Apple’s WWDC23 keynote address kicked off a seemingly new era for the company. It announced its first ever AR/VR headet Spatial Computer – the Vision Pro – and gave a preview of what to expect from upcoming software updates – iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, macOS 14 Sonoma and watchOS 10. There were also new Mac products and a new Apple Silicon – the M2 Ultra.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The event kicked off with the new Mac products and processor before the attention was diverted to all the software updates and features to expect. The One More Thing catchphrase was brought back for the announcement of the Apple Vision Pro. The catchphrase has been synonymous with products such as the MacBook Pro and Apple TV (2006), Apple Watch (2014), Apple Music (2015) and iPhone X (2017). Here is a summary of everything announced at the WWDC23.
WWDC23 Wrap-Up: Apple Vision Pro, New Software and Products
Apple Vision Pro – Spatial Computing
Apple and its CEO, Tim Cook believes that the Vision Pro will revolutionize spatial computing the same way the iPhone and Mac reinvented mobile and personal computing respectively. The headset is powered by Apple Silicon (Apple M2 and Apple R1) and comes pre-loaded with visionOS – a new OS dedicated to support the low-latency requirements of Spatial Computing.
Software Updates
Apple previewed iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14 Sonoma, tvOS 17, and watchOS 17 at the WWDC. They will all be available as free software update to compatible devices later in 2023
iPhone users can expect several improvements in the aspects of communication, sharing, Intelligence, and new experiences in iOS 17. They will also get features such as Personalised Contact profiles, Live Voicemail in FaceTime, NameDrop, StandBy and Journal.
iPadOS 17 will deliver most of the features available in iOS 17 as well as the ability to add interactive widgets on the homescreen, customizable lock screen, editing PDF on the go, and arrival of the health app to iPad users.
The new macOS will deliver interactive widgets directly on the desktop, updated Message app, new screensavers, and improved Private Browsing in Safari. The new Game Mode is expected to improve the gaming experience tremendously and there are a host of titles announced. Video conferencing is another aspect where several changes are expected.
watchOS 10 will deliver a redesigned user interface and app, simplifies navigation, new watch faces and metrics for cyclists and hikers. There will also be support for NameDrop, Screen Distance, Offline Maps, Medications app, and Mental Health features through the Mindfulness app.
The new tvOS will bring FaceTime to TVs. Users will be able to make calls directly from the tv or initiate calls from the iPhone/iPad and pass them off to the tv. This update alongside Apple Music Sing use the Continuity camera on the connected iPhone/iPad. Asides FaceTime, Apple is also planning to bring other video conferencing apps and Third-party VPN support to Apple TV.
New Macs and Apple Silicon
Apple announced the M2 Ultra chipset and new Mac products – a 15-inch MacBook Air with M2, New Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra; and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra. The new MacBook Air with M2 chip offers up to 18 hrs of battery life while the Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra will deliver a significant improvement in performance. The Mac Pro with M2 Ultra completes Apple’s transition from Intel to Apple Silicon on all its Mac products.