Apple today seeded the second iOS 9.1 beta to public beta testers, two weeks after seeding the first beta a day after its "Hey Siri" fall media event. Today's beta is the same as the second iOS 9.1 beta seeded to developers yesterday.
Public beta testers who already have iOS 9.1 installed can get the second beta as an over-the-air update, and those interested in getting early release software from Apple can sign up to participate in Apple's Beta Software Program.
iOS 9.1 is an update mainly designed for the iPad Pro, adding support for accessories like the Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, both of which require deep integration with iOS 9. It will also include support for the new Apple TV.
The update also includes support for Unicode 8, introducing new emoji like taco, burrito, hot dog, popcorn, turkey, cheese wedge, and more, and it includes a new Siri setting that lets users give voice examples for the "Hey Siri" feature that can be activated whenever the iPhone is connected to power. With the new iPhone 6s, the new feature will be essential because "Hey Siri" can be used even when an iPhone is not plugged in.
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio.
Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014.
Q.ai has...
Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.
There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Did anyone else get this yesterday, late afternoon? I'm a public tester...
PS: I deleted my Peanut butter profile and was still on 9.1. Maybe thats why I got it yesterday? I'm assuming the one I downloaded must have been the developer version...? (so confused and hating betas)
Did anyone else get this yesterday, late afternoon? I'm a public tester...
PS: I deleted my Peanut butter profile and was still on 9.1. Maybe thats why I got it yesterday? I'm assuming the one I downloaded must have been the developer version...? (so confused and hating betas)
PS2: Public beta, not peanut butter. :oops:
I was like what the heck is peanut butter. Some new android OS. Haha.
That sentiment seems incredibly unfair. How do you know it's only a "simple software feature"? Perhaps it's also related to the more powerful hardware in the 6s. Isn't it possible that there are valid reasons other than your apple-bashing sentiment that apple does things purely out of greed? Man, some of you people are simply unbelievable. You expect Apple to have to explain everything little thing that you don't like to you as if you are some god-like creature that will speak words of praise or condemnation that will determine apple's future.
I'm quite sure that if an Apple person reads your very unfair words, you will simple be cast off as an irrelevant Apple hater who has NO credibility. Those of you who bash for the sake of bashing only hurt your own credibility in the long run and gain access to my ignore list.
+1
And the worst part Apple did explain why it is on the 6S.
They have the M9 as part of the A9 now, which will greatly help to keep battery drain to the minimum. Iphone 6, has the M9 as a seperate processor. They chose to go the more efficient hardware way, as opposed to software.
Did anyone else get this yesterday, late afternoon? I'm a public tester...
PS: I deleted my Peanut butter profile and was still on 9.1. Maybe thats why I got it yesterday? I'm assuming the one I downloaded must have been the developer version...? (so confused and hating betas)
Apple today seeded the second iOS 9.1 beta to public beta testers, two weeks after seeding the first beta a day after its "Hey Siri" fall media event. Today's beta is the same as the second iOS 9.1 beta seeded to developers yesterday.
