iOS 9 Beta 2 Tidbits: iPad Keyboard Tweaks, New Podcasts Icon, Improved Search and More

Apple today released the second beta of iOS 9, introducing a number of performance improvements, feature updates, and bug fixes to the beta software that was first seeded to developers on June 8.

iOS 9 beta 2 includes several minor design tweaks and feature updates that have been introduced as Apple works to refine the software ahead of its public release this fall. With the changes, the beta is already feeling faster and more polished, with a much improved search function. We’ve gathered up a full list of the minor changes we’ve found in iOS 9 beta 2 below.

Podcasts – The Podcasts has a newly updated icon that’s bolder. The layout of the app has also been updated slightly, changing the position of some of the download buttons.

Handoff – Handoff is again being displayed in the App Switcher screen. Handoff was not available in the App Switcher in the first iOS 9 beta.

Search – Search appears to be much improved in iOS 9 beta 2, bringing up both more results and a wider range of results for each search query.

Apple Watch app – The Apple Watch app has a new, simpler name, having been renamed to “Watch.”

News setting – There’s now a “News” toggle under iCloud in the Settings app, but toggling it on does not do anything as the News app is not yet available.

Search settings – In the Settings app under General –> Search, there’s now a list of all installed apps with the option to toggle them on or off in search results. Previously, this menu showed only Apple search results and options like Bing Web Results, Documents, Found in Mail, Safari Suggestions, and more.

iPad keyboard tweaks – The edit functions on the iPad keyboard have been tweaked slightly. There’s now an undo/redo option that shows up as the default edit function in place of the cut/paste tool. The cutting and pasting edit tools continue to be available, showing up when text is selected.

Auto app delete/reinstall – This is actually a beta 1 feature, but it was discovered as users installed beta 2. When attempting to install iOS 9 on a device with insufficient space, there’s an option to temporarily delete apps to make room, with the OS automatically reinstalling deleted content after the update is completed.

Additional feature updates in iOS 9 beta 2 will be added here as they are discovered. Apple should continue to release regular updates to iOS 9 at two to three week intervals throughout the beta testing period to bring minor performance boosts and changes ahead of the operating system’s official launch. iOS 9 is expected to be released to the public in the fall, but a public beta test will come first, in July.

Apple Seeds Second WatchOS 2 Beta to Developers

Apple today seeded the second watchOS 2 beta to developers, just over two weeks after announcing the new operating system update at its Worldwide Developers Conference.

watchOS 2 requires iOS 9 and can be downloaded over-the-air through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software Update.

watchOS 2 is the first major update to watchOS, the software that runs on the Apple Watch. The new software brings many new features that Apple Watch developers can take advantage of, including native apps that run on the Apple Watch itself instead of the iPhone.

It also allows developers to access the Taptic Engine and a number of other sensors in the Apple Watch, including the heart rate monitor, the microphone, and the accelerometer.

Along with these features for developers, which will lead to much more complex and full-featured third-party Apple Watch apps, the update introduces new watch faces (photo albums and time-lapse), third-party Complications, Time Travel for viewing upcoming events in a watch face Complication, and a Nightstand mode that’s activated when the watch is charging, displaying the time.

New communication features include the ability to add more than 12 friends to your friends list and the ability to create sketches in multiple colors. Mail’s also being updated, making it possible to reply to Mail messages using dictation, and FaceTime Audio support is included.

watchOS 2 is currently only available to registered developers who have also installed iOS 9 on their iPhones. Apple plans to release the software to the public in the fall.

Apple Seeds Second iOS 9 Beta to Developers

Apple today released the second beta of iOS 9 to developers for testing purposes, just over two weeks after unveiling the new operating system at its 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference. Changes that are new to iOS 9 beta 2 will be detailed below as they are discovered.

The update, build 13A4280e, is also available for download through the Apple Developer Center and should be available as an over-the-air download shortly. Apple has also released Xcode 7 beta 2.

According to the iOS 9 beta 2 release notes, today’s update includes fixes for many bugs and problems that were present in the first beta. AirPlay connectivity is improved, changing a password in the Family section of iCloud Settings now works, restoring from a backup created in iOS 9 is faster, Mail no longer crashes when trying to print a message, and third-party keyboards work in search results.

There are many lingering problems with the beta. FaceTime calls do not work on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and the iPad Air 2, Lightning video dongles don’t work, Activation Lock may say it’s activated for Apple Watch when it is not, creating an Apple ID via Game Center may cause crashing, signing into an iTunes account when restoring from backup with 2fa can get stuck sending a verification code, and more.

iOS 9’s biggest focus is on intelligence and proactivity, allowing iOS devices to learn user habits and act on that information, providing recommendations on places we might like, apps we might like to use, and more. Siri is smarter in iOS 9, with the ability to create contextual reminders, and search is improved with new sources.

