iOS9

I usually don't pay attention to these updates because pretty much the only things I use my phone for is calling people, looking for addresses and checking the news. This new update may just help out in that last respect.

The forst thing I noticed when the phone restarted was a "News" app that hadn't been there before. It allows you to select from all kinds of sources and categories then pulls a bunch of headlines you can thumb through and browse at your convenience. I think the idea is that the more you use the app and the more stuff you read the more personalized the selections will become. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how this thing pans out and that's rather unusual for me and technology.

Welcome to 2012. News apps are a dime a dozen. Flipbook is one of many.

I have four devices upgrading as we speak, one of them finished just a few minutes ago.

The news app is quite competent and fleshed out.

Aside from having several apps from specific sources (AP, Reuters, BBC, NPR, CNN, Fox, MSNBC), I have a couple of aggregate applications.

Google News: For years I have had a couple of Google accounts customized to deliver specific news feeds. On one I have more tailored to American politics and ideology, the other more tied to education and disability issues. The immense strength of this is that you get the Google backend to really help you out when you set it up to search for something. I'm able to keep up on every mention of a specific politician or thinker that comes across the press or new media. Sometimes the terms you set up match stories incorrectly. For instance, when I have neoconservatism highlighted in my News feed, it apparently wants to tell me about Charles Barkley's every move. So everytime Charles says something goofy (and boy does he do that a lot), I get it in my feed. Other than that, the Google News application and webpage has been a de facto favorite for years. I have had the occasional crash on iOS devices, but overall it is great because it is a consistent experience across all platforms. Downside: you have to search out categories to get the most out of it. They are not delivered to you for easy selection.

Paper: From Facebook. It was quite enjoyable and easily sharable to your feed. At the time it was somewhat unique in being able to specify several categories (well lived, ideas, sports, headlines, social justice, etc.) and has become one of my favorites. Downsides: You can't search for topics and save them like Google News allows. Second of all, it was only designed for phones. Using it with an iPad is borderline useless, as it does not upgrade resolution and is unable to utilize landscape mode (a serious downside if you have a tablet locked in with a keyboard).

News: This new app from Apple is really solid. It builds on the insight gained from applications like Paper (which as Pete highlighted, there are a number), but includes dozens more categories (even if a number of them are similar) on the front end. You can also search for more topics that do not readily show up immediately. However, when you do so, you may get more generic categories rather than the specific phrase, concept, or name you're looking for. You can also save them or favorite them for later.

On the whole, when it comes to specific tags and a universal experience, I will continue to rely on Google News. However, this news application from Apple will largely replace what I used Paper for.

PeteEU said:

Welcome to 2012. News apps are a dime a dozen. Flipbook is one of many.

Click to expand...

Google has a pretty good one as well.

Edit....see above post.

I'm terribly concerned here, every time Apple comes out with a major iOS upgrade something major breaks. Like WiFi, or cellular function...

OrphanSlug said:

I'm terribly concerned here, every time Apple comes out with a major iOS upgrade something major breaks. Like WiFi, or cellular function...

Click to expand...

Err that has been going on since the start, and yet people still buy the crap.

Lutherf said:

I usually don't pay attention to these updates because pretty much the only things I use my phone for is calling people, looking for addresses and checking the news. This new update may just help out in that last respect.

The forst thing I noticed when the phone restarted was a "News" app that hadn't been there before. It allows you to select from all kinds of sources and categories then pulls a bunch of headlines you can thumb through and browse at your convenience. I think the idea is that the more you use the app and the more stuff you read the more personalized the selections will become. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how this thing pans out and that's rather unusual for me and technology.

Click to expand...

Wait...are you saying that you never had a news app on iOS before? Or, are you saying that Apple never had their own iOS news app before?

I really don't know anything about Apple stuff. I've never owned one of their devices and have never used one. But I've used MS and Android for years and both of them have had their own news apps for a long time, as well as having apps available to provide customizable news feeds.

Sounds like, one way or the other, Apple is behind the curve on this.

PeteEU said:

Err that has been going on since the start, and yet people still buy the crap.

Click to expand...

We are just thankful that it is better than Windows.

Redress said:

We are just thankful that it is better than Windows.

Click to expand...

