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Sarah Tew/CNET
At its event in San Francisco today, Apple said it will release iOS 9 next Wednesday Sept. 16, nine days before the new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus go on sale.
The release of the newest version of Apple’s mobile software, which the company first announced three months ago at its Worldwide Developers Conference, follows a unique public beta period where users outside the company’s traditional developer’s program were able to download and test it. iO9 will be compatible with all iPhones back to the iPhone 4S, all iPod Touch devices back to the 5th-Generation model and all iPads back to the iPad 2, the iPad Air and the original iPad Mini.
More on iOS 9
- Your complete guide to the iOS 9 public beta
- iOS 9: The new and notable features in the open beta (hands-on)
- What’s new in iOS 9 (pictures)
One of the premier features of iOS 9 is a predictive ability that can learn your typical usage habits throughout the day or in certain locations. When you’re leaving on your usual commute to work, for example, it could load music automatically. It could also load apps or contacts automatically depending on how often you use them.
Other new features include improved battery life, Siri refinements, a new interface for app switching, public transit directions, better integration of Notes across Apple devices and a new News app. The iPad also gets interface enhancements like a split-screen feature and picture-in-picture video.
If Apple follows its usual pattern, iOS 9 will be available for download either over the air or through iTunes around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Sept. 16. For more on the update, check out our iOS 9 deep dive .
