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Everything new in iOS 9 beta 5: AT&T Wi-Fi Calling, keyboard changes, CarPlay tweaks, and more

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With the release of today’s iOS 9 beta, Apple has introduced several new features. The first on the list, and probably one of the most important, is support for Wi-Fi Calling on AT&T. In previous betas the feature was limited to T-Mobile’s network, but it appears the final version of the software will enable it on multiple carriers.

At the moment, AT&T doesn’t actually support Wi-Fi calling from any device, but has previously promised that the feature would eventually be made available some time this year.

At the moment, switching on Wi-Fi calling presents users with a web page stating that “Wi-Fi Calling is not available in the area yet.

Whether AT&T will also gain support for the currently T-Mobile-exclusive Cellular Continuity feature, but at the moment AT&T phones running beta 5 still don’t show that option.

CarPlay

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Several tweaks have also been made to the CarPlay interface, including the addition of larger artwork and support for liking songs with the heart button that first debuted in the most recent iOS update. The Now Playing screen has also received some design tweaks.

Wallpapers

A whole host of new wallpapers have been added to the new iOS 9 beta. These range from abstract waves of color to photos of planets suspended in a stark black background. Additionally, Apple has removed some older wallpapers, including the stock designs for the iPhone 5c and the default iOS 9 wallpaper that was demonstrated at WWDC.

You can take a closer look at these wallpapers on our roundup.

Handoff/Suggested Apps

The settings for the Handoff & Suggested Apps feature have also been reworked, removing the option to get App Store suggestions on the lock screen. Instead, you’ll only see suggestions for apps you already have installed.

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“Shuffle All” option in Music

You can now shuffle all of your music at once with an option tucked away at the top of the Music app.

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Calendar splash screen

A new splash screen greets users the first time they launch the Calendar app. It explains the new features.

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More keyboard tweaks

Following up on the changes to the Shift key in iOS 9, Apple has tweaked the keyboard a bit more, changing the glyphs on keys like Delete, Shift, and Dictation.

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Wi-Fi Assist

A new cellular setting called Wi-Fi Assist allows the phone to automatically switch to a cellular data connection when you have a bad Wi-Fi connection. The toggle is hidden at the bottom of the Cellular settings screen.

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Text Replacement

Text shortcuts in the keyboard settings have been renamed “Text Replacement” to match the label on the Mac.

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Siri Suggestions design tweaks

A small tweak to the Siri screen removes the labels from the call, message, and FaceTime buttons when you tap a contact’s picture. (Thanks, Jorge)

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Updated Activity app design

Apple has made some changes to how the Activity app looks and behaves. (Thanks, Kyle)

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Comments

  1. How about a more versatile Phone app? With support for data-only calling with full SIP for VoIP? I don’t want a voice plan on my phone, but I’d love to use Apple’s dialer and Phone app instead of a third party app that isn’t fully integrated with the OS.

    • iJonni - 9 years ago

      You don’t want a voice plan on an iPHONE? Then get an iPod. No you’re not going to get access the PHONE dialer and PHONE app without a VOICE plan. smh

      • butskristof - 9 years ago

        No reason to get upset here.. He says he’s using a VoIP plan: Voice over IP. He probably has a conventional phone number on which he can be called etc, but it uses his data plan. At this moment, this kind of setup is not supported in the iPhone.

      • An iPod? I didn’t say anything about WiFi-only, did I? An iPod doesn’t have any cellular radio in it at all, including 2g, 3g nor LTE. FFS, an iPod.

        The voice line component of a cellular plan is used less and less every day. Some people never use any voice minutes at all. The technology for voice calls by comparison to data is positively antiquated. Voice quality with VoIP is an order of magnitude better than over standard cellular if you have a good (enough) data connection. I’ve been 100% data-only at home and office for over 10 years, why wouldn’t I want that on my mobile?

        It’s possible to do data-only on iPhone now, but then the Phone app just goes totally unused which is a damn shame because it integrates a number of features like contacts and VM, plus its dialer is the default when a number is called from any other app. It also takes up system resources and memory which are a total waste if you’re only going to be using a third-party program to duplicate that functionality.

    • Daniel Campos - 9 years ago

      I agree. The phone services need to be cut off and just give us unlimited data plans. Everything should run through the Internet instead of outdated voice technologies. VoIP is the future and every carrier should follow google voice’s plan but reveresed – 20 for unlimited data and texting, 10 for calling.

  2. Interesting. Im on AT&T w/ iOS 9 Beta 5 and I see no WiFi Calling option. Anyone else getting this?

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      Hmmm, weird. I can see it here on AT&T. I’m on an iPhone 6. Are you?

      • Hans Müller (@h2muller) - 9 years ago

        This feature is only available on iPhone 6 and 6+

      • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

        Yeah, that’s why I was asking. If he’s on a 5s or something it won’t show.

      • what’s even weirder is the WiFi calling option has worked perfectly fine on the 5s with T-mobile. Why is AT&T such an ass butt

    • gtalmor - 9 years ago

      It’s under the “Phone” section. I also made the mistake of searching it under “Cellular” at first.

    • Chad Chadwick Sabin - 9 years ago

      I have a 5S. Im surprised it only works for the 6 and 6+

    • stcopper - 9 years ago

      iPhone 5s here and no wifi calling option either.

