Apple is said to be working on a new feature that is code-named “Proactive”. The new tool will take the iPhone beyond its intellectual digital assistant Siri and enhance the user experience on iOS 9, according to 9to5Mac.
In other words “Proactive” is a rival to Google Now that aims to provide iOS users with any information they need on the go. As per the report, Proactive will combine information from Siri, Contacts, Calendar, Passbook and third-party apps. Proactive will likely replace the current pull-down Spotlight feature and be found to the left of the primary iOS home screen. Moreover, it will also work with Apple Maps to display points of interest personally relevant to the user in an augmented reality display and integrate with a third-party Siri API code-named “Breadcrumbs.”
Google Now can predict what Android users are looking for in addition to answering questions, making recommendations, and carrying out actions. It takes out data to proactively notify users of important reminders, traffic that could interfere with upcoming appointments and more. Similar to Google Now, Proactive will likely provide information depending on data and usage patterns it picks up on. The new tool will apparently be a much deeper system integration: a new iOS layer altogether, rather than another app.
It is said that Apple has been working on Proactive for years, and while the feature could arrive with iOS 9 and there is a possibility that Apple could break Proactive into separate updates for current features. Apple is expected to announce this and various other features including Force Touch for iOS 9 at the WWDC on June 8.