It is Apple Event day! The week-long Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is starting today and this time, Apple wowed the tech community with a plethora of new features and updates! And hardware products too!
We learn about Apple Vision Pro, the long-rumored Apple AR glasses. Of course, we have also seen what Apple is preparing for iOS 17 — there's a new Journal app headed to our iPhones, as well as improvements to Messages, Phone, and FaceTime.
Here's a recap of the key highlights that happened during the keynote, in case you've missed it!
Iskra Petrova
Thank you for hanging around with us during the WWDC 2023 keynote
We are very excited you were able to be with us today during this wild keynote! Apple introduced iOS 17 with some quality-of-life updates, iPadOS 17 also got it's official announcement. Even more excitingly, we saw Apple's first AR glasses, which were rumored for years: Apple introduced Apple Vision Pro, to come early next year. Check below this article to browse through the highlights of the event as we were reporting it, in case you missed it. And once again, thank you and we'll see you again in the next big event!
Iskra Petrova
It's a wrap on the WWDC 2023 keynote
Apple's outdone itself with this year's presentation. As the keynote draws to a close, we're quite hyped by the new software, and especially, Vision Pro. We'll have to wait and see this device in action though, as it will not be immediately available (as was suspected). After an announcement-filled keynote, are you excited? We most certainly are! Will Apple be able to bring spatial computing to the mainstream, and change the tech world?
Iskra Petrova
Apple Vision Pro price and availability
As leakers suggested, Vision Pro is... well, on the expensive side. It will be available at Apple.com early next year.
Iskra Petrova
Apple Vision Pro: Optic ID, privacy
Optic ID uses the uniqueness of your iris to unlock the device. Optic ID is encrypted and is like Face ID (only accessible to the processor). Also, eye input is isolated so apps and websites can't see where you're looking. Individual apps don't see your surroundings.
Iskra Petrova
VisionOS is the OS behind it
These are the components specific to VisionOS, designed from the ground up for spatial computing.
After the explanation, Apple moves on to explain how Apple Vision Pro is a start of an entirely new platforms. Apple underlines how developers can create incredible apps for Vision Pro. The below example is for an app that shows the heart for medical students:
Iskra Petrova
Apple Vision Pro: the technology
Apple designed a three-lens system so everything looks super sharp when you're looking at it.
Vision Pro features an entirely new Spatial Audio system as well. You get ambient Spatial Audio to make you believe the sounds are coming from your environment. It also analyses your room to precisely match the sound to your room.
You get high-speed precision cameras to monitor your eyes so you can control the device with where you're looking.
Apple silicon is powering it. It starts with the M2 chip, which ensures a comfortable temperature and silent performance. There's also a brand-new chip called R1, which will be responsible fro processing input in real time and within 12 milliseconds, it eliminates latency.
Eyesight projects the correct perspective of your eyes to the person looking at you, making it as if the device is transparent.
Iskra Petrova
Apple Vision Pro: the design
Now, let's talk about the design of the device. Front part is constructed with singular piece of 3D formed surface. The glass flows seamlessly in a lightweight frame. You also get a digital crown. Custom aluminum alloy gently curves around your face.
The back of the product is made to provide comfort with soft fabric. The system is modular to fit you perfectly - you get flexible straps to adjust to your head. The headband is 3d knitted as a single piece.
Vision Pro supports up to 12 hours of use with an external battery, which can fit in your pocket.
Iskra Petrova
Apple Vision Pro: watching movies and entertainment
You can now turn any room into your own personal theater. Basically, the glasses allow you to dive into the movie and completely eliminate the surroundings (if you so wish).
You can also watch 3D movies. You can also play your favorite Apple Arcade games (Apple says they will be over 100 game titles).
Then, we get back to Tim Cook. He introduces Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, who's also now joining the keynote. Iger underlines how Apple Vision Pro can help viewers be even more immersive with Disney stories. We get a sneak peak of what Vision Pro can do for Disney fans.
Iskra Petrova
Apple Vision Pro: apps and spatial computing
The world still remains visible, and you can interact with the world around you while your working in an app using Apple Vision Pro. It also works with Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse. You can also bring your Mac screen in the AR.
Apple Vision Pro also offers FaceTime: you get spatial FaceTime. The people in your FaceTime call can be in real size, and you never run out of space for what you want to share with your friends.
Apple calls this: the ultimate work space.
