Apple held its Worldwide Developer’s Conference on Monday, where it announced a plethora of new features about to be released for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.
Held in Cupertino for the first time since COVID-19 shut down the nation, it included a sneak peek at iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, which will now include the ability to rescind text messages once having sent them, upgrades to the Apple Watch and the new Macbook Air which will feature Apple’s latest M2 chip.
Absent from the conference was Apple’s rumored VR headset. While it was not displayed at the conference, there is still hope it will be released later this year, or in early 2023.
Here is a breakdown of what was displayed:
Apples new iOS 16
The new update is the biggest update in years to the operating system of your phone. The most visible change is the ability to retract or edit messages you have already sent. It will also feature a new, improved lock-screen, which will allow users to customize it. Currently the lock screen will only give you your latest notifications, time, and the option to activate your flashlight or camera. With the new operating system, you will be able to customize the font and color for the clock, and add widgets, such as for the weather, your fitness tracker, or sports updates.
Notifications will appear at the bottom of the screen, and will be grouped according to the app which produced them.
Apple’s wallet app will get a new “pay later” feature, allowing you to make your purchase using Apple pay, with four payments over six weeks, with no fees or interest.
There will also be a Safety Check app, which will let you quickly revoke access to your location of other app privacy permissions.
Finally, Apple’s Carplay has been upgraded, and will now be able to take over your car’s digital display and cluster, and fully customize it as you wish. It will be offered by a selection of automakers in 2023.
iOS 16 should be released in September, but historically, Apple has rolled out some features shown at WWDC later on through small updates, and upgraded others over the next year.
The iPad
The Ipad is getting upgraded as well. The new iPad will feature a new multitasking option called Stage Manager allowing you to run two resizable windows over each other like on a laptop, as well as four other apps on the left side of the screen which you can switch in and out of the main window. It will also allow you to run additional apps on a secondary screen.
WatchOS 9
WatchOS 9 will get a series of upgrades. The new OS will offer the option to track your medication usage, timing pills and looking out for medication interactions. The Sleep tracking app will allow you to record your REM sleep patterns, core, and deep sleep. It will also track your fitness metrics, allowing you to compare your prior workout to your current one. There will also be improved atrial fibrillation tracking,
New M2 Chip
The new M2 chip will supply nearly twice the performance supplied by an Intel Core i7-1255U running in a Samsung laptop, despite using the same amount of power, and can supply the same performance at 1/4 the power.
MacBook Air
Finally there will be a new MacBook Air, which will feature the new M2 chip. Its 13.6 inch display will be pushed nearly to the edged of the laptop’s panel. The Air will start at $1,199, while the Pro, which will also feature the new M2 chip, will start at 1,299.
