One of the most anticipated events for the tech community, Worldwide Developed Conference WWDC 2017 was held yesterday. Like every year this event was packed with lots of the Apple product. At the event, Apple showed some hardware updates, iOS updates, MacOS updates. Some products will be available immediately and remaining others will come later.
If you have missed yesterday’s event, here is everything that Apple unveiled:
The iPad Pro comes in new sizes
Apple launched a new size for their iPad Pro – 10.5 inches. The new sized iPad will also include updated features and specs. The new iPad will begin shipping from today.
HomePod Speaker
Apple introduces the new speaker, with the height of 7-icnhes with their digital assistant built in. It is expected to compete with the Amazon’s popular speaker Echo. Similar to Echo, the HomePod uses your voice to play music and control HomeKit devices. It will cost you $390 starting and will be available later this year.
MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook got few updates
13-inch and 15 –inch MacBook Pro laptops got Intel’s latest 7th –generation core processor, – Kaby Lake. The 15-inch MacBook got faster graphics. Talking about MacBook Air got a minor update after 800 days. Air will have 1.8 GHz processor rather than 1.6 GHz processor. 12-inch MacBook will get some tweaks in its specs and an upgraded keyboard.
Updated iMac
As MacBook laptops, the iMac also got some updates, now users can create virtual reality contents. Specs-wise, it has higher memory capacity, up to 80% boosts in the graphics and more ports. Similar to MacBook, iMac will have Intel’s 7th – generation core processor, 32GB RAM in 21.5-inch iMac and 64 GB of RAM in 27-inch iMac.
Apple Watch and Apple TV
The Apple TV is getting wider contents with Amazon Prime Videos coming on the platform. And Apple SEO Tim Cook promised more updates coming later this year.
The Apple watch will get an update, with watchOS 4 announced at the event. The watchOS 4 isn’t much new to the watchOS 3, but there are some new interesting features.
A new Siri-powered watch face uses machine learning to customize its content in real time throughout the day, including reminders, traffic information, upcoming meetings, news, smart home controls, etc., when they’re supposed to be most relevant.
New fitness features include smarter workout controls, more prompts to set goals, and two-way workout data exchange with certain gym equipment, via partnerships with major manufacturers. You’ll also be able to use the watch face as a flashlight or blinking light during runs — a neat safety touch.
The Apple Watch will also be able to better connect with other hardware gadgets, such as continuous glucose monitors, via Bluetooth. We’ll be looking for more about this when Apple unveils this year’s new Watch hardware, expected in the fall.
Updated Mac OS
Apple isn’t doing a major macOS update this year — instead, the company has spent the year “perfecting it,” Apple SVP Craig Federighi said. This includes updates to Safari, including autoplay video blocking and “intelligent tracking prevention” to cut back at ad trackers; better Photos editing and organization; a faster new behind-the-scenes file system; a stronger updated graphics engine that supports VR development; and support for the Unity and Unreal gaming engines (which drew a round of applause from the developer audience).
iOS 11 updates
Apple saved its most important platform, which powers the iPhone and iPad, for last. iMessages will now synchronize better between devices and will free up storage space by offloading things like old photo messages to the cloud.
Apple Pay will now support person-to-person payments via iMessage, using a new “Apple Pay Cash” card.
Siri will translate queries into other languages, including French, Spanish and Chinese; will support more third-party apps via the Siri Kit developers kit that Apple released last year; and will have more context for proactive suggestions. It will also start “reading” the text on your screen so you can do things like spell complicated words you’ve just looked at — like Reykjavik — more easily.
The camera will use more efficient algorithms and file formats for photos and videos, which means they’ll take up less space than before. (Apple seems to be moving beyond JPEG as the default for photos, which could raise some compatibility questions — more research to be done here.) Slick new tricks are on the way for Live Photos.
The lock screen and Notifications window — the two places you interact with notifications — are merging into one. The Apple Maps app will have more detailed airport maps for a selection of airports.
There’s a smart new “do not disturb while driving” safety mode, which will silence notifications, show a blank screen on your phone, and auto-reply with an “I’m driving!” message while you’re driving.
Apple’s HomeKit service will now support multi-room home speakers from several major manufacturers, and a new AirPlay 2 feature will make it easier to play music and audio to other devices.
Apple Music is getting more social — Apple must really miss Ping! — and Apple is making it easier for developers to embed Apple Music into other apps and services.
Apple is redesigning the App Store for the first time, and it looks a lot like Apple Music — big promo art, a tab for games, and more visibility into in-app purchases. App developers will also get some new features, including “phased releases” that will make it easier to launch major new updates.
iPad-specific features in iOS 11 — long overdue! — include a new dock for apps, a new multi-app view for multitasking, drag-and-drop support and a new Files app. It’s also easier to mark up screenshots and documents with the Apple Pencil stylus. And iOS will try to understand your handwriting in the Notes app so you can search the text.
Apple Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Apple also has some big new tools for developers, including AR Kit for augmented-reality apps, which Apple is calling the “largest AR platform in the world.” (Facebook and Google have also recently touted AR platforms.) It will also offer new machine learning and natural language capabilities, including things like face tracking and photo recognition.
Worth noting: While Apple is launching AR Kit this year, it’s not announcing AR features built directly into its own camera app yet.
iOS 11 will ship this fall, with a public beta starting this month.
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