Also, you can view photos, you can zoom in or make photos as big as your room. In Vision Pro, panoramas will expand to wrap around you life-size, as if you're standing just where you took the panorama. On top of all that, you can record from real life and make it in a spatial video to share with your family or look at again.
Iskra Petrova
Apple Vision Pro: interface
The elements have dimension, cast shadows, and respond to light. Apps can be made any scale, placed anywhere you would want them. Launching new apps doesn't occupy the same space.
You can also get Environments. You can replace your room with a beautiful landscape in virtual reality for the ultimate immersive experience. It is controlled by your eyes, voice, and fingers. Icons respond when you look at them. You can tap your fingers together to select, and gently flick to scroll.
You can also look at the search field and start dictating to search.
If someone is nearby, they'll appear next to you. The person can also see your eyes.
Iskra Petrova
One More Thing: Apple Vision Pro is here
And now for the device we've all been waiting for!
Tim Cook introduces the One More Thing of today's keynote!
Apple's AR glasses are called Vision Pro. You can control it using your eyes, hands, and voice. Vision Pro can help you watch apps, photos, movies, in an entirely new way.
Tim Cook says that Apple Vision Pro will introduce us to spacial computing. Now, onto the details!
Iskra Petrova
WatchOS 10: all new features at a glance
Here's everything you can enjoy with watchOS 10:
Iskra Petrova
WatchOS 10: health features
Apple is now moving into two new areas of health. First off, we have Mental Health. You can now log your emotion and mood in watchOS 10. It can also help you identify what causes you to feel in this particular way. Even without an Apple Watch, you can log this on your iPhone. You can also take standardized tests in the Health app.
Another area Apple is moving in is Vision Health, focusing on myopia. Apple Watch can measure the amount of time spend in the daylight (daylight can help prevent myopia in children). Screen distance is another feature to try to help avoid children from developing myopia.
Iskra Petrova
WatchOS: hiking and Maps also get updated
You get a new topography map:
Also, you get loads of useful information for hiking with Apple Watch.
Iskra Petrova
WatchOS 10 gets its announcement
You get Widgets and a smart stack on watchOS 10. You can now add widgets to your smart stack. The widgets will appear on your watch face. WatchOS 10 also comes with redesigned apps: World Clock gets dynamic background colors to reflect the time of day; Activity app gets corner icons that you can tap, the trophies are also redesigned.
Two new watch faces are also here: Palette (colors change as the time changes), Snoopy and Woodstock (they can play with your watch hands or even get to workout with you).
WatchOS 10 and cycling. Apple Watch can now connect to Bluetooth bikes and can estimate your FTP (to improve your peformance on a bike). Apple also announces a new feature: the cycling activity now shows up as a live activity on your iPhone:
Iskra Petrova
Audio and home updates at a glance
Here are all the updates to Audio and Home at a glance:
Iskra Petrova
AirPlay updates: AirPlay in hotels; CarPlay updates, Apple tvOS
Apple is launching AirPlay in hotels. You can pair simply with a QR code with a TV in a hotel. By the end of the year, select hotels will support it.
Also, Apple introduces SharePlay to your car. Now, other passengers in your car can control your music as well.
Apple's tvOS also gets improvements. You can use your iPhone to locate your Siri remote now. You can also select Memories are your screen saver on Apple TV. Also, FaceTime is coming to Apple TV! Apple TV will use the cameras and mic on your iPhone or iPad.
Iskra Petrova
AirPods updates: Adaptive Audio
Adaptive Audio is a new feature coming to AirPods. It dynamically blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancelling. Distracting noises are reduces, but you're still present in your environment. You also get Personalized Volume to understand your listening preferences. If you start speaking with AirPods Pro, your music gets automatically lowered.
Transitioning between different Apple devices will also get improvements.
Iskra Petrova
MacOS Sanoma: presentations, Safari
The new OS brings improvements to presentations on Mac. You also get new video effects, that can also be triggered by gestures.
Safari is also getting some updates. Private Browsing now locks your browser window, blocks known trackers from tracking you. You can also now securely share passkeys with your friends.
Iskra Petrova
MacOS Sanoma: Game Mode
With the new Game Mode, the game you're playing gets higher priority on Mac now for an optimized gaming experience. Game Mode also lowers audio latency with AirPods.
