Apple’s Developer’s Conference 2022

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Apple’s annual World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) 2022 happened today.  This is a conference put on by Apple for non-Apple software developers around the world that write apps for Apple products.  Its purpose is to inform them of the new operating systems’ features that will be released this coming fall so that they can prepare or adapt their apps for the coming systems.

Why should you care?  Because Apple describes what changes to expect in the operating systems in our iPhones, iPads, Watches, AppleTVs, and Macs coming this fall.  It is a peek into our future!  This blog describes the highlights of WWDC and is a fraction of the new specs/content coming. 

New Macs!

Occasionally Apple announces new hardware at WWDC.  They did this year.  New MacBook Air (M2) and 13” MacBook Pro (M2) were announced (both available to order in July).

If you are in the market for a new Mac laptop, your ship has arrived (or rather, will arrive in July).  The new MacBook Air is my most recommended laptop and it has just gotten better!  Here are the highlights:

    • 4 colors - sliver, gray, champagne, and dark blue (nearly black)

    • 2.7 lbs. and 0.44” thick (tiny and light, thinner than the original iPhone!)

    • 13.6” Liquid Retina display (a really fine display) and very hi-res camera

    • MagSafe magnetic charging (as well as 2 USB-C ports that can be used to charge)

    • Starts at $1199

https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-m2/

The new 13” MacBook Pro is not so impressive.  Yes, it has the new M2 chip, however, does not have MagSafe charging (a major downside), is heavier and thicker than the new Air with a very marginal performance gain.  I would recommend getting the Air over this Pro to anyone for any usage.

https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-13/

New Operating Systems

Each of Apple’s computing devices runs an operating system.  This is the software that you interact with everyday when you use your devices - opening apps, surfing the web, texting, checking email - these are all things that are directed by your operating system.

Here are the major changes coming.  Note the hardware supported.  If you don’t see your device listed, it is time to start budgeting for a new one.

iOS 16 - iPhone 8 and newer

Here are the highlights (most of these changes are also available on iPad and Mac except Lock Screen):

  • Lock Screen redesign

    • Styles changeable on the fly (no need to go into Settings)

    • You can add widgets to the lock screen

    • Manage notifications, including live activities (game score, waiting for Uber, etc.)

  • Photos app

    • Duplicate finder, including videos and an ability to merge duplicates instead of deleting all but one. This keeps Favorites, Albums, Faces, Places, etc. intact.

    • iCloud Shared Photo Library - finally, you can have a shared photo library with others in your iCloud Family Sharing account.

    • Live Text detection added to video freeze-frames.

    • You can extract individual items from a photo to copy/paste (a person from a photo, for example).

    • Edit multiple photos with the same edit all at once.

    • Stepwise undo for photo edits.

  • Messages

    • Edit messages already sent and undo send (both for 15 minutes)

    • Mark conversations as unread to come back to later

  • Wallet

    • IDs coming (drivers licenses, etc.), needs your state’s approval.

    • Keys (hotels, cars, home doors) are now shareable to others.

  • Fitness app now available on iPhone

    • This app has been for the Watch only

    • Now you can use Apple’s excellent Fitness+ services without having to have an Apple Watch

  • ApplePay

    • iPhone to iPhone or card to iPhone cash payments

    • ApplePay Later - 4 equal payments over 6 weeks, 0% for anything you buy

  • News

    • Enhance sports with My Sports for your favorite teams scores, stats and more

  • Music

    • You can now re-order playlists and Favorite artists

watchOS 9 - Apple Watch Series 4 and newer plus SE

  • Fitness app - target heart rate zone, customizable workouts & power targets

  • Sleep - stages now tracked (Awake, REM, Core, & Deep)

  • Heart - A-fib time tracking with history

  • Medications app - new!

    • Tracking, reminders.

    • Add meds via Camera (on iPhone).

    • Drug interactions tracking and alerts

  • Cardio recovery data

macOS 13 - Ventura - 2017 and newer Macs, except MacBook Air 2018 and newer

The new Mac operating system is named Ventura.

Ventura gets most of the features of iOS mentioned above plus:

  • Stage Manager

    • Keeps track of open windows.

    • Miniaturizes other apps/windows to the side.

    • Can see two apps side by side easily.

  • Mail

    • Undo send

    • Schedule send

    • Follow Up & Remind Me notifications

    • Search greatly improved

  • Safari - world’s fastest and energy-efficient browser.

    • Shared Tab Groups

    • Passkeys - A really good first attempt to rid the world of passwords.

      • Passkey never leaves your devices and is not on servers.

      • I am still unclear how they will work. Stay tuned.

      • Synced w/iCloud Keychain

  • Continuity

    • Handoff includes FaceTime. Start a FaceTime on iPhone, transfer to Mac, etc.

    • iPhone as webcam - works with all video conferencing apps. Better than built-in cameras by a long shot, includes wide-angle camera if desired.

  • Spotlight search engine (magnifying glass near the clock)

    • includes QuickLook (press spacebar to see contents, just as in Finder)

    • Search text in photos

    • Full window available

  • Redesigned System Preferences (now called System Settings)

iPadOS 16 -  iPad mini (5th & 6th gen), iPad (5th - 9th gens), iPad Air (3rd - 5th gens), iPad Pro (all)

  • Weather app - finally!

  • Freeform - available as a whiteboard to use by all participants in a FaceTime call (also in iOS & macOS)

  • Stage Manager

    • Similar to Mac, you can now resize windows from full screen

    • Work with overlapping apps,

    • External monitor support

To watch the entire keynote and learn more:

https://www.apple.com/apple-events/