  3. I LOVE the Shuffle All. I had a heck of a time trying to find it the other day when i finally upgraded my phone.

  4. savichmichael - 9 years ago

    Fuck yeah wifi assist. This is a big deal for a beta 5 feature.

    • iSRS - 9 years ago

      ageed. nice option. may help resolve what I call the xfinitywifi bug. Living in a predominantly Comcast area (our only other choice is FairPoint, which is slower and more expensive) – since Comcast automatically turned that “benefit” on, whenever I drive down certain roads, I effectively have no data service because it keeps trying to connect to it. I usually forget the network, but it is convenient in some places.

      • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

        If you’re connected to one of those awful xfinitywifi stations, you can actually go into the iPhone’s wifi settings and tap the i button next to that network, then turn off “auto-join” and get rid of that whole problem all at once.

  5. anyone else notice that the phone app now appears in the privacy>location settings?

  6. Aaron Doucet - 9 years ago

    I just got a prompt to add an iCloud Drive app to my home screen.

  7. Jorge Ferreira - 9 years ago

    Communication icons for contacts on the siri suggestions / spotlight view, look bigger, and with no text

  8. Igor (@MaricRogi) - 9 years ago

    Wallpapers from my nokia N8 i still have it in my phone (original walls not downloaded)

  9. bigern75 - 9 years ago

    WiFi calling is working for my Sprint iPhone 6

  10. Jorge Ferreira - 9 years ago

    News disappeared for me =(
    You can activate Bluetooth via siri again

  11. Jorge Ferreira - 9 years ago

    You can now move files into folders inside folders on iCloud Drive (this was not possible on last beta)

  12. I’ve complained in the feedback app about the carplay album artwork in every beta. Looks like someone was actually listening.

  13. Jorge Ferreira - 9 years ago

    There’s a New “Add to news” option on the share sheet safari

  14. Paul Douglas - 9 years ago

    This code has also been pushed out to Public Beta testers as Public Beta 3

  15. michael0810 - 9 years ago

    There’s also a new progress indicator for iCloud Photo Library, which shows how much MB have been uploaded.

  16. Harvey Lubin - 9 years ago

    “Siri screen removes the labels from the call”

    What???

    If someone has 3 different phone numbers (home, cell, work) you will see 3 phone icons but not know which to click on!!!

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      An action sheet slides up with their phone numbers listed, like when you choose to add a contact to your favorites in the Phone app

  17. Chad Chadwick Sabin - 9 years ago

    I just downloaded the new beta, and since I have AT&T I went to look for the “Wifi Calling” option and it’s nowhere to be seen. Am I missing it?

  18. shnipas - 9 years ago

    Still no News app in UK. 😔

  19. Eric Mason - 9 years ago

    Added “tap at top” in News app to go to most recent stories. Wasn’t working in past betas.

  20. Matt Soslow (@MSoslow) - 9 years ago

    I wish the iOS had a nightstand mode so that I can see the time easier when my phone is docked horizontally. Unless this is already an option??

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      Only on the Watch. I’m sure there are App Store apps that could do this though. I don’t know of any, but there’s probably at least one.

  21. yubdig56 - 9 years ago

    Changing region now restarts/resprings

  22. John Evangelista - 9 years ago

    I love this update. They fixed the bug where the settings app crashes when changing tones. They also fixed my problem with the app store where it asks you to type in your email and password a lot of times.

    Will check:
    Play count sync (iTunes) fails in Public Beta 2
    iBooks sync from iTunes to iPhone fails in Public Beta 2

    Only remaining problem is the News app.
    Is it area based? I’m using 5s, is it a 6 and 6+ exclusive?

  23. Carl Steijn - 9 years ago

    Gief news for all regions even if it is just yanky and pom content.

  24. Elv Quant - 9 years ago

    Since Beta 3: Audiobooks have Chapters back (in Menü) with generic names, plaing- and resting-time of a audiobook chapter, scrubbing in chapter timeline.
    Since Beta 5: Audiobooks have back original chapternames.
    Bugs since 7.x: Missing Chapter-Covers of audiobooks or podcasts
    Bugs since 5.x: Joining chapters with identical title in M4B/Mp3 audiobooks

  25. Chris Gramer - 9 years ago

    I had been having connection issues with Bluetooth and my Fluance Fi30 in Public Beta 2 (frequent dropouts), but they seem to have fixed it. Nice! iPhone 6 here.

  26. The JOAT (@writemoment) - 9 years ago

    WiFi calling for sprint is working fine for me!

  27. Ryan Price (@rycariad) - 9 years ago

    Very little of use for my iPad Air 2 although it feels slightly snappier.

  28. Predrag - 9 years ago

    WiFi calling has been a feature since iOS 8, and everyone who has iPhone 5S and better can use it, as long as their carrier supports it (in America, currently that is only T-Mobile).

  29. hderazi96 - 9 years ago

    Now you can hold reload button to request desktop site (iOS 9 beta 5) I’m not sure if this new or not but to share the info

  30. bqecze - 9 years ago

    Wifi calling works really well. What a lot of people don’t realize is that it only kicks in when you have both wifi coverage and your cell signal dips below a certain point. I didn’t realize this until I called Apple support and they said that both conditions need to be in place for it to work.