iOS 9: What to Expect, Release Date, Download & Everything We Know So Far

Apple users, you might want to note these down.  

Apple iOS, one of the world's leading mobile operating systems, announced on Wednesday the release of iOS 9 as a free update for the iPhone, iPad & iPod touch users. While the beta version has been around for the past few months Apple's latest iOS will officially be made publicly available next week, September 16 - remarkably ahead of the release of the new iPhone.

According to CNET, the iOS update will be enable users to run two apps at the same time on the iPad as well as feature markup features for signing documents in the Mail app. "The way you interact with iPad gets even better with iOS 9, thanks to new multitasking features that let users view and interact with two apps at once, side by side. With Picture-in-Picture, users can play video while browsing the web, composing email or using other apps. Built-in apps become more powerful with a redesigned Notes app offering new ways to capture ideas, detailed transit information in Maps, and an all-new News app for the best news reading experience on any mobile device," Apple writes in a statement to the press.

Moreover, here's what Apple had to say about the new iOS:

"iOS 9 is packed with intelligence that makes every experience with iPhone and iPad even more powerful - Siri can do more than ever and new proactive assistance helps you get more done before you ask, all while protecting users' privacy," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "With iOS 9 we focused on strengthening the foundation of iOS with a deep focus on quality, and with the help of more than one million users who participated in our first ever public beta program, we're excited to release the best version of iOS yet."

PC Advisor informs that as long as your iOS-supported device isn't more than around two years old a complete or partial upgrade is possible. iOS 9 will be compatible with the iPhone 4s and newer, the iPad 2 and newer, as well as the 5th and 6th generation iPod touch, as per PC Advisor, which are notably the same devices iOS 8 is well-suited to.

Meanwhile, CNET recommends the following in preparation for the new iOS 9:

Routine maintenance

Taking an inventory of your apps and uninstalling rarely or not at all used apps is advised as "this both frees up precious storage space and declutters your home screen."

Backups are important

It's also good to have a backup of your device either via iCloud or iTunes pre-upgrade.

Here's how: "Launch the Settings app, tap on iCloud, then scroll down until you find the Backup option and tap on it. A Backup Now button will become active after a brief moment, which you'll want to tap on. Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi and have your iOS device charging."

Creating a back up via iTunes is equally simple: "Launch iTunes and connect your iOS device via a USB cable. A device icon will appear next to the various category icons along the top of the iTunes window. Select your device, and then from the summary tab select This Computer. Additionally, check the box next to Encrypt backup and enter a password when prompted. By encrypting the backup you can forgo having to re-enter passwords should you need to restore your device."

Time to update

Apple users must at least block an hour of their daily schedule for the device to run complete the update process.

Launch-day jitters

While being one of the first people to get the update is certainly exciting, setting expectations is ideal:

"With any new software launch, there's always a chance complications will surface. If you're not the type who wants to spend time troubleshooting issues, it's best to wait a few days after release to update. You're really not going to miss out on anything."