Apple issues first public beta of iOS 9.1 in run-up to official 9.0 release

Apple on Thursday released the first public beta of iOS 9.1, allowing the public to get an early peek at features like expanded Unicode support.

The release is identical to developer code seeded on Wednesday. To download the public beta, testers must only be registered with Apple's Beta Software Program for iOS and OS X.

So far the only iOS 9.1 feature available to everyone appears to be support for Unicode 8. This includes a greater range of emoji characters, such as a lion, a taco, and prayer beads.

iOS 9.1 is also believed to be the default install on the iPad Pro, since in August, analytics firm Appsee tracked a device with the operating system that also matched the tablet's resolution. That presumably means that 9.1 will have hooks for bigger screens, the Apple Pencil, and Smart Connector peripherals like the Smart Keyboard.

If so the update should reach all iOS users no later than the Pro's November launch.

Apple has yet to ship the final version of iOS 9, which is only due on Sept. 16. That update will make numerous additions, such as context-sensitive search and Siri functions, and various levels of multitasking for iPads. Only the iPad Pro, Air 2, and Mini 4 will support running two apps simultaneously.

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10 Comments

thewhitefalcon

said about 8 years ago

If you're in the Public Beta you'll go from PB3 of 9.0 to PB1 of 9.1. So far it's pretty stable.

thrang

said about 8 years ago

There is also a small update to Watch OS2 beta on the developers site, to 325c

melgross

said about 8 years ago

Somethings odd here. There were more comments before, and I had added one. Now, there are two before this post. What happened? Anyway, I just did the update on my iPad Air 2. As noted, this is a public beta to 9.1. But 9.1 is for the Pro, supposedly. So far so good. But Apple likes to keep everyone on the same update. So what's going to happen September 16 when 9.0 officially is out, and can be downloaded? Do I downgrade to the official 9.0, or do I stay with the 9.1 beta? Imagine that everyone will get the 9.1 update at the same time in November, even though phones and some iPads won't be able to use some of these Pro features.