Apple is relying on growth in the business sector by making iOS9 devices fit for live systems, which was previously Microsoft’s domain
Apple unveiled the new version of its iOS mobile operating system at its WWDC developer conference. If you take a bird’s eye view of the many minor improvements, you will realise that the ninth version of iOS is moving away from being a snazzy operating system geared towards the mobile domain, and turning into a flexible allrounder that is compatible with PC functions. With this, Apple is wandering into Microsoft’s territory. And not without good reason, either: Apple has recently begun to focus ntensively on business clients – And they want flexibility.
Apple’s iPad was initially a genuine success story, but the sales figures are sinking: Compared to the previous year, they sank by 18 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year of 2015. Thanks to cheaper competing devices, the company’s global market share shrank from a third to a quarter of the pie last year. There is also a luxury-related problem: Customer satisfaction. Many users are still using the first iPad, since it fulfils their simple requirements. In order to grow within the tablet market, Apple is now turning its attention to business customers. Last year’s initiation of an app-partnership with IBM was an important first step, and the improved operating system is now being placed on the table. The update is scheduled to be completed in the autumn season with a large iPad Pro. There have been whispers of a 12.9-inch iPad for quite a long time, but signs that clearly point to a large iPad have now surfaced in the code of iOS 9. The new device is to feature a keyboard with a fifth key bank, which cannot be displayed on current iPads. Furthermore, the operating system supports a higher resolution, which would make it possible to simultaneously run two iPad apps associated with the current 9.7-inch devices, which is a new feature of iOS 9.
iOS 9 Can Turn the iPad Into A PC Replacement
The split view mode displays two apps next to each other. Both apps can be operated simultaneously, so that it will, for example, be possible to compare two documents. The ‘slide over’ function makes it possible to temporarily drag an app – such as the Messenger app – over the app that is currently open, without losing an overview of the work that was being done. Both functions can be found in devices ranging from the latest iPad Air 2 onwards. Improved multi-tasking for the video player was already available from the iPad Air onwards: A video can now be pulled out of the browser window or an app, and the app can be used to place it at the location of your choice, in the desired size.
With iOS 9, Apple has made the iPad’s keyboard more attractive for text workers: The word recommendation bar will eventually feature buttons for copying, inserting and formatting text. Those who connect a Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad can also use key combinations. Apple has created a substitute for the mouse in a simple, yet effective manner: Placing two fingers on the keyboard turns it into a laptop-like touchpad – This makes it very easy to move the cursor and mark text.
The new sketching function in the improved note-taking app is also quite exciting: It can be seen as a clear reference to the iPad Pro, for which Apple is going to offer a stylus, if rumours can be believed. The integrated mail client has also been revised. It now offers a mark-up feature, which can be used to add attachments, notes or diagrams. This function can, for example, be used to sign a PDF.
With version 9, Apple is trimming its iOS operating system for productivity. The iPad, in particular, benefits from the split view multitasking function, the improved keypad, the touchpad and the stylus-support. Together with a significantly larger iPad Pro, iOS 9 could turn out to be a decisive factor in business customers’ purchase decisions. In any event, what’s beyond all doubt is that as far as the mobile business environment is concerned, Apple’s new innovations are going to compete quite fiercely with Windows 10.