Apple just unveiled iOS 9, its next big software update for the iPhone and iPad

Apple has just unveiled its next major software update for iPhones and iPads called iOS 9. Apple focused on elevating the foundation of the platform with iOS 9, which means its made some security and performance updates.

Apple is also making some big improvements to Siri. Apple says that word detection accuracy has improved, and now Siri only misses words 5% of the time.

But the biggest change seems to be that Siri is becoming more intelligent and contextual like Google Now. Thanks to a new feature called Proactive, Siri offers up contacts you might want to call or text based on your upcoming meetings, and suggests apps you might want to download based on the ones you already have.

Apple is also opening up the API for its Spotlight Search to developers - which means content within apps will soon be as searchable as the files stored on your phone.

Apple's Craig Federighi showed how search and Siri tightly with all of Apple's apps in a demo on stage. For example, since Federighi had a potluck on his calendar, as soon as he typed in "potato" in search, potato recipes began to show up in the search results.

Siri can also pull up photos from your phone based on when and where you took them. So, for example, when Federighi says, "Show me photos from San Francisco last year," any photos taken in the city about one year ago will show up.

Security is a big part of iOS 9, too. Apple emphasized that it doesn't mine your data for contacts and other information and store it in the cloud. Everything stays on your device.

"You are in control," Federighi said.

There are some updates to Apple Pay coming in iOS 9, too - you'll be able to add store cards and royalty cards to the app. The Passbook app is being rebranded as Wallet, and you'll be able to store credit, debit, and store loyalty cards within the app.

Apple is making some improvements to its other native apps too. Notes, for example, comes with a new toolbar that lets you format headings, numbered lists, and other types of formatting more easily.

You can also access the camera and camera roll directly from Notes in iOS 9. Drawing tools are also coming to Notes, and you choose to save web pages from Safari directly to a note with a single tap.

Apple is making significant additions to Maps, too, which saw a troubled launch when it was intially unveiled in 2012. Public transit is coming to Apple Maps, whereas the app previously only supported driving directions.

A new application called News is also coming to iOS 9 that seems to be a Flipboard competitor.

The app shows you various news sources when you set it up, and you can choose which ones you'd want to follow. It then creates a feed based on your choices that looks like an interactive magazine.

Apple hasn't said when iOS 9 will officially launch, but it typically debuts in the fall around the same time as the iPhone.

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