8 great features in iOS 9 (and how to use them)

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  • Hello new Battery widget

    Hello new Battery widget

    Enabled by default, you can now see the battery level of your iOS device and an Apple Watch if you have one connected to your iPhone.

    To see the widget, slide down the Notifications screen and (if it's not already chosen) tap the Today option. Similar to all other iOS widgets, you can easily move it or hide the battery information.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

  • Caps and no caps

    Caps and no caps

    Apple modified the software keyboard in iOS 9 to change the new lowercase keys to capital letters after tapping the Shift button.

    Personally, I prefer this because I can easily see if I'm in Caps mode or not.

    If you'd rather have things the old way -- where the keys don't always appear as capital letters -- no problem. Just go into Settings, General, Accessibility, Keyboard and disable the "Show Lowercase Keys" option.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

  • Use and disable content blockers on demand

    Use and disable content blockers on demand

    There are number of content blockers that will hide ads and other superfluous bits on a web page in Safari with iOS 9. That helps speed up page loads noticeably.

    Just go into Settings, Safari and enable the blockers after you install one from the App Store.

    Don't want to block things in specific instances? No problem: Tap and hold the refresh button in Safari and you'll be able to unblock content for that particular web page.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

  • Personalize "Hey Siri"

    Personalize "Hey Siri"

    On Apple's newest phones, you can say "Hey Siri" at any time; not just when the handset is plugged in; that's how it works on older phones and iPads.

    With more people vying for Siri's attention, how do you stop other people from opening up Siri on your iOS device?

    Just walk through the new voice training feature that appears when you enable the "Hey Siri" function. It may not stop everyone from waking Siri on your device, but it should help tremendously.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

  • A useful back button

    A useful back button

    Apple finally added a sort of back button in iOS 9 and it's on by default. There's no need to change any settings.

    You'll notice it when, for example, you tap a link in email like I did. Safari will open but show a small "Back to Mail" option at the top left of the screen. Tapping it takes me back to Mail but leaves the webpage loaded in Safari. Many of Apple's native apps now offer this back button.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

  • Double tap for Apple Pay

    Double tap for Apple Pay

    When your iPhone screen is locked you can quickly get to Apple Pay with a double-tap of the Home button.

    Don't worry, you still need to hold your finger on the Touch ID sensor for any transactions, so they're secure.

    If you don't want to allow Apple Pay to open this easily, you can disable the feature. Go to Settings, Wallet & Apple Pay and de-select the Double-Click Home Button option.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

  • iPad gets a trackpad (sorta)

    iPad gets a trackpad (sorta)

    There's no trackpad or mouse support in iOS but that doesn't mean you can't simulate one.

    With iOS 9, the entire iPad keyboard becomes a trackpad by default. When it appears for text entry, use two fingers to swipe around and move the visual cursor.

    I find it a fast way to get the cursor in just the right spot; more accurately than the old tap and hold method.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

  • Save some juice

    Save some juice

    Apple added a Low Power Mode in iOS 9 to help save battery life, but it's not on by default.

    To enable it, go to Settings, Battery and slide the Low Power Mode option to the right.

    Apple says some background activities, mail fetching and visual effects are either reduced or disabled while in Low Power Mode.

    Caption by: Kevin Tofel

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Apple's iOS 9 has dozens of new features and here are a handful that every iPhone and iPad owner should know about for longer battery life and improved usability.

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Hello new Battery widget

Enabled by default, you can now see the battery level of your iOS device and an Apple Watch if you have one connected to your iPhone.

To see the widget, slide down the Notifications screen and (if it's not already chosen) tap the Today option. Similar to all other iOS widgets, you can easily move it or hide the battery information.

Caption by: Kevin Tofel

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