Many of the built in apps have been improved, including Notes, Maps, and Mail. Apple Pay has been renamed to Wallet, and iOS 9 introduces split-screen multitasking for the iPad along with a revamped keyboard. In addition to these consumer-facing features, iOS 9 brings significant under-the-hood performance improvements.

With battery optimizations, iOS devices have an additional hour of battery life, and a new Low Power Mode extends the battery even further. iOS updates take up less space in iOS 9, and many app install sizes are smaller due to a feature called app thinning. iOS 9 is capable of running on all devices that support iOS 8.

iOS 9 is currently only available to developers, but Apple plans to introduce a public iOS 9 beta in July before the final release of the software in the fall.

Apple Seeds Second OS X 10.11 El Capitan Beta to Developers

Apple today released the second beta of OS X 10.11 El Capitan to developers for testing purposes, just over two weeks after unveiling the new operating system at its 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference. Any new changes found in the second El Capitan beta will be detailed below.

The update, build 15A204h, is available through the software update mechanism in the Mac App Store and through the Apple Developer Center. Apple has also released OS X Server 5.0 beta 2.

OS X El Capitan largely builds on the features introduced with OS X Yosemite, focusing on improving performance and user experience. Behind-the-scenes improvements in El Capitan have made a number of apps and processes on the Mac much faster, and the introduction of Metal makes system-level graphics rendering 40 percent more efficient.

Along with a new systemwide font, El Capitan includes a revamped Mission Control feature, a new Split View feature for using two full-screen apps at once, deeper functionality for Spotlight, and several new features for Safari, including Pinned Sites for housing frequently-visited websites and a universal mute button that quiets all tabs.

Mail’s been updated with new iOS-style gestures and Smart Suggestions, and Photos, Notes, and Maps have also gained small improvements.

OS X 10.11 El Capitan is currently only available to registered developers, but Apple plans to offer a public beta of the software in July. Following testing, El Capitan will see a final release in the fall of 2015.

Instagram Updates Explore Tab With Dynamic Content and Curated Collections [iOS Blog]

Instagram today began rolling out a small but noteworthy update to its iOS application, namely focusing on expanding and deepening the features of the “Explore” tab inside the app.

The first feature focuses on showcasing trending topics and places, with “dynamically updated content” that promises to give each user a real-time look at events and pictures happening nearby. Users will also be able to select from locations around the globe if they prefer to not be locked into local content.

Secondly, curated collections will let Instagram users explore a constantly rotating array of people and places — from topics like extreme athletes to national parks — all hand picked by the Instagram team. The new update will also allow users to search by location in “Places search,” to explore exotic destinations across the world, or even see what users in your local town are posting.

The new redesigned Explore tab is unfortunately only available for Instagram users in the United States, but the team has taken steps to improve basic search functionality for everyone else. These features include search by location and the traditional search all posts option.

Speaking with Wired, Instagram CEO and co-founder Kevin Systrom pointed toward the new update as a way for people to have instant visual updates on world news in one convenient place. It’s “what we’ve been shooting for all along,” Systrom said of the real-time spotlight focus on news and information.

Early on, he and cofounder Mike Krieger “had this vision that if we could grow large enough and have a system that allowed people to tag who they were with, they could see what is happening right now.” He used the example of Hurricane Sandy, a storm that decimated parts of New York City two-and-a-half years ago.

Even back then, traditional media outlets featured images from Instagram as part of their storm coverage. “But if you wanted to see photos, you had to know Sandy [was happening in the first place] and and to go look for that hashtag,” said Systrom. “We want to be the first place to cover it, and to have broad reach to cover the real things happening on the ground.”

Instagram‘s new update is rolling out now, and should be available to most users throughout the rest of the day, and the app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Google Music Gains Free Ad-Supported Radio Tier in U.S.

Google today announced that it’s adding a free tier to its Google Music subscription service, just a week ahead of the launch of Apple Music. Apple Music doesn’t include a free listening tier, but it is accompanied by a free ad-supported radio service that provides users with a way to access music without shelling out cash.

Google’s free listening tier is built around Songza, the radio-based streaming service that Google purchased last July. It includes curated radio stations and playlists, which Google describes as human-curated and crafted “song by song” for moods and activities like working out or driving. It’s currently available in the United States and rolling out to Android and iOS devices this week.

At any moment in your day, Google Play Music has whatever you need music for–from working, to working out, to working it on the dance floor–and gives you curated radio stations to make whatever you’re doing better. Our team of music experts, including the folks who created Songza, crafts each station song by song so you don’t have to. If you’re looking for something specific, you can browse our curated stations by genre, mood, decade or activity, or you can search for your favorite artist, album or song to instantly create a station of similar music.

Apple’s own upcoming revamped radio service also has a heavy focus on human curation, headlined by the live Beats 1 radio station that will play music chosen by human DJs 24/7. It will be broadcast in more than 100 countries and led by former BBC DJ Zane Lowe and other famous DJs from Los Angeles, New York, and London, airing not only music but also exclusive interviews and music news.

