At the opening of the keynote of the annual developers conference, Apple unveiled the new versions of its systems for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac. No revolution but small developments very inspired by what is done elsewhere.
It’s a tradition. The annual Apple Developers Conference (WWDC) is an opportunity for the Apple firm to unveil in preview the new features that will brighten up the next versions of the various in-house operating systems expected for next fall. And this year, everyone is benefiting from a little refresh: macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, VisionOS 2, watchOS 11 and tvOS 18 will evolve… sometimes only in small steps. And the least we can say is that Apple didn’t look very far for inspiration. We find many times ideas and concepts already widely used in the Windows and Android worlds, revisited with Apple sauce of course. Enough to make users who regularly navigate between these worlds smile. Announcements which still managed to monopolize more than an hour of this traditional keynote before giving way to the piece of choice, the arrival of artificial intelligence, called Apple Intelligence, within the various devices. Here is a summary of the main announcements.
iOS 18: Apple discovers home screen customization
iOS has been around for 17 years (even if it didn’t have that name when it started) but we had to wait until 2024 to be able to rearrange the icons as desired on the home screen. However, it is with the greatest seriousness that Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President Software Engineering, set out to demonstrate how in iOS 18 it will be simple to reorganize the icons but also to apply a dark theme to them or to personalize the color of contrast.
Less anecdotal, we will benefit from a more complete and more flexible Control Center and it will also be able to accommodate functions from third-party apps.
Messages, instant messaging which also manages SMS, will offer deferred sending. It will enrich texts with animations and emojis.
On the other hand, if Apple has refrained from commenting on the adoption of the RCS loudly demanded by Google, it is through a summary slide at the end of the presentation that we learn that this protocol will be well supported by iOS. Victory at last!
In addition, Apple provides the possibility of sending and receiving SMS messages via a satellite connection (except in emergency situations).
Mail is inspired by Gmail. It will allow messages to be categorized according to their content (promotional, personal, newsletter, etc.). It was time.
As on Android, it will be possible to lock an application and subject its use to unlocking from FaceID or TouchID. Likewise, it will also be possible to hide an application in plain sight.
Finally, players will be satisfied with the arrival of a Game Mode allowing them to concentrate the hardware resources available on the game to the detriment of applications running in the background.
iPadOS 18: no big changes for Apple’s tablet
Many people expected iPadOS 18 to be a big change in the way the iPad is used. We will still have to wait. Apple is content to add a few small functions to its tablet. We thus note the presence of a floating icon bar present when an app is displayed in full screen, the possibility, through SharePlay to take control of another iPad remotely (a bit like the Team Viewer platform) to assist a loved one or show them something.
The calculator is also making its debut on iPad associated with a module called Math Note. Thanks to it, it will be possible to use the Apple Pencil style to write complex operations or formulas and let the app reveal a result.
macOS Sequoia: a little air of déjà vu on Windows
The next version of the Mac system has something to smile about. Among the main new features, the spotlight focused on the iPhone Mirroring function, in other words the possibility of displaying the iPhone screen on that of the Mac even if it is locked and on the other side of the room . A big resemblance to the Link with Windows function available for a long time with the Microsoft system and Android smartphones (and even iPhones to a lesser extent). It will be possible to display the iPhone screen but also to control it and receive its notifications.
Another new feature “borrowed” from Redmond is the ability to pin windows to the edges of the screen by simply dragging and dropping.
macOS Sequoia will also include some of the new features introduced in iPadOS and iOS such as the new Messages, Math Notes, etc. Added to this is a new password manager that is simpler and more intuitive than the current Keychain available through the settings in iOS and iPadOS and in an eponymous and confusing app on macOS.
watchOS 11: omnipresent health and sport
The system of the queen of connected watches is evolving smoothly. With watchOS 11, Apple will focus first on sports. A module called Training Load will allow you to evaluate progress (or not) between several sports sessions.
Furthermore, those who feel bad by not being able to close the famous three circles of daily activity will be delighted to learn that they can pause the principle when they are unable to do so (in the event of injury, long journey, etc.). Enough to no longer feel frustrated.
A new function called Vital Signs also allows five data points to be monitored throughout the day and night (heart rate, breathing, temperature, blood oxygen and sleep) in order to create an overall health assessment and monitor its progress. over several days.
Apple Vision Pro: an official release date in France
Presented last year and available for sale since last February in the United States, the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset will finally be available in France from July 12. And it would be better to have a well-stocked wallet since the entry ticket is set at 4000 euros. visionOS, the headset’s operating system will be updated to version 2.0. Among the new features: the use of new gestures to control the device, the possibility of transforming 2D photos into “almost” 3D representations with depth and parallax effects or even taking advantage of a larger display size when the device replaces the Mac screen. The latter feature is expected to arrive later this year.
The harvest of new features concerning the different operating systems that power the firm’s devices is proving to be quite meager this year. The majority of resources probably had to be mobilized to finalize the integration of artificial intelligence (Apple Intelligence) within the various OS. However, developers should find it useful to exploit new functions to better control their apps.