Apple presented a number of new products and features last Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2023) . As devoted fans and avid followers of all things Apple, we can't wait to bring you an in-depth look at this extraordinary event. WWDC 2023 has undoubtedly raised the bar again and promises to surprise us with exciting announcements, inspiring presentations and engaging sessions. Let's get ready to dive into the world of Apple's latest technologies, developments and visions.
The most important announcements at a glance
- A revolutionary spatial computer: Apple Vision Pro
- A 15-inch MacBook Air
- iOS 17 and iPad OS 17
- Watch OS 10
- An updated Mac Studio
- tvOS 17
The event moved so quickly that it was sometimes difficult to keep track of everything that was being announced by Apple. iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma were only discussed for a few minutes in the keynote, so things have also gone under the radar that Apple will of course provide more information about afterwards.
Below we'll take a quick look at all of Apple's major announcements and give you a brief description of these new features.
The Apple Vision Pro
According to Apple, the introduction of the Apple Vision Pro is a "new revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly merges digital content with the physical world". The new device has a completely new operating system with a three-dimensional interface. Experiences in Vision Pro are not limited to the confines of a screen, users can create apps at any scale and place them wherever they want. This through the use of eyes, hands and voice.
The Apple Vision Pro costs € 3,499 and will be available in the Apple Stores in the United States early next year.
15-inch MacBook Air
In addition to the new Apple Vision Pro, Apple has also launched a new 15.3-inch MacBook Air with the latest M2 chip. As you know, the MacBook Air was only available in 13-inch size.
The latest MacBook Air, described by Apple as " the thinnest 15-inch laptop in the world ," is 11.5mm thick and weighs 1.5 pounds. With the new M2 chip, this laptop is 12x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and according to Apple twice as fast as competing laptops.
The new fanless MacBook Air has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a trio of microphones, and a "brand new" system with six speakers, two tweeters, and two sets of force-cancelling woofers that support immersive spatial audio. Apple also claims that the laptop can last up to 18 hours on a single charge.
The new iPhone operating system: iOS17
Apple also announced the iOS 17: the new operating system of the iPhone. iOS 17 includes personalized contact posters with photos, Memojis, and eye-catching typography that appear during conversations and in the revamped address book. A new live voicemail feature provides live transcription in real time so you can see what someone has left in your voicemail. You can then decide for yourself whether you want to accept the call.
Messages now offers improved search, an arrow to jump to the first unread message in a conversation, easier inline replies with a swipe, inline location sharing, and a new Stickers experience. iMessage apps and the camera have now moved to a new plus button.
Check In is a new feature that provides updates on your location to let family or friends know when you get home safely. If you're delayed, it can recognize that and check in with you. If you don't respond, it can share an alert with friends, sharing location, battery, and cellular service status.
Users can AirDrop content by bringing their iPhones close together and transfers can now take place in the background. It is also now possible to exchange numbers with a new person via "NameDrop", allowing users to share contact information when phones are brought close together.
There are updates to the keyboard and dictation, with autocorrect improvements through a new "transformer" language model and sentence-level correction.
iOS 17 also introduces a new "Diary" app. The app creates new memories using people, places, activities, music and photos that users can add to daily diary entries. Users can set reminders not to forget to write a daily note. Journal is coming to iPhone later this year.
A new mode called "Standby" provides a display for the time, widgets, and other information when the iPhone is horizontal. Users can now just say "Siri" instead of "Hey Siri" and Siri will understand follow-up commands without the start word.
The new software for the Apple Watch: WatchOS10
The watchOS 10 offers a new way to view information on any watch face with widgets. By simply scrolling the Digital Crown, a dynamic Smart Stack of widgets appears below the watch face that changes based on the user's needs at any time of the day. watchOS 10 also includes two new watch faces: "Palette" and an animated "Peanuts" watch face featuring Snoopy and Woodstock.
Apps in watchOS 10 have also been redesigned. For example, World Clock now has background colors that show the time of day in different time zones. The Activities app now has corner icons to navigate, a redesigned trophy case, and a new full-screen view of each individual Activity ring.
The update also introduces new cycling workout features, including Power Zones, new stats such as Functional Threshold Power, a full screen view on iPhone, and more. Hiking now integrates Compass and Maps, and watchOS 10 includes a Workout API for developers to integrate.
A new mood tracking feature in the Mindfulness app allows users to scroll through a selection of moods and log statistics. The Health app then provides insights based on this data on the iPhone. A new feature aims to reduce the risk of nearsightedness by using the ambient light sensor to display Time in Daylight, which is also displayed in the Health app.
The tvOS 17
Apple also announced tvOS 17 at the event, which brings FaceTime to Apple TV for the first time, includes a new Control Center, and allows you to use your iPhone to sport a misplaced Siri remote.
Control Center now shows system status, including time and active profile, and expands with other useful details based on a user's personal activity.
Users can launch the Apple TV remote in Control Center on their iPhone to locate their Siri remote (2nd generation or later). As users move closer to the remote, the circle on the screen expands to guide their movements.
Apple TV 4K users can use the new FaceTime app on Apple TV and place calls directly from Apple TV, or place calls on iPhone or iPad and pass them on to Apple TV. FaceTime on Apple TV uses Continuity Camera support to connect wirelessly to the user's iPhone or iPad and uses the device's camera and microphone to bring participants together on TV.
Conclusion
As the Worldwide Developers Conference 2023 draws to a close, we can look back on an incredible week of innovation and excitement. Apple has amazed us time and time again with their groundbreaking announcements and visionary presentations. We have glimpsed the future of technology and the impact it will have on our daily lives.
From the enthusiastic response from developers to the stunning demonstrations of new products and software, WWDC 2023 has confirmed to us that Apple continues to be at the forefront of technological advancement. We eagerly await the launch of the new products and the incredible possibilities they bring.
So let's close this blog post by saying a big thank you to Apple for hosting such an exceptional event and to all the developers who contributed to WWDC 2023's vibrant and dynamic community. We're already looking forward to the next conference, where we'll once again will be immersed in the innovations and progress that lie ahead.
Stay up to date with all Apple news and developments by following our blog. Until next time and thanks for reading!