Apple's user base has been unhappy with the update, vocally criticizing the company for pushing out new features without resolving lingering bugs. iOS 8 has suffered from an above average number of bugs since its September introduction, causing issues like slow Wi-Fi, battery drain, screen rotation problems, Bluetooth connectivity failures, and more.
OTHER MINOR IMPROVEMENTS
iOS 9 may include a new keyboard with a more robust suite of editing options while in portrait mode. QuickType may become more accessible, and Apple is said to be once again redesigning the shift keywords to provide a better visual indication of when shift or caps lock is turned on.
iMessage may gain read receipts in group chats as well as better controls over when read receipts are displayed. Users may be able to turn on the read receipt feature on and off for specific recipients.
Apple Pay in iOS 9 is said to be gaining a new rewards program that will provide perks to those who use Apple Pay in stores and online. iOS 9 may also expand Apple Pay to additional countries like Canada.
