Apple generally announces a new version of its iOS operating system in June at its WWDC conference in June, before releasing it with a new iPhone or iPad later in the year. With iOS 8.2 now the current version of the OS, it’s time to look to iOS 9 and see what it has in store for us.
We don’t have a lot of information on the operating system, yet, other than the fact that Apple is seeing iOS 9 as a clean-up operation and a chance to make it more reliable and stable. We also know that it will most likely be released alongside the iPhone 6S (or iPhone 7 if Apple changes its naming convention). Until we get more solid information, it doesn't mean that we can't list what we'd like to see. We’ll admit that some of the features that we've listed aren’t all that likely to be implemented, but you can’t stop us from dreaming.
1. Set third-party apps as default
Apple finally opened up iOS 8 and allowed us to install third-party keyboards– a feature Android has had for years. It also added Extensions, which lets you use carry out an action in one app from another. For example, you can browse images in Photos, but edit them in Camera+.
As good as this more open policy is, it doesn’t go far enough for our liking and we’d like to see iOS 9 become even more open and let users set default apps. For example, we should be able to set Google Maps as the default mapping app, overriding Apple maps.
2. Hide or remove pre-installed apps
Apple’s not too bad with its default load-out for iOS, but there are still apps in there that some people will never use, or don’t currently have a use for, such as the Apple Watch app. Rather than letting people remove the ones that they don’t want, you’re stuck with them, with your only option to apps you don’t want into a Folder. For iOS 9 we’d like to see the ability to remove anything that’s not critical or, at the least, choose which apps are visible.
3. Extend TouchID
The TouchID fingerprint reader introduced with the iPhone 5S, and now available on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus,iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 was a great way to add security to Apple’s mobile devices. Originally, TouchID was only available to unlock a device or to authorise a payment from iTunes or the App Store. With iOS 8, Apple also opened TouchID up to Apple Pay (not available in the UK) and to third-party apps: you can log into your Amazon account using it, for example.
We’d now like to see TouchID extended so that it can be used to lock any app from being opened without permission. We’d also like to see it integrated into Safari so that your fingerprint would be required to enter a stored username and password.
4. Make AirDrop and Handoff more reliable
Apple has some great sharing features in iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite: AirDrop is great for sharing files, websites and more; Handoff is a brilliant way to start a task on one device and finish it on other. Unfortunately, neither are particularly reliable and will just stop working. We even wrote a guide on how to fix AirDrop, as we’ve found it so flaky at times. Enough’s enough, and it’s time that Apple focussed on making these features just work.
5. Multi-user support
This is a feature that made it onto our list of Android features that we wish iOS had, but it’s worth repeating here anyway. While we’ll admit that it’s not a feature that the iPhones have to support, it would be great to have it on the iPad, which is more of a shared device. We’d love to be able to have one account for each household member, each getting their own email and preferences.
6. Customisable Control Centre
Control Centre was one of the best features that Apple added to iOS 7. This menu, which you drag up from the bottom of the screen, gives you quick access to toggle airplane mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DnD and the rotation lock, as well as playback controls and shortcuts to common apps. It’s not customisable, though. Why not let people put their favourite apps in here instead?
7. Location aware settings
Wouldn’t it be great if your iPhone knew where it was, so that it could change the way that it behaved. For example, it could set a different, quieter, ringtone for when you’re at work, or choose to go into silent mode when you reach a destination attached to a calendar appointment. Failing Apple doing this, it would be nice to see these features more accessible so that you can programme your own outcomes using IFTTT.
8. Smaller install
One of the problems that people with 16GB handsets had was that they didn’t have enough room on their handsets to install iOS 8. There’s no reason why the OS should be this big, so we’d love it if Apple was to cut down on the flab and make iOS 9 cleaner and leaner.
9. General stability improvements
We’ve all had Safari reload a web page because of an unknown error, an app crashing, or Spotlight refusing to show any search results. It’s time that all of these kinds of bugs were addressed and that iOS 9 becomes the most stable OS.