Tag: WWDC 2018

iOS 12: Everything You Need To Know
The first day of the World Wide Developer’s Conference 2018 was an eventful one. Many expected announcements were made and a few anticipated features were yet again snubbed. One of the highlights of WWDC 2018 was the unveiling of iOS 12. The next iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system which will, according to the company, see the biggest software roll-out yet. Apple announced that all the devices that were updated to iOS 11 will receive an update to iOS 12. Here is a list of all the iOS 12 compatible devices:
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 6/6 Plus
- iPhone 6s/6s Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 7/7Plus
- iPhone 8/8Plus
- iPhone X
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2017)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2016)
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad Air 2
- iPad Air
- iPad (2017)
- iPad Mini 4
- iPad Mini 3
- iPad Mini 2
- iPod touch 6th generation
One of the issues with iOS 11 was that older devices became agonisingly slow with the new update. Apple has conceded that with iOS 12, the older devices will be about 40% faster and app-load times will be significantly lesser. This is great news for people who are still clinging on to their iPhone 5s or iPhone 6 and would want to upgrade to the latest version of iOS. Apple followed through with Tim Cook’s earlier remarks about iOS 12. The new version will not be a huge visual upgrade, in fact, it will be a performance upgrade for all devices, and not just older iPhones and iPads.

Apple also introduced a group calling feature in FaceTime. Group FaceTime makes it easy to chat with multiple people at the same time. Participants can be added at any time, join later if the conversation is still active and choose to join using video or audio from an iPhone, iPad or Mac — or even participate using FaceTime audio from Apple Watch. Another interesting feature is the use of Memoji within FaceTime which just adds an extra bit of fun to video calls.

Apple also introduced a few features to Siri, Apple’s AI voice assistant. One of the new features added to Siri is Shortcuts. This will allow any app to access Siri using a particular phrase which can be personalised. Apps will have an ‘add to Siri’ option. For example, if you say “Siri I lost my keys,” Siri will automatically open the Tile app. Siri will also track a user’s activity within an app and predict actions for users at specific times. For example, if a user orders a coffee in the morning, Siri will automatically notify them to order the coffee with the usual order pre-decided.

Apple also claimed that new AR features will be introduced to iOS 12. One of the features is the new AR app called, Measure. As the name suggests, the app lets users measure real-life objects thanks to AR. It also automatically recognises rectangles and gives instant measurements. Impressively, the app can also measure in 3D, which means you can measure more than just the length or breadth of an object.

Apple also unveiled the AR sharing experience thanks ARKit 2.0. This means that developers can create apps that will let multiple users share the same experience or play the same game. Won’t be too long before we AR Beer Pong being played on iPad Pros in dorm rooms.

One of the biggest pain points of iOS users has been notifications. Any moderately social media savvy user knows the struggles of managing notifications from different apps on an iOS device. With iOS 12, Apple has addressed this issue. One of the most talked-about features of iOS 12, before WWDC began, was notifications.

First up is Do Not Disturb mode for notifications. This means that during a user’s specified ‘Night Time’, the iPhone won’t display any notifications. The iPhone won’t light up for a notification meaning less disturbance and users will be able to deal with the notifications once they’re up.

Must Read: WWDC 2018: macOS Mojave With Dark Mode Unveiled

The second important feature is grouped notifications. Unlike any iOS versions so far, iOS 12 will group all the notifications from one app resulting in a much less cluttered lock screen and notification panel. With one swipe, users will get an option to either manage, open or dismiss all the notifications at once.

On paper, these are very important updates to iOS, especially for users with older devices. Many people were anticipating a Dark Mode to make its way to iOS but, they’ll have to make do with Smart Invert for the time being. Apple did, however, commit to the Dark Mode but, on macOS Mojave instead. Whether iOS 12 will be that performance upgrade everyone was hoping for, only time will tell as we expect the final version of iOS 12 to roll-out a few days after the 2018 iPhone lineup is launched.
June 5, 2018
WWDC 2018: macOS Mojave With Dark Mode Unveiled

Apple’s annual World Wide Developer’s conference has mostly focused on software. This time around, there was a lot of chatter around some hardware products being launched at WWDC 2018. Devices like the iPhone SE 2, AirPower were expected to be unveiled, however, that did not happen. One rumour that did get confirmed pertains to macOS. Apple unveiled macOS Mojave, the successor to macOS High Sierra which will roll out to compatible Macs later in the year.

