iOS 9.1 rolls out with always-on Siri and new emoji

Apple has started rolling out iOS 9.1, the first major update to the OS since it launched in September, to iPhones and iPads.

The update brings with it a number of new features and a handful of new emoji. Always-on Siri is one of the most notable additions, so the digital assistant will always be waiting to hear you say, “Hey, Siri.”

Apple News is now available in more regions. This is basically Apple’s version of Flipboard, which lets users create a curated news feed with content from a variety of sources and publications.

iOS 9.1 also includes support for Unicode 7 and 8. iPhone and iPad users will have a number of new emoji to throw into messages, including the middle finger, taco, burrito, champagne bottle, unicorn head, and the cheese wedge.

iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus users will benefit more from the update, as it updates Live Photos. It now senses when the iPhone is raised or lowered to prevent recording unnecessary movements.

And, of course, iOS 9.1 brings several bug fixes. The release notes include a patch for a Notification Centre bug that saw iPhone and Messages notifications appearing on the lock screen even when disabled, and a fix for a memory corruption problem in OpenGL.

iOS 9.1 was released in public beta last month. It is now available on the iPhone 4S and above, iPad 2 and above, all iPad Mini models and the fifth-generation iPod Touch.