Also, we get a guest experience from MR. Kojima from Kojima Productions. Death Stranding Director's Cut is a game coming to the Mac, which Mr. Kojima talks about during the presentation:
Iskra Petrova
MacOS Sanoma is unveiled: widgets
First off, many of the features of iOS and iPadOS are going to be great on the Mac. You get improvements in screen savers with this new OS.
Also, you can now bring widgets on the desktop with MacOS Sanoma. When you open an app, the widgets become transparent to not be distracting to you when you're working.
You can also access your iPhone widgets from your Mac as well (you don't need to install the apps to view the widgets, the iPhone just needs to be nearby or on the same Wi-Fi network).
Iskra Petrova
iPadOS 17: Health comes to iPad for the first time. Also, PDF improvements
Enjoy the Health app on the iPad with iPadOS 17. The app has been optimized for a great look on the bigger screen of the iPad.
You can now use Autofill in PDF to fill up a document on iPadOS 17 with info from your contacts, quick and easy. Useful feature, we might add!
Also, you can collaborate on PDFs in the Notes app. When collaborating, changes are synced in real time, and it even works with stickers and images. You can also annotate on top of an image.
Here are all the improvements in iPadOS 17 at a glance:
Iskra Petrova
iPadOS 17 now announced as well
iPadOS 17 brings some notable improvements to widgets. Now, widgets can be interactive - without opening the app, you can get something done right from the widget. You can play the music or mark a reminder complete straight from the widgets.
Personalization to the lockscreen is coming to iPadOS 17! You can personalize your lock screen on iPad just like on iPhone.
On the left of the lock screen, you can add widgets. You also get Live Activities on the lock screen as well.
Iskra Petrova
StandBy in iOS 17
A cool new feature is StandBy. You can place your iPhone to act as a night stand. On top of everything, it also supports Live Activities and Siri. At night, when you're charging the iPhone, StandBy adapts to low light and gets a red tone for better sleep.
Here's everything that's coming with iOS 17 at a glance:
Iskra Petrova
iOS 17: Journal, a brand new app coming to iPhone later this year
Your iPhone can create personalized suggestions to inspire your writing: like your photos, location, music. You control what to include with suggestions as well. This app is a great way to record things that happened to you and basically, write in a journal.
You can write your precious moments. You can also schedule notifications to remind you to write in your Journal app. Of course, as with anything Apple, you get the ability to lock your journal, end-to-end encryption, and on-device processing!
Iskra Petrova
Autocorrect
Autocorrect is also getting some update love on WWDC 2023. You also get predictions in line as you type - you can tap the space bar to finish the word or sentence. Of course, it adapts as you use it. It also has an improved dictation.
Iskra Petrova
iOS 17 AirDrop updates: NameDrop
Bring two iPhones close together and you can quickly share your information. You can also bring two iPhones together and share an activity, including listening to music or watching the same livestream!
Iskra Petrova
iOS 17 updates to Messages
You now get Search Filters and other interesting updates such as transcriptions to voice messages in the app.
Another useful feature is Check In - a way to feel reassured that your loved ones know where you are - which automatically detects when you're home to alert your friend. Check In also can share your current location to your friend in case you don't arrive on time at your home.
You also get improvement into Stickers. All the emojis can also be available into Stickers. You can now pick any of your photos and turn them into Stickers. You can also stick the stickers to any message bubble for a nice and fun reaction to something somebody said!
Your Sticker selection can now also be accessed everywhere, including in third party apps!
Iskra Petrova
iOS 17 is now revealed
We now move onto iOS! iOS 17 will get simplified sharing, intelligent input, and new experiences to your iPhone. Phone, FaceTime, and Messages are now going to get updates with iOS 17. The Phone app is getting Personalized Contact Posters:
You also get Live Voicemail with iOS 17. You can see a live transcription of the voice message, and you can pick up the call when they're still recording the message if you want to talk to the person.
FaceTime gets the option to leave a message! You can record the message and they can enjoy the video later when they are available.
Iskra Petrova
Mac Pro with Apple Sillicon is now here
The Mac Pro also gets an upgrade with the M2 Ultra chip! The media engine of the chip accelerates video processing. Mac Pro can ingest 24 4K camera video feeds at the same time!
Here are the new Mac Pro's specs at a glance:
The Mac Pro starts at $699 and is available to order today.
