Apple seeds iOS 9 beta 2 and WatchOS 2 beta 2 to developers: New features revealed

Apple has recently rolled out the second beta (beta 2) iteration of its forthcoming WatchOS and iOS 9 update, wherein the former gets a new beta firmware for both 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch models and the latter an updated version of Developer Preview with a new build number - 13A4280e.

Here is the complete list of changes discovered in iOS 9 beta 2 by the folks at iDownloadBlog:

App Deletion

iOS 9 is now capable of temporarily deleting apps to accommodate software updates and automatically restore them once the update is complete. Not to mention that the deleted apps will be restored along with their stock settings and user data.

Podcasts

The Podcasts app undergoes a few minor cosmetic changes in iOS 9 beta 2, along with the addition of a new refreshed app icon.

Continuity Handoff

The Continuity Handoff feature makes its debut with iOS 9 beta 2 as part of the revamped multitasking view, as it couldn't make the cut into the iOS App Switcher in the first beta iteration of iOS 9.

Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode works similar to Sony's Stamina Mode wherein the background services are turned off including automatic downloads, when this feature is enabled on your iOS device. The official description for this feature suggests that it temporarily reduces power consumption until you can fully charge your iPhone.

New iPad Virtual Keyboard

Apple's new virtual keyboard for the iPad brings a new undo/redo button that replaces copy/paste buttons. However, users can still invoke the copy/paste shortcuts while selecting a block of text.

News Setting

Apple News syncing can now be enabled via the iCloud section in the stock settings app, using a placeholder toggle.

Safari

iOS 9 beta 2 now employs separate toggles for the Tab and Favourites bar in Settings > Safari, wherein an earlier option to enable and manage Content Blockers in Safari has been taken off from the settings app.

Search

Certain third-party apps can now be excluded from search results for Spotlight search in iOS 9 beta 2, which can be accessed via Settings > General > Search.

The iOS 9 is expected to offer a faster performance and an extra hour of battery-life in comparison to its previous iOS iterations.

Other key features of iOS 9 include enhanced Notes with media attachments, bulleted lists and drawings, Maps with Transit, enhanced mail, smarter and pro-active Siri, Spotlight recommendations, additional content sources and more.

Apple Watch app

The companion Apple Watch app ported to iOS 8.2 has now been renamed as "Watch".

The WatchOS is expected to go live alongside iOS 9 in the fall, while its beta 2 update is already available for installation on all Apple watches running the OTA update of first WatchOS beta through Apple Watch Companion app on an iPhone running iOS 9 Developer Preview.

The WatchOS beta 2 also brings a handful of noteworthy features to Apple Watch including Night Mods, two new watch faces, a Time Travel mode, enhanced Music app and all the native apps, besides enabling access to sensors and Taptic Engine.

[Source: iDownloadBlog]