Dark Mode

One of the most requested features for iOS has made its way to macOS. The Dark Mode has been on the wishlist of iOS users for many years but, iOS 12 won’t be getting it. Instead, macOS Mojave will take advantage of this famed feature. With the dark mode, the UI will become dark and it will work with all system apps. The Photos app, Pages, Keynote and all other pre-installed apps on macOS will have a dark UI once this feature is enabled.

While this is not a performance upgrade, we expect it to be one of the most talked about macOS updates in the coming months. This also means that Apple is open to a darker UI and iOS 13, or a future iOS 12 update might bring in this feature, too.

Desktop and Finder

People who intensively use their Macs know the pain of a cluttered desktop. A macOS desktop can get cluttered very soon and the new Stack feature will help users sort that out. Users can customize their Stacks to sort based on other file attributes like date and tags. Finder also gets a significant update in macOS Mojave with an all-new Gallery View that lets users skim through files visually. The Preview Pane now shows all of a file’s metadata, making it easier to manage media assets.

Group FaceTime

The iOS feature reaches the new macOS Mojave as well. Group FaceTime makes it easy to chat with multiple people at the same time. Participants can be added at any time, join later if the conversation is still active and choose to join using video or audio from an iPhone, iPad or Mac — or even participate using FaceTime audio from Apple Watch.

June 5, 2018
Apple’s Memoji Feature Will Let Users Create Personalised Animojis

At WWDC 2018, Apple unveiled the new version of iOS which will see to iOS devices later this year. Along with new features to Siri and a better notification management, Apple also unveiled new additions to Animojis. In September, Apple introduced Animojis along with the iPhone X and for all the fancy Face ID tech it possessed, Animojis soon became its most famous feature. Apple appears to have recognised that and has gone a step further Memoji.

Memoji is what Samsung tried to do with AR Emojis and did not succeed. In iMessage, where you would usually select an Animoji, users will soon be able to swipe right and click on the add button to create a custom Memoji. In this window, users will be able to build their own Animoji-type characters from the ground up. Apple will let users decide minute details like freckles, hair colour, hair style, accessories like hats, glasses and more. Once done, users can save it to use in iMessages, or it can be overlaid on the user’s own face while taking a selfie.

Animojis also get a new feature which Apple quipped as “revolutionary,” Tongue Detection. Bizarrely enough, many users were disappointed that animojis did not track their tongues. Well, Apple has admittedly addressed that very specific complaint and users will be able to use their toungue to express through animojis as well. Along with tongue detection, animojis also get new characters like a ghost, koala, tiger, and T-rex.

With Samsung’s attempt failing to take off, it will be interesting to see how Memoji takes off with iOS 12.

June 5, 2018
WWDC 2018: iOS 12 Launched With Performance Updates And New AR Capabilities
The first day of Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference kicked off in San Jose, California today. Historically, WWDC has concentrated on the software aspect of Apple’s portfolio. At WWDC 2018, Apple unveiled iOS 12, the successor to iOS 11 which was seeded to compatible devices in September 2017. iOS 12 will be seeded to the iPhone 5s and newer, meaning an iPhone launched in 2014 will run on the latest version of iOS.

While iOS 11 had a rocky start, about 81% of iOS devices run iOS 11 at this point. Compared to this, only 6% of Android devices run on the latest version of Android Oreo. Apple has announced that all the devices that received the iOS 11 update will also receive the iOS 12 update. The company claims that this is the biggest software roll-out so far. Here is a list of all the iOS devices which will receive the iOS 12 update later in the year:
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 6/6 Plus
- iPhone 6s/6s Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 7/7Plus
- iPhone 8/8Plus
- iPhone X
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2017)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2016)
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad Air 2
- iPad Air
- iPad (2017)
- iPad Mini 4
- iPad Mini 3
- iPad Mini 2
- iPod touch 6th generation
With iOS 12, Apple has confirmed what it claimed a few months ago. Tim Cook said that iOS 12 will concentrate a lot more on performance than the visuals. Since older devices like the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 will be updated to iOS 12, the company claims that this won’t slow down the performance. In fact, app load times could be two times faster with the new iOS update.

AR

Google introduced some really cool features to Google Lens at the Google I/O. Apple has also claimed that new AR features will be introduced to iOS 12. One of the features is the new AR app called, Measure. As the name suggests, the app lets users measure real-life objects thanks to AR. It also automatically recognises rectangles and gives instant measurements. Impressively, the app can also measure in 3D, which means you can measure more than just the length or breadth of an object.

Apple also unveiled the AR sharing experience thanks ARKit 2.0. This means that developers can create apps that will let multiple users share the same experience or play the same game. Won’t be too long before we AR Beer Pong being played on iPad Pros in dorm rooms.

