Apple showcased a number of upcoming software feature highlights for its smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, TV, and computers at the World Wide Developer’s Conference keynote on Monday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, developers, press, analysts, and influencers were not invited to Apple Park to see the keynote in person, but Apple executives and engineers shared details on what is coming with the next updates for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS. Here’s a rundown of the keynote highlights.
App Library – Organize apps into curated folders in order to keep iPhone homepage easy to navigate in one or two swipes. Users can hide extra pages, which will then will show up in this condensed app library. There are also search, suggestions, recently added options for easily finding apps that may not be on primary homepages.
Widgets – Updated design and more data-rich. Difference sizes are now available. Users can place widgets among apps and organize them in a smart stack set up to for easy access to most used or needed.
Picture-in-picture – Video will continue playing and shrink down to the right corner of a screen if users navigate away from the main screen. Users can move and resize video or even hide the video while audio keeps playing.
Siri – A new compact design that does not take up the entire screen. The Siri icon now shows up at the bottom of the screen and results pop up like a notification at the top of the screen. It also allows for sending audio messages and keyboard dictation, with on-device data processing.
Translate app – Now supports 12 languages, including English, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian. The app works offline with on-device machine learning. Users can turn their iPhone to the side to enable conversation mode so two people can speak and translate in real-time.
Messages – Pinned conversations so most important messages remain on top. Memoji updates including 20 new hair and headwear styles, face coverings, and age options, as well as new memoji stickers for a hug, fist bump, and blush. Group chats now include inline replies that allow users to reply to a specific person. Mentions feature allows users to tag a person a when sending a message.
Maps – New countries including the UK, Ireland, and Canada. Curated guides to find information on new places to eat, shop, or explore. Cycling directions for NYC, LA, San Fransisco Bay Area, Shanghai, and Beijing. EV routing for electric cars. Points out congestion and green zones. Drivers in China can input their license information to get details for entering cities.
Carplay – Wallpaper and app updates. Digital keys with iPhone. First car with support is the 2021 BMW 5 series. Tap to unlock with NFC. Place phone on the charging pad to start the car. Users can share keys with others through iMessage and set access restrictions, such as for teen drivers. Users can turn keys off remotely through iCloud. UI chip will make a standard for different car brands and will allow users to unlock car without having to take their phones out. The chip will be standard in new ars starting next year.
App store – App Clips allows users to install small versions of apps to use features as needed. Less than 10MB in size and works with Apple Pay and Apple sign in. Can be launched from the web, messages, Maps, NFC tags, QR codes, or App Clip codes.
Apple Pencil – Scribble features allows users to handwrite in any text field to turn to text. Users can also draw images that will update into a streamlined computer version, select written text for editing, such as changing color or move text around to make space for more writing. Written text can be added to search bars instead of typing or in other text apps or features, such as Reminders. Users can scratch out text and it will then be deleted and can also write in different languages, such as Chinese and the new language letters will turn into text. Writing phone numbers and apps will also help users bring up associated apps, such as dialer or Maps. Users can also write and then copy and paste as text into a new app.
Airpods – Automatic switching allows Airpods to seamlessly connect to different devices without users having to switch them. Spatial audio for immersive surround sound.
AppleTV – Access Apple music and timed lyrics, Apple Arcade games with multi-user support, connectivity for Xbox controllers, fitness apps, and Picture-in-Picture
AppleTV+ – Sony and Vizio smart TV support. New original series Foundation, based on Issac Asimov novels releases in 2021.
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