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Apple iOS 10 is coming September 13

The new version of the software that runs the iPhone and iPad includes features such as quicker interactions with apps and upgrades for its photos, maps and music apps.

Terry Collins Staff Reporter, CNET News
Terry writes about social networking giants and legal issues in Silicon Valley for CNET News. He joined CNET News from the Associated Press, where he spent the six years covering major breaking news in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before the AP, Terry worked at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and the Kansas City Star. Terry's a native of Chicago.
Terry Collins
2 min read
Watch this: 10 reasons to upgrade to iOS 10

The new version of the software that runs the iPhone and iPad will be out in six days.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said Wednesday during the tech giant's annual late-summer event in San Francisco that Apple's newest mobile software, iOS 10, will be available September 13.

The release date comes about three months after Apple announced the software during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). New features include upgrades to the Siri voice assistant, to photos and maps, as well as more interaction via the Message app.

With the iOS upgrade, Siri will work with and control many non-Apple apps where users will be able to send messages to family and friends using any application that adds it. For example, WhatsApp, will have immediate Siri support with iOS 10. The software will also have facial recognition to automatically create albums featuring people, places and events.

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Apple hopes the new iOS will help boost sales of its mobile gadgets as we head into the holiday shopping season. Late last month, about 88 percent of Apple mobile devices were running iOS 9, the company's mobile software from last year. Another 9 percent used iOS 8, and 3 percent ran an older version, according to the company's developer dashboard.

By comparison, 15 percent of Android devices ran Google's latest software, dubbed Marshmallow, as of August 1.

Apple is offering new apps for iOS 10, such as expanding its home-automation efforts with a new HomeKit app. That's designed to let users easily control accessories like smart doorbell ringers from an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Cook said Wednesday with virtually 100 home-related devices coming to market that will support the app, the move is a "huge moment" for home automation.

As part of iOS 10, Apple's oft-criticized Maps app gets reworked to make it easier to read while driving and to let users make Uber and restaurant reservations directly from Maps.

Cook on Wednesday also revealed the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which begin shipping September 16.

Check out all of today's Apple news.

CNET's Shara Tibken and Scott Stein contributed to this report.