Multitasking in iOS 9 makes iPads better for business
At the recent World Wide Developer Conference, Apple showed a preview of the upcoming iOS 9 operating system for iPad and iPhone. One of the key features is split screen multi-tasking, with the Apple OS finally catching up with Android in that respect, but refining the user interface and making it more friendly for knowledge workers, high-volume communicators and users who need access to multiple sources of information.
While there was no sign of the much-rumoured larger-screen iPad Pro, this update will give users easier access to their information when it launches in autumn. Apps can be split 50%-50%, or narrow apps can take up a quarter of the screen while you work with a main app – ideal for notes or chat windows. The new iOS 9 keyboard also comes with cut, paste and other interactions on the top bar. This will make it easier for business users to work with the iPad as a utility and creation tool, rather than for content consumption and sharing.
Other features of the OS that are being improved include the pass code, which has increased to six digits for a little added security. Users can now attach documents to emails, helping to further boost business utility, while your regular contacts are now on a Proactive menu. You access this by swiping left from the home screen, and it’s context sensitive so knows who you usually talk to at that time of day, what apps you usually access and so on. This level of personalisation will make it easier to use an iPhone or an iPad without going through the apps, as most of us use apps or contacts in predictable patterns that iOS 9 will learn.
For sales types, mobile workers, or other travel heavy business people, the Proactive menu can also provide quick links to nearby essentials like petrol stations, hotels, restaurants and so on, making it a little easier to find your way around when out on a business trip. All these improvements will help nudge Apple devices a little more into the hearts of business users. Expect plenty more updates on these features as they enter beta before the launch.
