Apple hosts a Worldwide Developer Conference every year, where it presents new software products and updates to its existing products. Like every year, the company organized its annual Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday, but this time ‘digitally’, where it boasted new versions as well as features added to its products, like for iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. The event was typically based on the new updated Apple OS for its different devices. Apple launched the iOS 15 during its virtual conference, which was the biggest highlight of the event.
New Apple iOS 15
Apple announced the latest iOS version, i.e., iOS 15, at the WWDC 2021 event on Monday. The company has made some improvements to the OS and has also introduced new features for it. The new iOS 15 comes with an improved FaceTime app, as it includes features like Spatial Audio and portrait mode. Now the users can have multiple people on FaceTime through a grid view, and they can also schedule FaceTime calls with their friends by sending links for FaceTime to them.
Apple has also added a new feature named SharePlay, which will allow the users to share their screens as well as listen to music or watch movies together while FaceTiming. Apart from that, Apple has finally launched FaceTime for Android and Windows Users as well. But still, the users do not get a dedicated app for that and need to use a browser to use Facetime on their Android or Windows device.
Apple has also made some updates to the design of its iMessage app. Now the images received on iMessage will be displayed as a gallery through the newly launched feature “Shared with You”. The links and the other content received through iMessage will also go in a separate library under Shared with You for better access. The feature is built to work with Photos, Safari, Apple Music, and the Apple TV app.
The company has also revamped the notifications for the iOS 15, as now the notifications will display on basis of the user’s status, like whether the user is working, driving, or sleeping, through the Focus feature. Also, the notification panel on the lock screen has been redesigned to make it look neater. The images and icons of the apps on the notifications have also been enlarged for the users to see who has sent the messages on which of the apps. The notifications are also displayed in the order of the users’ priority.
Apart from that, the company has also worked on improving the camera (focus on the text in photographs), the maps (the software will make use of 3D data), as well as the memojis used in messages (can be customized in terms of facial features).
Apple iPadOS 15
For the iPadOS 15 also, Apple has brought some new updates, including the App Library feature that the company had introduced last year. The App Library feature automatically organizes apps on the screen, whereas, now the users can also use widgets to arrange the apps as per their requirements. Apple also introduced the split-screen feature for the iPad to let the users use two apps at a time. The company has also made new changes to the Notes as well as the Translation app.
watchOS 8
Apple introduced the latest OS for the Apple watch, the watchOS 8. The new OS comes with a feature to let the users write messages through their finger. It also include a newly launched breathe tracking app named Mindfulness, which let the users track their respiratory rate during sleep. The company has added new workouts to the Workout app, including martial arts and palates.
macOS Monterey
After iOS, iPadOS and watchOS 8, Apple also launched a new version of macOS, named MacOS Monterey. The new macOS includes support for the same mouse and keyboard for a Mac or an iPad through the new Universal Control feature. The AirPlay feature announced by the company allows all the iOS devices’ screen to mirror the Mac screen. The company has also made some changes to the Apple browser Safari and has updated the bookmark feature of the same. The redesign of Safari has also brought the new tab grouping feature to it. Apple has also introduced new shortcuts to the Mac interface via the new macOS.
Other Announcements
Other than announcing the all-new Apple OS, Apple has updated the Apple HomePod Mini as the users can now use these as stereo speakers for the Apple TV. The company has also brought new privacy features to its devices, including the tracker-blockers for the Mail app on Apple. This feature is built to hide the location and the IP address of the user. Also, the users will find a new App Tracker Report section in their settings to track the usage of the user information by the apps on the phone in a period of the past seven days. During the WWDC also announced iCloud+, a service that includes features like Private Relay, to provide online privacy to its users.
Yashica is a Software Engineer turned Content Writer, who loves to write on social causes and expertise in writing technical stuff. She loves to watch movies and explore new places. She believes that you need to live once before you die. So experimenting with her life and career choices, she is trying to live her life to the fullest.