Everything Apple Announced at WWDC That Really Matters
Apple’s WWDC kicked off today with a regular keynote speech, but this one provided details on Apple’s next set of operating systems: iOS 10, the new tvOS, updates to watchOS, and OS X, now renamed macOS.
iOS 10 Improves Interactive Notifications, Opens Siri to Developers, Organizes Photos, and Refreshes Messages
IOS 10 was announced today with an extensive changelog. As expected, the new version of iOS will launch on iPhones and iPads this fall, with developer beta releases available today. Some of the most important features are:
Lock screen receives rich interactive notifications
In iOS 10, the lock screen has undergone big changes. Now you can simply lift your phone to see the updated lock screen and notifications, then get detailed information about each notification using 3D Touch. The Control Center is also undergoing a major overhaul and can now navigate to the audio controls with a swipe to the side. Notification Center widgets are now also available by swiping on the lock screen.
Apple Music undergoes a complete overhaul and overhaul
Apple Music has been completely redesigned. The app instantly opens in your library so you can start playing your music right away. You will have easy access to your individually created playlists, the Connect tab, radio channels and a carefully curated list of new music. At first glance, the app seems a little more sane overall than it used to be, and that’s a huge improvement.
Maps integrates calendar events, third-party apps
Maps has received some new features, including integration with the “proactive” features introduced in iOS 9 . This means Maps will check your calendar and schedule to improve search and transit results, such as when to leave for appointments or how long it actually takes to get somewhere.
Map browsing is now much easier and connects petrol stations. You can also (finally) pan and zoom your route. Like many other Apple apps, developers can now connect and integrate with Maps as well. This means you can do things like book a restaurant table or order Uber right from the Maps app.
Messages get animated and enhanced emoji
Apple has announced a surprisingly large message update. Messages now contain rich links, so when you share a URL with a friend, it will look like a normal link on any other service like Facebook or Hangouts. Emoji are now three times larger, and QuickType can predict emoji, so if you type them often, they’ll show up in your prediction results.
Now you can also tap certain words and Messages will instantly replace those boring old words with new fancy emojis. Also new are “bubble effects,” where a blue bubble in messages will resize, zoom in or out, or use another animation to highlight an accent or tone. There are many more animation effects in new posts, including funny full screen animations, video effects, and more. The Messages app is now also open to developers, so developers can create message widgets or integrate them into their own. Apple showed several examples of apps used to send stickers and quickly pay to another person without leaving the app.
Photos automatically arrange images and videos, leaving relevant memories
Among the many updates to organizing and finding, there is now a map mode that lets you view your photos on a large map so you can browse and see where you took a particular photo.
Photos also finally receive face, object and scene recognition, so your photos are automatically sorted and easier to search when you’re looking for a place or someone specific. All of your photos fall into an automatically generated group called Memories, so you can easily flip through photos based on vacation, time with another person, and other things. Photos can now also create short videos of these memories. If this all resembles Google Photos and its long-standing features, it should be.
Everything else will appear in iOS 10
Apple has also announced a ton of minor updates for iOS 10.
Siri can now do a lot more to find your files, search for information, and execute commands, and developers can now connect to it. This means you can finally use Siri to control third-party apps, including messaging, booking trips, exercising, and more.
Apple News has got a new look. You can now subscribe to different journals and view a list of editor’s favorites. QuickType has been slightly overhauled, which should make it a lot smarter. It now uses your location, contact information, schedule and more to help QuickType give you really useful text predictions.
HomeKit now has an app called Home that, as expected, can control various connected devices like lights, curtains, thermostats, and more. Voicemail is now available as transcribed text. All VoIP apps can now also directly integrate with the phone function, so a call from an app like WhatsApp looks just like a call from a phone number, with a beautiful profile picture before you pick up the phone.
The public beta of iOS 10 will open in July and will be available in the fall.
OS X renames macOS, next version is “Sierra” and Siri is coming to Mac
OS X has been renamed macOS to match iOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The first iteration is the next version of the desktop operating system, macOS “Sierra”. From what we’ve seen, it doesn’t bring anything revolutionary, but it finally adds the long-rumored desktop version of Siri.
Siri comes to Mac
Siri is a big new feature in Sierra. On macOS, it will work as a combination of Siri on iOS and Spotlight. You can search for files on the web and on your computer using Siri, send messages to friends, search for movie schedules, and just about anything else you can do with Siri on iOS.
Everything else in macOS Sierra
iCloud Drive has also undergone a major overhaul. Your Mac desktop is now in iCloud Drive, which means you can instantly share every file on your desktop with any other macOS computer you have, and you can access those files on your iOS device. There’s also an optimized storage feature that deletes old files so you don’t fill up your devices with unnecessary, disorganized files.
Sierra will add a new feature for Continuity that unlocks your Mac with your Apple Watch, so you don’t need to use a passcode if you’re nearby. The OS will also introduce a universal clipboard where data is copied / pasted instantly from iOS to your Mac and vice versa.
In addition, Apple is expanding Apple Pay on the web in Safari. When shopping online, you can use Apple Pay to securely pay for items while shopping and authenticate with your iOS or watchOS device.
There are also some minor updates coming to macOS, including picture-in-picture mode for videos and tabs in every app.
The full version will be released in the fall, and the public beta will open in July .
tvOS makes it easy to sign in to network TV channels, adds iOS remote support
Apple has a few minor updates to its Apple TV operating system . You can use the remote iOS app to control your TV instead of the Siri remote. Siri has also received an update, and now you can search by specific tags, such as “80s school movies.” You can also use AppleTV and Voice Search to find and play videos on YouTube and other new third-party services.
New to tvOS and iOS is Single Sign-On, which lets you connect to every TV app on your Apple TV at the same time, instead of requiring a code or a custom login for each app that needs to be configured individually. This update comes out in the fall.
watchOS 3 updates and provides real-time information, launches apps faster
WatchOS 3 is instant information. Your favorite apps can now stay in memory and app updates happen immediately. There is also now a docking station where you can quickly browse your favorite apps. WatchOS 3 introduces Control Center, accessible by swiping up.
In terms of messaging, you can now reply to messages by typing letters right on the watch face. WatchOS now has an emergency assistance feature called SOS, where you can dial 911 directly from your watch to call for help, which is a useful feature.
If you’re competitive, WatchOS 3 adds action competition. You can share your exercises with your friends to see and compare their workouts. Wheelchair users can now also accurately track activities using many different metrics. Finally, WatchOS introduces a built-in “Breathe” app for teaching deep breathing techniques. This fall, the update will be rolling out to all Apple Watch users.
Swift Playgrounds teaches kids to program for free
At the end of the event, Apple announced Swift Playgrounds , an app that teaches kids (and adults) how to code with Swift. There’s also a built-in programming keyboard that includes many keyboard shortcuts to streamline the process, as well as templates and games to get them started. The software is for iPad only, but it’s completely free. It will be available in the fall.