WWDC 2020

It is that time of year for the WWDC. I think more than hardware announcements, I like these announcements more as they are usually things I can use regardless of the hardware I have. I am currently using the following Apple products

• MacBook Air 2014 running Catalina
• iPad Pro 2020 edition
• iPhone 8+
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple TV
• iMac

We shall see what is announced and if any of my stuff is getting too old…

Apple Special Event

• Oooooo….Animojis
• So when did they record this?

iOS14

• Customizable home screens with apps and widgets?
• App Library- automatically organizes apps
  • seems like smart folders for the iPhone
  • tap to hide pages
  • Apps used most can be launched with a quick touch
• Widgets
  • Resizing widgets!
  • drag out to today view to home screens
  • SmartStack widgets? Lots of AI happening…
• Picture in Picture on iPhone
  • Like iPadOS
  • Makes sense with larger screened phones
• Siri
  • updating with a compact design
  • maybe it could be more responsive and listen better…
  • It seems like they are trying…that is good.
  • Translations are good. I like the on-device idea. Will this be better than the Microsoft app or Google one?
  • Conversation mode is nice.
    • I mean…this is what Apple does so well…takes the ideas out there and makes them better
• Messages
  • Conversations
    • pinning conversations
  • Memoji
    • new styles and things…including a mask…
  • Groups
    • Inline replies (seems like Slack)
    • Mentions (definitely like Slack)
    • Nice UI…group photos…
• Apple Maps
  • It isn’t terrible anymore
  • Focus on privacy
  • Combines some elements of Yelp with Guides
  • New ways to get there (cycling directions which seems cool as does EV routing)
• CarPlay
  • wish I had it in my car…
  • rethinking car keys?
  • Digital Car Keys and I officially found an Apple device I cannot afford in the BMW they used as part of the demo
• App Clips?
  • i stepped out for a bit…so i am behind

iPadOS 14

• Photos, Calendar, Music, and Widgets updated
• Siri Compact design
• Calls will use the compact design of Siri
• Search Update
  • compact design looks nice. More like Finder on my laptop
• Apple Pencil
  • Mine is nice, but limited in some areas
  • Scribble
    • nice additions
    • could be a game changer for schools
  • will this work with off-brand pencils?

AirPods

• Automatic switching FINALLY
• AirPods Pro spacial audio updates, which seems nice…not worth updating from my regular AirPods, but cool for those who have the Pros

WatchOS 7

• Complications
  • multiple locations for complications
• Configurations are easier
• Face Sharing
  • 3rd party apps
  • From Websites
  • From a friend
  • Missing apps offered when you get new Faces
  • Sharable on social media
• Maps
  • Cycling directions
• Workout App
  • now includes Dance…tech explanation occurred
  • Cooldown
  • Summary tab in activity…which is now called Fitness
• Sleep tracker
  • Wind Down, sleep schedules
  • worry about the battery life…
• Hand Washing tracker
  • I mean…sure

Privacy

• Apple considers this a fundamental human right
• Data Minimization
• On-device intelligence
• Security Protections
• Transparency and control
• Sign in with Apple
  • 200 million accounts created since it was introduced
  • You can convert old accounts to Sign in with Apple, if offered. That is cool.
• Tracking control
  • Safari
  • in Apps as well
  • Summary for App privacy coming to the App store
• HomeKit
  • Automations suggested as things are installed
  • Can this be used with Google Home devices?
  • Adaptive lighting coming
  • Face recognition coming to Cameras and will connect to other Apple devices
  • Cameras linked to tvOS14

tvOS 14

• Gaming
  • expanding multi-user support
• Picture-in-Picture throughout tvOS
• Improved AirPlay
• Apple TV+
  • coming to Sony and Vizio smart TVs later this summer
  • Foundation Preview

macOS Big Sur

• Big Sur (10.16?) 11.0
• Design changes coming…
  • Seems like a lot of little things that will make a big difference
  • Revamped Dock, Finder, Icons, Mail (brought color back), Photos, Calendar, Notes, Podcasts, Music, iWork, Menu Bar, Control Center added, Notification Center (like iOS), Widgets
• Messages on macOS
  • Search
  • Photo Picker
  • Memoji
  • Effects
  • Pinned conversations
• Maps
  • All new version on Mac
  • Favorites
  • Create your own Guides (good for schools)
  • All of the iOS 14 updates as well
• Mac Catalyst
• Safari
  • Privacy report
  • Extensions coming, but you have more control on what they see
  • Customizing start page
  • Tabs: cool updates coming
  • Built in translation in Safari

Apple Sillicon (SoCs)

• In-house Apple Processor for Macs
• Discussion on the chips used for iPhone and iPad
• Performance+Power
  • Translating the tech talk- Making it better. Faster and using less power
• SoCs
  • will allow to build better products by making things easier for developers
  • Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro updated for new chips on Day 1
  • Universal 2 allows support for Intel Based Macs and Apple Sillicon
• Rosetta 2 included to translate existing apps on new chips
• Virtualization options coming to Big Sur as well
• iOS and iPadOS apps will run natively on Sillcon Macs
  • HUGE. THIS IS HUGE.

Shipping at the end of 2020

Transition should take 2 years with new Intel Macs still coming

Software Public Beta in July. Full launch this Fall.