Iskra Petrova
MacStudio and its first big update and M2 Ultra
We now move on to talk about the Mac Studio and its first big update! MacStudio will be getting M2 Max for an epic performance - 25% faster performance than M1 Max! Also, 4x faster than the best Intel-based Mac. Also, Apple announces the M2 Ultra chip, which ensures 20% faster than M1 Ultra.
M2 Ultra is now coming to MacStudio - enjoy up to 50% faster video processing, rendering gets up to 3x faster, 22 streams of 8K Pro-res video can be played! Awesome speed, we might add!
Iskra Petrova
15-inch MacBook Air
Thin and light design - 11.5mm thin, which is, as Apple says, the world thinnest 15-inch laptop. The MacBook also has a 1080p camera for video calls. Powered by the M2 chip, the new Air is 12x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. You also get 50% more battery life. Of course, as any Mac, it works seamlessly with your iPhone.
Starts at just $1299! Order today, and will be available next week!
Iskra Petrova
Tim Cook welcomes us to Apple Park and WWDC 2023
The keynote starts, as usual, with Tim Cook welcoming us to the event. Also, this year marks the 15th year of the App Store, Apple's CEO underlines. Today, he says, Apple will make some of its biggest announcements! First, we start with the Mac!
Iskra Petrova
WWDC 2023 Keynote now about to begin!
Anticipation is building! The event is now starting and we expect loads of promising stuff! Stay with us for our live coverage of the keynote! This is, for one, a very highly-anticipated event, and we are more than happy to be able to share what's going on during it with you! Let's dive into it!
Preslav Kateliev
Investors are confident that the goggles will be a success
Apple events are usually the times when we see a jump or a slump in the stock price of the company. Sometimes, the market believes that a new product will be a disappointment, and stocks plummet for a while before they return to an upwards trend. Other times, a product is so hot that stocks soar.
Typically, this happens right after the event (like when the Apple M1 chip was announced), but some changes might occur if investors have enough knowledge, expectations, or a firm belief in what's coming.
In the case of the mixed reality glasses — it seems that investors are quite confident they will be a hit. Either that, or it's a crazy coincidence that Apple stock has hit a $184.36 high — an actual all-time high for Apple shares.
Of course, if it happens that the announcement is a major flop, we do expect that upwards spike to turn into a dive. No pressure, Apple!
Preslav Kateliev
The operating system of the AR/VR headset has its name
So, since the mixed reality headset is supposedly going to be autonomous or semi-autonomous, it obviously needs an operating system. And the name for it has now leaked — supposedly, it's going to be called xrOS.
This specific leak is courtesy of an error message from within the Apple developer software suite, so it's obviously the way that Apple refers to the OS behind the curtains. Also, there's the fact that the name xrOS was trademarked.
And it stands to reason the "x" means mixed and "r" is reality — following in line with the rumors that it's not sctrictly a VR or AR set of goggles, but something... mixed that Apple has cooked up.
Preslav Kateliev
New AirPods Pro?
Buzzings along the grapevine state that we might see a slight AirPods Pro 2 refresh. This may be a bit confusing, as the AirPods Pro 2 aren't even a year old yet — how can there be an upgrade?
Well, it's actually just a minor change — supposedly, their charging case will now come with USB Type-C. If that turns out to be true, it's no doubt because the EU regulators have started forcing the electronics industry to standardize its connectors — in the case of mobile tech, it has chose USB Type-C.
It is, indeed, said that the iPhone 15 line will have USB C instead of Lightning for this very reason. Logically, the AirPods will follow suit. We assume that the AirPods Pro 2, specifically, are getting this small change right now because they are a fairly fresh product and won't be getting redesigned soon. The AirPods 3rd gen and AirPods Max — those might be due for an upgrade this year or early in the next.
Preslav Kateliev
Developer goodie bags waiting at the conference
Gifts for the attendees — developers will receive a WWDC 23 themed hat, bag, thermos, and a set of fun pins — like one with the iPhone 3G and with the "beach ball" loading icon. No, the gift bag will not include a set of the mixed reality glasses that we are all expecting to appear at the WWDC keynote. After all, those are rumored to cost about $3,000 so... that would be an expensive gift, no?
Preslav Kateliev
Don't "Hey" at Siri
iOS 17 will get a couple of updates regarding Siri. No, not AI... not as far as we know. But Apple-related-things specialist Mark Gurman says that the wakeup phrase for Siri will no longer be "Hey, Siri". It will now only be... "Siri".
