iOS 9 brings a suite of innovative features, with Siri at the heart of many enhancements. Beyond proactive suggestions, Siri now handles advanced commands for reminders tied to on-screen content, location-based car alerts, and precise photo searches. As an Apple expert who's tested these in the beta, here's what you can do:
Key examples: "Remind me tomorrow at 11am." "Remind me to get gas when I get in my car." "Show me pictures I took last week." "I want to see my pictures from New York last year."
The public iOS 9 release arrives in fall 2015, but beta users can try these now.
In iOS 9, Siri sets reminders based on what you're viewing on screen. Spot a text about a meeting? Just say, "Remind me of this," and Siri links it to the content. This works seamlessly across apps like Safari, Mail, Notes, Maps, and Messages, creating a Reminders app entry with an app icon that returns you to the exact spot.
Siri's location reminders have evolved. Now, it recognizes when you're in your car via CarPlay, triggering alerts upon entry.
Note: Requires a CarPlay-equipped vehicle for Siri to detect your location accurately.
Siri confirms the reminder, which activates once connected in the car. Pro tip: Combine with on-screen reminders, like "Remind me of this when I get in my car," for directions from a Maps view.
Building on iOS 8's photo search, Siri now handles voice queries for dates and times. Try "Show me pictures from yesterday," "Videos from last week," or "Pictures from May 30."
Security note: Even in beta, Siri requires unlocking from the lock screen to access photos.
Siri excels at event and location searches, like album names or places. Combine for precision: "Photos of Hyannis, MA last year."
With over 2,000 photos in my iCloud library, pinpointing trips was tough—until now. "Show me pictures of Hyannis" pulls every visit across years; adding dates narrows to my Cape Cod trip last July.
