Apple picks
The tech giant revealed a slew of fresh features coming to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac at the start of its Worldwide Developer Conference this week. Here are some of the most exciting
THE WWDC is held each June, and is primarily aimed at app developers looking to get help and advice from Apple and its engineers.
Traditionally, though, the opening address is all about the operating systems that power Apple devices, and this year was no different in that regard.
The event was, of course, held virtually, and featured a bewildering parade of Apple execs, each one keen to explain just how the new stuff they are responsible for will change your life. Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up the ones that really matter below…
1. The new iPhone OS
In keeping with tradition, this will be called iOS 15 and will come out in the autumn around the same time as new iPhones traditionally arrive. It will be joined by iPadOS 15, Watch OS 8, and macOS Monterey.
All new platforms will feature a host of improvements, with a lot of the new stuff becoming available across the various platforms and devices.
2. Share experiences on FaceTime
A big upgrade is coming to FaceTime, Apple’s video calling system. It will allow you to share your experiences of watching TV or listening to music (amongst other things) with others by essentially synching up a FaceTime call to a TV show, film, or track of your choice.
For the first time, too, non-Apple users will be able to join in via a web-browser. You’ll be able to interact with the others on the call as you all watch or listen together. FaceTime is also getting a spatial audio feature – the audio will appear to come from wherever the person you are calling appears on the screen.
3. Tailor notifications
You’ll be able to have more control over Notifications in the new upgrades. A new feature called Focus allows you to create profiles for various activities (like work, or film night for example) – when you activate those profiles, only a customisable set of notifications will make it through – while working, for example, you would want email and Slack notifications to come through, but not Twitter.
4. Steady improvement
New health features will allow
Apple Watch wearers to be notified if the watch detects their “Walking Steadiness” has become compromised and thinks they might be at risk of a fall (useful for older relatives).
You’ll also be able to share health data to help you keep an eye on the health of others, like elderly parents for example.
5. Tightening up on privacy
Privacy is also high on Apple’s agenda and there’s a range of new initiatives. On iOS Siri is upgraded to process voice requests on the device rather than in the cloud, plus there are new features in Mail to prevent senders from tracking your location and whether you have opened a message.
An upgrade to paid iCloud accounts brings new privacy features, too, that will prevent anyone from knowing who is visiting which websites by encrypting requests and running them through a series of filters to further mask activity.
6. Breathe deeper
On Apple Watch the Breathe app is being expanded with more features and renamed as the Mindfulness app, for all those meditators out there. New features allow you to focus your breathing sessions with prompts to reflect on positive thoughts. 7. Connect and control Universal Control allows users to control one Apple device with another – you can, for example, use the keyboard on your MacBook to control your iPad if you bring them side-by-side - they recognise the other is there automatically. You can even drag-and-drop files seamlessly from one device’s screen to another.
8. Something of note
iPadOS 15 brings some muchneeded simplification to multitasking, and brings the App Library and home page widgets that debuted on iOS 14 last year to the bigger screen.
There’s also a system-wide Quick Note system coming to iPad that allows you to quickly create Notes with Apple Pencil while using other apps.
New developer tools for iPad will also allow users to create apps on iPad for the first time.
9. Sharper city navigation
Apple Maps is getting a visual upgrade with heightened detail for selected cities (mostly in the US but London is included in the first wave).
10. Take shortcuts
The Shortcuts app that makes automating repetitive tasks on iOS simple is making its debut on the Mac in Monterey – it allows you to chain together tasks to make powerful workflows.
■ We’ve really only touched on what’s coming here. Much more will emerge as Apple rolls out its beta versions of the software to testers over the coming few months. If you would like to find out more visit apple.com/uk.
When they are released in the autumn, upgrades across all systems will be free.