WWDC 2023: Apple Delights with Long-Awaited Innovations
The Worldwide Developers Conference, held annually by Apple Corporation, is an information platform that allows it to introduce its new developments to potential and already existing users of "apple" products. At the 34th WWDC, which took place in June, a series of long-awaited updates were announced – they will be received by iOS and macOS operating systems. In addition, the company showed off new MacBook Air laptops and a powerful M2 Ultra processor. However, the most anticipated exhibit, overshadowing all others, was the Apple Vision Pro headset with mixed realities – virtual and augmented.
Apple Vision Pro
Externally, the new mixed reality (MR) headset, Apple Vision Pro, looks like a stylish ski goggles. The company stated that this gadget can be used for both work and entertainment. Its functionality implies streaming of games and videos, as well as conducting business meetings. And all this is combined in one device. The headset is controlled by eye movements and finger gestures. Special attention is paid to the unique process of creating 3D avatars for presence in the virtual world. The VisionOS operating system scans the user's face to create a deepfake, which other people will see during conversation. This avatar resembles a Memoji, only it looks much more photorealistic. The cost of Vision Pro will be $3499. The headset will be available for purchase in 2024.
iOS 17
Apple announced a series of updates for iOS 17, which it will receive this year, but a bit later. Among them, we can highlight:
- New contact cards that appear during a call (users usually call them posters). The design of these cards can now be customized according to personal preferences.
- The addition of the NameDrop feature to the AirDrop file sharing service. The update will allow users to exchange information simply by bringing an iPhone to another iPhone or an iPhone to an Apple Watch. This will significantly facilitate and speed up the data transfer process.
- The "Journal" app, which automatically recommends marking certain moments in your diary, as well as offers to create reminders so you don't forget to make entries in it.
- Improvement of autocorrect. It will become more accurate, better correct mistakes and offer suggestions during text input.
- Simplification of Siri voice assistant activation. Now instead of "Hey, Siri", a simple "Siri" will suffice. After activating the assistant, the user will be able to perform several commands in a row without the need to call it by name each time.
MacOS Sonoma
The new version of macOS is named Sonoma and has gained a multitude of features that were announced for iOS and iPadOS 17. Along with that, there are several special features specifically designed for Mac. Widgets can now be extracted from the Notification Center and placed on the desktop for interaction. In addition, a new gaming mode has been developed for Mac that optimizes performance – in this mode, the processor and graphics processor take priority.
Several updates have been made to the Safari browser as well. One of them is the web app feature. It allows you to create a test version of any website and place it on the dock as an "application".
Game Death Stranding
It's hard to call the action game Death Stranding (developed by Kojima Productions) a novelty, as it was released in 2019. It is known for its captivating, intriguing plot, beautiful soundtracks, and very decent graphics. It was recognized with a number of awards for these qualities. Now, Death Stranding will be available for Mac.
MacBook Air
Apple showcased the new MacBook Air. However, it is almost indistinguishable from the one released last year. The main difference between them is in size. The new model features a 15.3-inch display, compared to the 13-inch display of its predecessor. The new model is slightly thicker than the previous one (11.5 mm) and heavier (3.3 pounds), but even so, it will be the thinnest 15-inch laptop in the world. The cost of the model presented at the conference is $1299. You can pre-order it right now. The official release of the MacBook Air is scheduled for this month.
Mac Studio and Mac Pro
M2 Ultra is a new 24-core processor with double the performance. It combines two previously released M2 Max chips. Its architecture supports up to 192 GB of memory and provides a bandwidth of 800 GB/s. This powerful novelty will be received by 2 professional desktop computers from Apple: Mac Studio and Mac Pro. The price of the former is $1999, while the latter starts at $6999. Orders for them can be placed right now.
iPadOS 17
Updates to the operating system for the iPad have affected usability. Interactive widgets now allow interaction with applications directly from the main page. Users no longer have to log into any of them. In addition, developers have expanded the lock screen settings and added functions that should simplify working with PDF files.
Adaptive Audio for AirPods
AirPods have received new Adaptive Audio features. This mainly involves flexible noise suppression settings according to the sound environment in which the user is currently located. The smart system will lower the volume of the music being listened to if it "hears" that someone is talking to you, and will start adjusting it to protect you from uncomfortable external sounds.
WatchOS 10
The Apple Watch is the best-selling smartwatch in the world. A new version of their operating system, WatchOS 10, was presented at WWDC. Some of its notable features include:
- When the crown is rotated, the most relevant notifications and widgets are displayed. ML technology determines the most important of them, based on the user's location, date, and other parameters.
- Design updates to primary applications and addition of watch faces.
- Bike computer functions. The gadget can connect to cycling accessories (for example, pedal speed and cadence sensors) via Bluetooth.
- Update to the Mindfulness app. The user can examine different abstract forms, determining which ones best reflect their current state of mind. This way, the risk of developing anxiety or depression can be identified.
The price of the smartwatch with WatchOS 10 is $3499.