10 Reasons We Can't Freakin' Wait to Use iOS 9

Updated on 9/16/2015 at 7:50 AM

POPSUGAR Photography

Apple unveiled iOS 9 at its Worldwide Developer Conference back in June, and it's finally available to download today. Check out all the exciting features you can expect.

Extended battery life: Apple introducing a "low power" switch mode that will provide up to three extra hours of battery life.
Siri will get much better: You can now get more specific with Siri, giving commands like, "Show me photos from last June in San Francisco." You can also tell her to remind you of something when you get in the car — and she will recognize when you physically get in the car. Or when you're reading a link, you can say, "Remind me about this when I get home," and she knows what link you were talking about.
Your phone is now a proactive assistant: Your phone will now remember your daily routines and make it easier for you to do the things you like to do. For instance, it will recognize that you like to listen to music when go running, so when you plug in your headphones, it will pull up the music app. It will also put invitations you get via email in your calendar app and when get a call from a number you don't recognize, it will search your emails and suggest who it might be. Search bar also now supports video search and you can play directly from the results.
Maps will offer directions for public transportation: That's right — the Apple Maps app will help help you get anywhere using public transit — including buses, trains, ferries, and subways.
There's a photo roll addition: There will be a scrubber bar at the bottom of your photos so you can easily look through all your snaps.
More reason to use Apple Pay: Apple Pay will now work with more stores like Trader Joe's and JC Penney, and you can add your favorite store cards to Apple Pay. It will also work with Pinterest's new buyable pins.
Improved Notes app: You can now put photos directly in notes and can draw notes with your finger; you can also add content from Safari, Maps, and other apps. Notes will also be available across all your Apple devices thanks to iCloud.
News app: You will see a new native Apple app called news that offers articles from trusted sources like The New York Times, ESPN, and The Atlantic. It's tailored to your interests.
Better iPad user experience: New shortcut bar and new features in the QuickType keyboard make it easier to type and navigate; new multitasking features so you can easily switch between apps and pull the apps up side by side.
Improved HealthKit app, HomeKit app, and CarPlay: The HealthKit app will now track reproductive health, if you sit too long, and your UV exposure; the HomeKit app will support new features like home security systems. When it comes to CarPlay — the iPhone built into a vehicle's dashboard — you will be soon be able to connect wirelessly.

iOS 9 is compatible with all the devices currently supported by iOS 8. Perhaps the best news? Apple reduced the amount of free space you need to download iOS 9 from 4.6 gigabytes to 1.8 gigabytes.

Ahead, see more photos of iOS 9 in action with captions written by Apple.

"Now there are even more topics you can ask Siri about. Find specific photos and videos, or set a reminder to finish an article you’re reading on the web."

"Plug in your headphones or connect to your car, and iPhone can suggest a recent playlist or audiobook."

"If you add a location to an event in Calendar, iPhone will suggest when you should leave. It even takes into account traffic along the way, in real time."

"If you want to be reminded of something you saw in Safari, your device can remind you to read that page."

"In Spotlight, your device will suggest recent contacts, apps, or places you may be interested in."

"A new Transit view in Maps includes directions for public transportation like buses, trains, subways, and ferries. Maps can survey a station so you can find the quickest way in and out."

"With iOS 9, you can search for more — including sports schedules, Netflix movies, and information inside apps."

"With iOS 9, you can add your favorite retail store cards to Apple Pay."

"Add a checklist of to-do items in Notes with just a tap."

"Access your camera from Notes to add a photo. And even use your finger to add a sketch."

"News has the latest stories, articles, and posts, with over a million topics to choose from. The more you read, the better News is at showing the stories you care about most."

"The new Shortcut Bar makes writing on iPhone and iPad even simpler.
And it’s fully customizable for third-party apps."

For iPad: "Slide Over lets you open a second app without leaving the one you’re in."

For iPad: "Picture in Picture scales a video down in size so you can keep watching a TV show while you reply to an email."

For iPad: "Split View allows two apps to be open and active at the same time on the same screen"

"The Health app can help you track everything from your workouts to how much water you drink. It can now also track reproductive health, how often you’re seated, and UV exposure."