Apple’s WWDC Developer Conference (AAPL), possibly its biggest event of the year, kicks off next Tuesday and is expected to make a number of changes to the software that powers each of the tech giant’s devices. .
We are talking about updates to iOS, iPadOS, Apple’s watchOS and perhaps the debut of the rumors of the company realityOS for VR and AR headphones.
Yahoo Finance will cover WWDC live as it unfolds, but as with any major Apple event, I already have questions about what consumers can expect from the program and how it will affect them.
So you need to pay attention to Apple’s WWDC.
Apple AR / VR software and headphones
The most anticipated and perhaps most current announcement at WWDC is the debut of Apple’s realityOS and the accompanying headphones.
It has been reported that Apple has been working for years on the software that powers its AR / VR headphones, and with competitors like Meta already on the market, Apple could finally take a look at what it has up its sleeve when it comes to its AR / VR plans. .
Updates for your iPhone and iPad
Yes, your iPhone looks updated thanks to some major changes that will occur through iOS 16. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, who apparently lives on the walls of Tim Cook’s office, iOS 16 will include updates to the iPhone lock screen and new widgets.
Android phones have been offering similar features for a long time, so it’s not exactly a new capability, but iPhone owners, tired of having to unlock their devices to check their latest notifications or search for time, probably they will enjoy. That said, the lock screen update may only be available to iPhone 14 users.
Gurman also notes improvements to the iOS Messages app, including more social media-style updates, as well as changes to system notifications.
CEO Tim Cook speaks at an Apple event at his headquarters in Cupertino, California, USA on September 10, 2019. REUTERS / Stephen Lam
In January, Twitter user @LeaksApplePro showed off some of the biggest widgets that Apple will bring to the iPhone with iOS 16, and they certainly seem to be quite useful, allowing users to access multiple features of the app at once , including changing music. and using the camera flash as light.
The story goes on
Apple’s iPad 16 is also said to have new multitasking capabilities that could further make the iPad a competitor to laptops. It’s still not as useful as using a full MacBook in certain situations, and Apple is unlikely to ever introduce them in direct competition, so don’t expect to be able to open and move through a multitude of different application windows.
The Apple Watch may have better battery life
The Apple Watch is the world’s best-selling smartwatch, and for good reason. It combines stellar design with fitness tracking and messaging capabilities. Apple is expected to show off its latest version of the clock-powered software, watchOS 9, during WWDC in hopes of improving the laptop’s battery life.
According to Gurman, watchOS 9 should include a new low-power mode, which seems to be different from the current Apple Watch power save mode, which turns off all clock functions except time.
As usual, Apple is likely to add new workouts to the watch as well as new watch dials. There is also the possibility that the company will improve its Health app for Apple Watch and iPhone. This could introduce a medication management tool as well as better health features for women.
The M2 chip and the new MacBook Air
Apple’s M1 chip has been a huge success for the company, offering exceptional battery power and performance in a single package. As a result, chips have found their way into a large number of Apple devices ranging from MacBooks to Macs and iPads.
Now, according to Gurman, Apple is preparing to launch its next-generation chip: the M2. Expect to see Apple showing the chip’s performance gains over the M1, not to mention how it compares to rivals like Intel and AMD.
In addition, Apple could launch a new MacBook Air along with the M2 as the first of its computers to get the chip. Apple’s latest MacBook Air with the M1 chip offered much better battery life than its predecessor with Intel technology, and it only follows that an M2-powered Air will.
We’ll keep track of all the WWDC news as it happens. Stay tuned to Yahoo Finance for more information.
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Do you have any advice? Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.