WWDC is an annual event eagerly anticipated by technology enthusiasts worldwide.
A range of new technologies and updates were announced on 5th June 2023, with Apple once again showcasing their commitments to inclusivity and accessibility in quite a number of them.
15-Inch MacBook Air
The first thing Apple announced at WWDC was the 15-inch MacBook Air, which helps usher in a new era of computing.
Building on the success of previous Airs, this latest iteration of the MacBook Air pushes boundaries with its sleek design of a 15.3 screen and 2880 x 1864 in pixels, as well as its impressive design and advanced features.
Powered by the latest Apple Silicon chip, the MacBook Air delivers lightning-fast speeds and efficient multitasking capabilities. Its enhanced battery life ensures uninterrupted productivity throughout the day.
With an expanded storage capacity and an array of connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C, users can effortlessly connect to peripherals and transfer data.
You’ll also get an improved battery life, as well as an improved keyboard mechanism, and a 1080p camera.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is available for between £1,399-£1,599, and can be ordered now.
Updated Mac Studio / M2 Ultra Mac Pro
With the new Mac Studio and M2 Ultra Mac Pro, you get a faster performance than anything offered on the 2022 models, if you’re on the lookout for a business computer.
The new Mac Studio has the same overall design as the original model, and comes with a higher-bandwidth HDMI port that supports displays up to 8K.
You’ll get four Thunderbolt 4 ports at the back of the Mac Studio, as well as a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI port and two USB-A ports.
There’s also two USB-C ports on the front side, and an SD card slot.
The new Mac Pro, meanwhile, comes with the new M2 Ultra Chip, and features a 24-core CPU, up to a 76-core GPU, and supports up to 192GB, as well as up to 8TB of SSD Storage.
Those who buy it will have 8 Thunderbolt 4 ports instead of four, but like the Mac Studio, it also has HDMI ports that support 8K displays, as well as the same Gigabit Ethernet ports.
However, while the Mac Studio comes with only two USB-C ports on one side and an SD card slot, the Mac Pro features a headphone jack.
Like the new Mac Studio, the latest MacBook Pros and the Mac Mini, it supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
iOS 17 for iphone
Ios 17 is the latest iteration of Apple’s operating system, with a plethora of exciting features and enhancements, which help to further enhance the user experience.
Messages now offers improved search features, including an arrow which will jump to the first unread message in a conversation, an inline location sharing experience called Check In, and a whole new stickers experience, which allows you to create your own stickers by using your photos (even Live Photos).
With Check In, friends and family will get updates about your location to tell them whether or not you’ve reached your destination safely. And if you are late, it will recognise that and check in with you. Then if you don’t respond, it can share an alert with family and friends, including your location, your battery and your service status.
Another thing that iOS 17 introduces is a new Journal app, which works much like how a diary would in the real world, even letting users set reminders to remind them when to write.
Other features which iOS 17 will include are:
- An improved version of Air Drop, which can now be used by bringing your phones close together, and even supports NameDrop (a smarter way of sharing your number with someone).
- Updates to keyboard and dictation, including improvements to autocorrect.
- A new mode called StandBy, which provides a view for displaying the time, widgets and other information while your phone’s horizontal.
- The ability to use Siri by saying: “Siri” instead of “Hey Siri”, moving Apple’s smart speaker to a certain other smart assistant made by their rivals, Amazon.
- Live transcriptions of who’s calling you if you get a call from an unknown number.
- The ability to record a video or audio message when someone misses your FaceTime call.
ios 17 for iPad
With iOS 17 for the iPad, we see a lot of the customisation features available on the iPhone coming to the iPad, starting with the ability to personalise your lock screen.
Widgets will also be making their way to the iPad, and can be added to your Lock Screen as well.
Away from the Lock Screen, however, there’s also an update to how PDFs and Notes work, including with Enhanced Autofill. which allows you to put in all your saved information from contacts when filling out a form.
You’ll also get features which will help you to collaborate on PDFs using two separate iPads.
Other features which iOS 17 for the iPad comes with include:
- Motion effects for Live Photo wallpapers coming to iPad for the first time.
- Live Activities coming to iPad for the first time.
- The Health App coming to the iPad for the first time.
- All the features coming in iOS 17 for the iPhone.
- Enhanced Private Browsing.
MacOS Sonoma
Similar to iOS 17 for the iPad, MacOS Sonoma also allows you to add interactive widgets to your desktop.
It also introduces enhanced video conferencing features, such as Presenter Overlay. You’ll also have the ability to use reactions to to let others know how you feel.
Gamers can access a brand new Game Mode, delivering an optimised gaming experience with smoother and more consistent frame rates.
Other features included in MacOS Sonoma include:
- Support for Private Browsing.
- Slow-motion videos of various locations worldwide that can be used as a screen saver.
- Support for Web Apps, meaning you can turn any webpage you view regularly into an app.
tvOS 17
The FaceTime app will be coming to the Apple TV as part of iOS 17, allowing users to call their family members on their tv.
Video conferencing apps such as Zoom, Teams etc will release on the Apple TV 4K later this year.
Other features included in TVOS 17 include:
- A control centre that displays system status, including time.
- Centre Stage for video calls.
- Split View so more than one person can watch something at a time.
- The ability to choose memories from photos as a screen saver.
WatchOS 10
As is the case with iOS 17 on the iPhone and iPad, widgets will be coming to the Apple Watch.
Users will also get a new mood tracking feature in the mindfulness app, which will help users keep track of their mental health.
Other features included in WatchOS 10 are:
- Two new watch faces, including a colourful palette face which changes colour throughout the day, and an animated peanuts face with Snoopy on it.
- New cycling workout features, including Power Zones, new metrics like functional Threshold Power, and a full screen view your iPhone.
- Hiking workouts also now integrate compasses and maps.
- A feature to decrease myopia using the ambient light sensor to show time in Daylight.
Updated Settings for AirPods Pro 2
It’s been announced that three new features are coming to the AirPods Pro 2.
The first of these is Adaptive Audio, which dynamically blends Transparency mode and Active Noise Cancellation to deliver a better audio experience.
Personalised Volume uses machine learning to fine tune your listening.
And lastly, Conversation Awareness lowers your music and focuses on voices around you when you start talking.
VisionPro AR / VR Headset with VisionOS
Final Thoughts
Phoebs Lyle Tech Reviews 