Google, like Apple, is hoping that its free radio service will entice customers to subscribe to the company’s paid music service. Google Play Music is priced at $9.99 per month and it offers a free 30-day listening trial.

Buick and GMC Announce CarPlay Coming to Select 2016 Vehicles

General Motors today announced that select 2016 model year Buick and GMC vehicles will support CarPlay and Android Auto through the IntelliLink system, including the 2016 Buick LaCrosse and Regal and 2016 GMC Canyon, Yukon and Sierra. Buick and GMC will support CarPlay at the beginning of the model year and add Android Auto compatibility to select vehicles later in the model year.

The built-in IntelliLink screen will indicate when a CarPlay or Android Auto compatible smartphone is connected via USB, enabling quick and easy access to Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts and third-party apps such as Spotify, Rdio, iHeartRadio, CBS Radio and MLB At Bat. CarPlay also uses Siri voice control and interfaces with your vehicle’s knobs, dials and buttons for hands-free or eyes-free control of your iPhone.

GM announced in late May that it is adding CarPlay and Android Auto support to 14 new 2016 Chevrolet models later this year, with the 650 HP Corvette Z06 the first vehicle to roll off the assembly line and head to dealerships. GM’s luxury car brand Cadillac will also be adding CarPlay and Android Auto support to its 2016 model vehicles equipped with a CUE 8-inch multi-touch screen, excluding the SRX Crossover.

Apple Music Royalties During Free Trial May be Lower Than Expected [iOS Blog]

After posting an open letter to Apple on her Tumblr page about Apple’s free streaming policy for its upcoming music service, popular artist Taylor Swift managed to get the company to change course — Apple now planning to pay artist royalties during its three-month free trial period of Apple Music. But, thanks to a new statement provided to The Wall Street Journal, it appears artists’ satisfaction with the policy change could become turbulent again, with the Cupertino-based company suggesting the royalty rate during the free trial period will be somewhat lower than normal.

Apple declined to say how much it plans to pay during the trial period, though it said the rate will increase once customers start paying for subscriptions. In the first three months of the service’s life there will be no subscriber royalty rate on which to base the rates. The company could find other ways to calculate a rate and is expected to share its plans with music companies soon.

Apple risks raising the ire of Ms. Swift and others if it comes in with what would appear to be a lowball offer.

Attempting to ballpark Apple’s possible payment rate for the free trial, The Wall Street Journal compares the Apple service to Spotify’s free, ad-supported option, which they point out pays royalties of “about one-fifth of the subscription service.” Last December, that was essentially 0.14 of a cent for each listen in the United States, which Spotify had to pay a grand total of $5.8 million for its free tier alone for the month.

If Apple goes in under its traditional 71.5 percent revenue sharing policy — which is likely to happen given the wording used when speaking to the WSJ — it could still end up paying out millions of dollars to the various artists, songwriters, and producers that Swift became the defacto figurehead of after Apple listened to her letter over the weekend.

Although, as the WSJ points out, some in the industry appeared content with the original free trial period policy, given Apple’s promise of an above-industry standard of 71.5 percent royalty payment, compared to the basic 70 percent payed out by competitors such as Spotify and Google. Apple has yet to comment any further on the issue, but its shifting viewpoint on the topic, so close to Apple Music’s launch, is undeniably an impressive feat for Swift.

iOS 8.3 Untethered Jailbreak Released for iPhone and iPad [iOS Blog]

Chinese team TaiG has released an iOS 8.3 untethered jailbreak tool on Windows for compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. TaiG warns that some jailbreak tweaks are not compatible with iOS 8.3 as Jay Freeman (saurik) has yet to update Cydia Substrate/Mobile Substrate to be compatible with the latest jailbreak. An iOS 8.3 jailbreak tool for OS X has not been released.

Jailbreaking enables iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to install unapproved third-party apps, tweaks, mods, custom themes, utilities, and other content (called “packages”) from Cydia, which is essentially an App Store alternative for jailbroken devices. In other words, jailbreaking allows users to further customize and enhance their iOS devices beyond the limits that Apple imposes.

It is highly recommended that you back up your data through iTunes or iCloud before attempting to jailbreak your device, as there are various issues that could require downgrading or restoring your device and result in data loss. TaiG offers more information on its Twitter and has posted step-by-step instructions on how to use the iOS 8.3 untethered jailbreak on its website.

TaiG 2.0 supports iOS 8.1.3 – iOS 8.3.

Apple Becomes Promoting Member of Bluetooth SIG [Mac Blog]

Apple has become a promoting member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) alongside existing members Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Nokia, and Toshiba, giving the iPhone maker sole voting class on Bluetooth SIG corporate matters and hold a continual seat on the SIG Board of Directors.