We are not sure why Apple believed it's a big deal, but we do have a lot of stories where Siri activated from random sounds — either from a show, a conversation that did not even mention the name, or guitar noise mixed with shouting. Would removing the expectation of a "Hey" before the name cause the virtual assistant to accidentally wake up even more often now? We'll see... (it this turns out to all be true).
Additionally, the Siri active icon will be making its way from the bottom of the screen all the way up to the Dynamic Island on top. That is, of course, because the entire iPhone 15 lineup is supposedly going to have pill-shaped camera punch-holes, not just the Pro models. Of course, older iPhones, non-Pro iPhone 14 models, and the SE series won't be getting this slight update.
Preslav Kateliev
The fans are abuzz with watchOS 10 expectations
If we are to see iOS 17, surely we will also see what's up with watchOS 10 — the next operating system for the uber-popular Apple Watch. Over the past few years, the software has been a bit stale. Sure, a new feature has been added here or there, but nothing too exciting. Then again, when it comes to the Apple Watch, one might say that mirrors the hardware side of things.
Well, rumors state that things are about to get shaken-up on the watchOS front. Supposedly, Apple has overhauled the UI of the Watch, implementing a new type of widget to either replace or complement the current watchface "complications". By the way leaksters described it, it sounds kind of like how stacked widgets work in iOS — you'd be able to scroll through multiple widgets that are docked in one place, feeding you "at a glance" information straight on the watchface, without having to launch apps.
It is also said that Apple is reworking some of the core apps of the Apple Watch. That could possibly refer to iMessage — if its iPhone counterpart is being updated, then the one on watchOS surely must follow suit.
Preslav Kateliev
iOS 17 expected new features
We are almost certain we will see the first reveal of iOS 17. After all, this is a conference for Apple software developers, and the mobile operating system is kind of the most important pillar in their portfolio.
We've already seen tidbits of leaks and speculations about iOS 17 — we could see a re-work of iMessage, new ways to use the Dynamic Island around the selfie camera, a new Journal app, a Control Center facelift, and a new live lockscreen which kind of mimics what the Google Pixel does when docked — become a smart home hub.
Usually, Apple reveals the next build of iOS at WWDC, then there's a summer of beta-testing from developers and the community, and then the public version of the software drops in September, with the new iPhones.
If you want to beta-test iOS 17, you need to either be a developer or just sign up for the beta program when it becomes available. Usually, developers get access to new patches first — about a week or two ahead of the public beta. But don't fret, the public betas are much more stable, so we do suggest you wait on those if you want to actually daily-drive iOS 17 pre-release.
Preslav Kateliev
Will we see new iPads at WWDC?
It is not uncommon for Apple to unveil new mobile hardware in the spring or early summer. We've seen numerous iPhone SE or iPad models launched in this manner. It stands to reason that one might expect a refresh of the iPad Air or iPad Pro line.
However, prominent leaksters and analysts say it's quiet on the iPad line. And, probably for good reason — when the M2 iPad Pro was announced last year, the M1 units were still considered massively overpowered for tablets (and still are). It's very possible that Apple may slow down on the hardware updates here and actually work on developing the software that can make use of that raw power before introducing the next generation of pro iPads.
Preslav Kateliev
Mixed reality or Apple reality?
We have heard countless rumors, speculations, and leaks that today is the day that Apple drops its AR / VR headset. And, you are correct — we still don't know exactly what it will be about. Everyone agrees that it's a type of "Mixed reality" goggles, but mixed how... and how exactly will they be used, or useful?
The name does suggest that they should work as AR (Augmented Reality) glasses, which show you the "real" world and mix in virtual elements. This could work for navigation — for example — you are walking down the street and a virtual arrow points you to your location. Like a character in an adventure game.
But yeah, gaming... Will these also double as goggles for some VR games? Will Apple have developers working on some exclusive titles for them, like it did with Apple Arcade?
Preslav, a member of the PhoneArena team since 2014, is a mobile technology enthusiast with a penchant for integrating tech into his hobbies and work. Whether it's writing articles on an iPad Pro, recording band rehearsals with multiple phones, or exploring the potential of mobile gaming through services like GeForce Now and Steam Link, Preslav's approach is hands-on and innovative. His balanced perspective allows him to appreciate both Android and iOS ecosystems, focusing on performance, camera quality, and user experience over brand loyalty.
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