“It may have come to your attention that there’s a fresh version of iOS in town,” David Nield writes for Gizmodo.
“But aside from a font change, what’s different about this new edition of Apple’s mobile OS?” Nield writes. “To help you navigate around iOS 9, we’ve listed all the tricks that it can do that were beyond the capabilities of iOS 8.”
1. Get public transit directions
2. Read the news (via the new Apple News app)
3. Access iCloud more easily
Twenty more things you can do in iOS 9 that you couldn’t do in iOS 8 here.
MacDailyNews Take: Snap poll: Which font do you prefer, iOS 9’s San Francisco or iOS 8’s Neue Helvetica?
iOS 9’s San Francisco font (left) vs. iOS 8’s Neue Helvetica
San Francisco, by far. App and Folder names in San Francisco take up less space on the Home screen, so you can get another letter or 2 in there before the “…” happens.
I like San Fran too, but the font does seem thin to my old eyes so I turned Bold Text on under Settings / General / Accessibility and that helped. (I had already turned Larger Text on and cranked that up about halfway.)
Interestingly, Bold Text also increases the line thickness on iOS icons like the flag, archive, and new document icons in Mail. I don’t like that as much, so I’ve now turned Bold Text off and just bumped the Larger Text setting up a notch. YMMV.
The article was helpful, but the comments section is mostly Android users bitching that Apple DID NOT invent this or that, and how they’ve had feature ‘x’ for years now. I would suggest skipping the comments.
San Francisco is much easier to read, due to better spacing and visibly less strokes. The weight of the font is equal to that of iOS Helvetica Neue, in fact it appears a lot like, DIN Next Pro Rounded Regular. I prefer it. Thanks Apple, good choice.
They need to switch to Optima. It doesn’t have the serifs of more legible fonts but it has the hints that make it waaaaay easier to read than any mono-stroked sans font.
The article says that “Hey Siri” is only available when you’re not connected to power on the new 6S iPhones. That’s not true, it works on the iPhone 6 too.
The new one – much easier on my eyes.
San Francisco, by far. App and Folder names in San Francisco take up less space on the Home screen, so you can get another letter or 2 in there before the “…” happens.
SanFran. Beautiful font.
Helvetica, all day every day. Much easier to read with my lousy eyesight.
I agree.
Actually, after upgrading to iOS 9, I changed to a smaller font because the new one is clearer and easier to read.
That is strange, because Helvetica is tighter font, letters are closer to each other. It is worse for your eyesight, not better.
Could not agree more. HN > SF.
I like San Fran too, but the font does seem thin to my old eyes so I turned Bold Text on under Settings / General / Accessibility and that helped. (I had already turned Larger Text on and cranked that up about halfway.)
San Fran for sure. The keyboard feels bigger even though it takes up the exact same amount of space.
Interestingly, Bold Text also increases the line thickness on iOS icons like the flag, archive, and new document icons in Mail. I don’t like that as much, so I’ve now turned Bold Text off and just bumped the Larger Text setting up a notch. YMMV.
Better kerning in iOS 9.
The article was helpful, but the comments section is mostly Android users bitching that Apple DID NOT invent this or that, and how they’ve had feature ‘x’ for years now. I would suggest skipping the comments.
As with most apple related articles NOT posted on an apple site..
Haters gonna hate.
San Francisco is much easier to read, due to better spacing and visibly less strokes. The weight of the font is equal to that of iOS Helvetica Neue, in fact it appears a lot like, DIN Next Pro Rounded Regular. I prefer it. Thanks Apple, good choice.
Neither. The 6’s and 9’s look like 8’s.
you need new eyes, meh
San Francisco is stunning.
San Francisco all the way.
With a Retina display, why can’t Apple offer the user choice of a few fonts????
— preferably Serif fonts as well as the usual boring Sans Serif choices that Apple has offered.
They need to switch to Optima. It doesn’t have the serifs of more legible fonts but it has the hints that make it waaaaay easier to read than any mono-stroked sans font.
I am a big fan of Neue Helvitica in general, but absolutely love the look that San Francisco Type brings to iOS 9.
Helvetia Neue is mor beautiful, but San Fransico is Just fine, and LOVELY in emails.
Helvetica.
The article says that “Hey Siri” is only available when you’re not connected to power on the new 6S iPhones. That’s not true, it works on the iPhone 6 too.
Helvetica ! Far superior …
Neue Helvetica. San Francisco is a disappointment for me.
San Francisco does look good on iOS 9, but I’s still prefer Helvetica Neue on my iPhone, which looks more established and modern.
The lower case is not as easy to read for me on my keyboard. I wish i could turn small type off. Otherwise i like os9
San Francisco.
iOS 9 just edges it for me.