At WWDC, Apple announced major updates to its software lineup, including iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and iPadOS 18. They also introduced “Apple Intelligence,” a set of AI features aimed at improving device integration and usability. The virtual conference showcased new features such as a built-in calculator for iPads, enhanced Apple Pencil capabilities, and advanced AI-driven privacy features. Additionally, updates to tvOS were announced, including improved dialogue clarity and new content interaction tools. These innovations demonstrate Apple’s dedication to creating a seamless and intelligent user experience by combining hardware and software. Here are biggest features coming to Apple ecosystem.
iOS 18
Apple has unveiled iOS 18 at WWDC, showcasing a transformative update with enhancements for customization, privacy, and integration. The homescreen now offers flexible icon placement, a new dark mode that dims app icons for a visual and eye-friendly experience. A robust theme engine lets users personalize their app grid with universal colour schemes. Control Center is more versatile, supporting multiple pages of controls and toggles, with smart home and media controls featured. For the first time, third-party apps can integrate into the Control Center, and users can swap the default camera and flashlight icons on the lock screen with preferred toggles. Privacy enhancements include optional app authentication and selective contact access for third-party apps. The Messages app introduces more expressive communication with any emoji usable in Tapback responses. It also includes new formatting options such as bold, underline, strikethrough, and italic.
Additionally, satellite messaging and message scheduling have been integrated(not available in India), and Apple is embracing RCS for higher-quality multimedia sharing with Android devices. The built-in Mail app receives improved sorting similar to Gmail’s, automatically categorizing transactions, updates, and promotions. For gamers, a new Game Mode minimizes background activity to boost performance and reduce latency. The Photos app undergoes its most significant overhaul yet, optimized for large libraries with enhanced face sorting and a new carousel view for easier navigation. It now features improved auto-grouping for people and pets and lets users pin collections for quick access. These updates collectively represent Apple’s effort to rival Android’s flexibility while enhancing the user experience across various functionalities. The keynote hinted at upcoming AI-powered features that will further leverage Apple’s ecosystem.
visionOS
Apple’s visionOS 2, the latest update for the Vision Pro, introduces several user-requested features to enhance functionality and user experience. One notable addition is the ability to convert any image in the Photos app into a 3D spatial image using advanced machine learning, adding a new dimension to visual content. The update also expands the travel mode to include train journeys, not just airplane travel. Additionally, the Mac virtual display now supports a virtual ultrawide option, simulating the effect of dual 4K displays to enhance the workspace.
To further enhance the Vision Pro experience, Apple introduces SharePlay to the Photos app, allowing users to share the app with others via Spatial Personas. This feature creates a 3D representation of friends, enabling shared experiences such as watching media or editing documents in a virtual space. On the content creation front, Red Bull is developing an immersive sports series, and Apple is venturing into scripted immersive storytelling. BlackMagic Design is integrating its DaVinci Resolve and Apple Compressor workflows, and Canon is launching a spatial lens for the EOS R7 tailored for Vision Pro content creation.
Apple began preorders for Vision Pro in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore on June 13th, expanding its market. Its availability is set for June 28th. Preorders for Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK will start on June 28th, with official availability on July 12th. Despite being a first-generation product, these updates demonstrate Apple’s commitment to evolving the Vision Pro into a versatile tool for productivity and enterprise use, edging closer to its goal as a groundbreaking device.
macOS Sequoia
Apple has just announced macOS 15 Sequoia, which has exciting new features. One of the key additions is iPhone mirroring, allowing users to control their iPhone from their Mac. This means you can receive phone notifications on your Mac and even play iPhone audio through your Mac, providing a way to interact with your iPhone without touching the screen.
Safari has also been updated with some noteworthy changes. A new Highlights feature uses machine learning to identify exciting content on a webpage. Reader mode has been improved with machine learning-generated summaries and tables of contents. A Viewer mode has been introduced to allow users to watch videos directly on the webpage.
tvOS
Apple’s tvOS, the software powering Apple TV streaming devices, is set to receive several notable enhancements this fall. One essential upgrade is the Enhance Dialogue feature, introduced with iOS 17, which will now use machine learning to improve vocal clarity. This feature isolates Dialogue from background noise, making it easier to hear over sound effects and music. Initially limited to the Apple TV 4K paired with a second-gen HomePod, Enhance Dialogue will now extend to more TV speakers, receivers, AirPods, and other Bluetooth devices. Additionally, a new InSight feature on Apple TV Plus will provide details about actors and the show’s soundtrack, allowing users to add tracks to Apple Music directly from the remote or via an iPhone used as a TV remote. This feature, however, is exclusive to Apple TV Plus original content. Subtitles can now be set to automatically appear when the TV is muted or when users skip back, enhancing accessibility. Apple is also introducing support for 21:9 projectors, allowing widescreen films to be viewed as intended by their directors. Furthermore, a charming new Snoopy screensaver will animate the beloved character during idle moments.
iPadOS
At WWDC 2024, Apple gave a sneak peek of iPadOS 18, revealing upcoming tablet features. The update will launch in the fall, with a developer beta already available and a public beta coming next month. One of the major highlights is the new built-in calculator, eliminating the need for third-party apps for basic math operations. This native calculator is also compatible with Apple Pencil, allowing users to write and solve math problems directly on the screen. Additionally, Apple is introducing Smart Script, a machine-learning tool that refines handwritten text, replicates the user’s handwriting style, checks spelling, and converts typed text to match handwritten notes. These improvements aim to personalize and streamline the writing experience on the iPad.
The update also includes features from iOS 18, such as expanded homescreen personalization and a redesigned Control Center. This makes app navigation more intuitive with a new floating tab for improved multitasking. This announcement follows recent updates to Apple’s iPad lineup, including introducing an M4-powered iPad Pro and an M2-powered iPad Air. With iPadOS 18, Apple is enhancing the iPad’s functionality by integrating highly requested features and improving the overall user experience, bringing it in line with the latest iOS developments.
Apple Intelligence
Apple smartly announced at WWDC 2024 that it is introducing “Apple Intelligence,” a new suite of AI features for the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
The company, which previously avoided using the term “artificial intelligence” while discussing its machine learning features, has now incorporated AI enhancements across its platforms. Apple needs to catch up to Google and Microsoft, who swiftly developed their generative AI features following OpenAI’s breakthrough in 2022. Apple is now striving to catch up.
According to Apple, its AI features will perform functions within apps, such as managing notifications, generating text automatically, and summarizing content in emails and other apps. The company also claims that it can link one app to execute an action in another, for example, playing a podcast sent to you by a partner.
Given Apple’s focus on privacy, the company states that its AI features will be processed on-device to safeguard user information. However, users will require an A17 Pro or M-series chip to access these features. Additionally, Apple will introduce a “semantic index” to retrieve personal details and display them across apps when needed.
When AI features require cloud processing, Apple assures users that it will utilize a “Private Cloud,” where data will not be stored on the servers and inaccessible to Apple. The company also claims that independent experts will verify the validity of these measures.
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