Siri

Siri, Apple’s AI voice assistant is the oldest in the industry right now. However, with Google Assistant’s advancements, it has fallen behind the pecking order in the last year or so. With WWC 2018, Apple was expected to announce a major overhaul to Siri, considering how the new iOS version concentrates on performance and efficiency more than anything else. However, while Apple did introduce new Siri functionalities, there weren’t any major announcements regarding Apple’s famed voice assistant.

One of the new features added to Siri is Shortcuts. This will allow any app to access Siri using a particular phrase which can be personalised. Apps will have an ‘add to Siri’ option. For example, if you say “Siri I lost my keys,” Siri will automatically open the Tile app. Siri will also track a user’s activity within an app and predict actions for users at specific times. For example, if a user orders a coffee in the morning, Siri will automatically notify them to order the coffee with the usual order pre-decided. This means that the user just has to tap on the notification and confirm the order. Similarly, if a user is late for a meeting, the search brings up an option to text another person that you’re late.

Notifications

One of the biggest pain points of iOS users has been notifications. Any moderately social media savvy user knows the struggles of managing notifications from different apps on an iOS device. With iOS 12, Apple has addressed this issue. One of the most talked-about features of iOS 12, before WWDC began, was notifications. With Google doing so much for users to handle notifications more efficiently, Apple’s response was well anticipated. And it looks like Apple has delivered.

First up is Do Not Disturb mode for notifications. This means that during a user’s specified ‘Night Time’, the iPhone won’t display any notifications. The iPhone won’t light up for a notification meaning less disturbance and users will be able to deal with the notifications once they’re up.

The second important feature is grouped notifications. Unlike any iOS versions so far, iOS 12 will group all the notifications from one app resulting in a much less cluttered lock screen and notification panel. With one swipe, users will get an option to either manage, open or dismiss all the notifications at once. This will come in handy for a lot of people who don’t necessarily turn off notifications of a lot of apps.

Apple’s Digital Well-Being

At Google I/O, one of the main themes was an average user’s worrying usage time of a smartphone. Apple appears to have addressed this issue as well with iOS 12. Apple wants its users to spend a limited amount of time on their iPhones and their iPhones will in fact remind them of that. Users can set a time limit to certain apps they feel they’re “addicted” to. Once that time runs out, the iPhone will display a window that says it is time to move on. Users then have the option to either close the app and move on or ignore the warning and extend their time on the app.

This will work on all iOS devices which means that whether you’re on your iPhone or iPad, you can spend a limited time on Instagram. This will come in handy for parents as well, as they try to limit their child’s usage of electronic devices. The timing can be set to any app and the notification goes to every iOS device connected to the certain Apple ID.
June 4, 2018
Apple iPhone SE 2 Won’t Launch At WWDC 2018

Apple will hold its annual developer’s conference in early-June in San Jose, California. The World Wide Developer’s Conference has historically revolved around Apple’s multiple operating systems rather than hardware. However, Apple has managed to unveil a few hardware products at these conferences. The iPhone SE 2 was long rumoured to launch before WWDC 2018 or at least, at WWDC. That, however, seems highly unlikely.

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A new report by Bloomberg claims that the WWDC 2018 will only focus on Apple’s software advancements. Unlike last year, there will be no announcements pertaining to the company’s Mac lineup. Apple is working on refreshes to the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook with new Intel chipsets and is planning a new low-cost laptop to succeed MacBook Air. However, these won’t be ready until later this year. Even the iPad Pro with Face ID will launch later in the year and won’t be announced at WWDC.

The Apple iPhone SE 2 too, won’t be on Apple’s agenda for WWDC 2018. The successor to the highly popular iPhone SE has been anticipated for a long time. The leaks and renders of the smartphone have been polarising to the say the least but, there has at least been chatter about its existence. It seems unlikely that Apple will launch 4 iPhones at its September event. Which means that if not WWDC, the iPhone SE 2’s launch could be further pushed to March 2019.

The iPhone SE was launched in March 2016. The iPhone SE 2 has been rumoured to launch in May but, that ship has sailed with the passing of the month. While an upgraded iPhone SE 2 would be beneficial for a lot of users, whether Apple wants to put time and money into a non-flagship iPhone is a different question. Question marks regarding the design of the iPhone SE 2 have only increased with time. With some leaks suggesting a radical new design and others claiming that it won’t look too different from the iPhone SE.