TBH on this point.. issues with wifi and 3G/4G.. no. iOS and OSX for that matter, have constantly had relatively wide spread issues that require patches of this basic function. No such thing has happened in Windows.. there are other things of course but not for wifi and 3G/4G.

PeteEU said:

TBH on this point.. issues with wifi and 3G/4G.. no. iOS and OSX for that matter, have constantly had relatively wide spread issues that require patches of this basic function. No such thing has happened in Windows.. there are other things of course but not for wifi and 3G/4G.

Click to expand...

TBH, to use, iOS is vastly superior.

Redress said:

TBH, to use, iOS is vastly superior.

Click to expand...

I would disagree there. iOS requires you constantly to do extra steps when doing things.. it is annoying. Plus the lack of a back button is a problem in my opinion. Also the settings menu is a hot mess in iOS and always has been.

Mycroft said:

Wait...are you saying that you never had a news app on iOS before? Or, are you saying that Apple never had their own iOS news app before?

I really don't know anything about Apple stuff. I've never owned one of their devices and have never used one. But I've used MS and Android for years and both of them have had their own news apps for a long time, as well as having apps available to provide customizable news feeds.

Sounds like, one way or the other, Apple is behind the curve on this.

Click to expand...

I've got news apps but this is just something new that happens to also be right up my ally for the kind of stuff I notice and use in an OS.

And of course iOS 9 and 9.1 are fully hackable ... again.. congrats Apple!

iOS 9 hack allows strangers to access photos and contacts from a locked iPhone. Here's how to protect yourself - Telegraph

This was a problem in previous versions of this pathetic OS, and it keeps coming back. Who codes this crap..a monkey? No that would probably make it a better OS! Of course the tech sites are trying to bury this latest scandal.

Oh and the article is wrong.. it works in 9.01 as well. It is NOT fixed.

iOS 9 hack lets anyone see all photos and contacts even if phone is locked | News | Lifestyle | The Independent

Add to that all the other problems being reported.. slow downs, random restarting.. and yet another "perfect" OS release.

The news app is friggin' useless to me...I rarely give rats buttocks about the headlines...they are for the masses. I want specific news stories that are usually nowhere near the front page.

Two of the headlines today were about a Sasquatch sighting and Michelle Obama..like I give a **** about either.

Total waste of time.

DA60 said:

The news app is friggin' useless to me...I rarely give rats buttocks about the headlines...they are for the masses. I want specific news stories that are usually nowhere near the front page.

Two of the headlines today were about a Sasquatch sighting and Michelle Obama..like I give a **** about either.

Total waste of time.

Click to expand...

You do know that there are news apps that you can set up with your specific preferences right? They have been in Android for donkey years and I suspect iOS as well. Flipboard comes to mind.

But yes, the News app is getting far more promotion that it deserves.... but then again the bumper to bumper coverage of this new iPhone is nauseating and it totally blocks out the bugs and issues people are having with iOS 9 and 9.01.

PeteEU said:

You do know that there are news apps that you can set up with your specific preferences right? They have been in Android for donkey years and I suspect iOS as well. Flipboard comes to mind.

But yes, the News app is getting far more promotion that it deserves.... but then again the bumper to bumper coverage of this new iPhone is nauseating and it totally blocks out the bugs and issues people are having with iOS 9 and 9.01.

Click to expand...

I hate it when Apple puts things on my phone I did not ask for.

That U-2 album comes to mind. I like U-2...but let me decide if I want it on my phone please Apple...even if it is free.

There is something of the condescending parent about Apple.

But - regrettably - I prefer them.

DA60 said:

I hate it when Apple puts things on my phone I did not ask for.

That U-2 album comes to mind. I like U-2...but let me decide if I want it on my phone please Apple...even if it is free.

There is something of the condescending parent about Apple.

But - regrettably - I prefer them.

Click to expand...

Its bloatware pure and simple. And iOS has far more bloatware these days than Samsung or any non Chinese Android brand. But of course because it is Apple , then it is not called bloatware by the tech reviewers or fans and there is next to no criticism of it.

As I see it, almost all the Apple apps are bloatware including the mail program. That you cant set others to standard only makes it much worse than Android and Samsung. I prefer the Gmail app over the Apple mail or Samsung mail program. In iOS I cant change default.. I can on a Samsung at least..