Must Read: Apple iPhone X Plus Will be The Same Size As iPhone 8 Plus

Whatever the design of the iPhone SE 2 will be, we won’t know for sure until its official launch. Apple might spring a surprise and launch it at WWDC 2018 or, it could be a part of an event where the new iPad Pro and MacBooks are unveiled. Stay tuned for all the coverage of the World Wide Developer’s Conference that commences on June 4th.

June 1, 2018
Apple Might Introduce New NFC Features For iOS 12 At WWDC 2018

The buzz around the 2018 iPhone lineup has not even reached its peak yet and we have already numerous leaks about it. However, before Apple hosts one of the biggest launch events of the year, it will play host to one of the biggest developer’s conferences in June. The World Wide Developer’s Conference will commence on June 4th and many software-based announcements are expected. We will learn more about iOS 12 as well and it appears that the new iOS version will have more NFC functionalities than before.

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A new report claims that Apple will introduce interesting features pertaining to NFC functionalities with iOS 12. Apple first introduced NFC in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus back in 2014. So far, NFC has mainly been used for Apple Pay which is not available in India right now. With iOS 12, however, there will be a lot more, that an iPhone user will be able to do with NFC.

The report by The Information claims that:

The change to the near-field communication, or NFC, chip, which is expected to be announced next month, could pave the way for people to use iPhones for other security-sensitive interactions, from paying transit fares and opening car doors to verifying their identity in other ways.

With new functionalities, iPhone users will be able to unlock NFC-enabled doors and even use it to transmit data to transit systems, personal authentication devices and more. How much of it will be usable in a country like India is yet to be seen.

Apple employees are already using their iPhones to unlock doors at Apple Park, likely via custom badge readers detailed in Federal Communications Commission filings last year.

Apple has iterated that iOS 12 will concentrate more on performance aspect than UI. This means that visually, iOS 12 might not look a lot different from iOS 11 but, there will be performance enhancements which iPhone users will be able to notice once they upgrade to the latest version of iOS. Apple was scrutinised recently for slowing down iPhones without making it clear to iPhone users as to why the company was doing so. With iOS 11.3, users can choose whether to let the battery degrade with time or prolong battery life by capping the CPU power.

With iOS 12, there will be more changes in the back-end processes and less visual changes. Users with older iPhones would definitely appreciate that if it means that their iPhones will be smoother than before. It is rumoured that the iPhone 5s will also receive an update to iOS 12 which means an iPhone launched in 2013 will run on the latest version of iOS. More details to follow when WWDC 2018 kicks off on June 4th.

May 28, 2018
Apple To Host WWDC 2018 From June 4th

Apple has announced that its annual developer’s conference, World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC 2018) will commence on the 4th of June till June 8th. For the second year in a row, the conference will take place at McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. The developer’s conference is for app and software developers where Apple unveils the latest version of all its operating systems.

This time around, the company is expected to announce iOS 12, macOS 10.14 10.14, watchOS 5 and tvOS 12. Apple also uses the conference to unveil new innovations and give a sneak peek into what the future holds for Apple. At the WWDC 2017, Apple unveiled the HomePod, its first-ever smart speaker which recently went on sale.

To participate in the conference, you will need tickets. And for that, Apple has announced that it will rely on a lottery system since the demand has been extremely high over the years. Apple is also offering up to 350 WWDC Student Scholarships, wherein students and members of all STEM organisations can earn a free ticket to WWDC 2018.

What To Expect From WWDC 2018

At WWDC 2018, Apple is expected to showcase its advancements in AR technology since it unveiled ARKit at WWDC 2017. Since launching ARKit, iOS has become the largest platform for augmented reality. New versions of iOS as well as macOS are also expected to be announced. Reports claim that the new version of iOS will not have a lot of design changes. In fact, since iOS 11 has been a shaky update so far, iOS 12 will concentrate on stability more than anything else.

iPhone X Plus Concept

While WWDC has historically been about software, Apple has been unveiling a few products lately. WWDC 2018 could see the announcements of an entry-level MacBook and the most affordable MacBook Air. While chances are slim, a HomePod Mini could be unveiled as well. Although, there has been no rumour about it all.

This conference will also serve as a sneak peek into what will be in store for the upcoming iPhones. Apple iPhones of 2018 is expected to look similar to the iPhone X. This means that Face ID will now be a primary feature and not a one-off attempt which a lot of people assumed. Apple might showcase new technologies that will better Face ID on the upcoming iPhones and the current iPhone X.

While a lot of people expected the iPhone SE 2 to be unveiled at WWDC 2018, it doesn’t seem likely. However, one can always hope.

March 14, 2018