June 6 (Reuters) – Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) announced Monday that it will further integrate its software into the dashboard of car dashboards that will begin shipping next year, while analysts and developers are looking forward to any clues as to how a future mixed reality headset might work.
Apple also announced that its new Macbook Air laptop has been “completely redesigned” around its new M2 silicon processor, which it says is 35% faster than the previous M1 chip. The new laptop will weigh 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg).
Apple unveiled an updated version of its Car Play software at its annual software developer conference. The new software will for the first time feed the instrument panel to the dashboard of a car showing speed, directions and fuel mileage. Apple said automakers such as Ford Motor Co. (FN), Nissan Motor Co. (7201.T) and Honda Motor Corp. (7267.T) plan to use the new software and that cars with it will begin shipping. next year.
Register now for FREE and unlimited access to Reuters.com
Sign up
Apple also announced that users can buy now and pay later for purchases. Apple Pay Later will be available anywhere Apple Pay is accepted and managed through Apple Wallet. Users can make four equal payments without interest or commissions.
Apple also added an edit button to iMessage for sent messages, surpassing Twitter (TWTR.N) to a long-requested feature.
Apple also introduced tweaks to popular applications, such as better rendering of landmarks in its Maps software, live sports results on Apple TV, and making the video sharing app available on messaging.
The tech giant is also adding a tool called “Security Check” to disable access to sensitive information for people in abusive situations.
Although a headset is unlikely to be announced on Monday, developers expect future headphones to use cameras to pass a view of the outside world to a high-resolution screen that can overlay digital objects on the physical environment and could arrive in March next year. said Anshel Sag, chief analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. This device would be Apple’s first entry into a new category of computing devices since the Apple Watch was launched in 2015 and would put it in direct competition with Meta (FB.O), which has revealed plans for a code of conduct. mixed reality headphones called “Cambria” which will be released this year.
But neither Sag nor other developers and analysts interviewed by Reuters are expecting a look at the headphones on Monday.
Instead, look for buried clues about the future device, such as improvements to the way Apple devices process augmented reality scenes. They will be looking for small surprises in the so-called “spatial” features in which the devices understand how they are used in three-dimensional space, said Andrew McHugh, who co-founded an application called Vivid that allows users to practically enter the interior. your videos and photos. Apple has previously released features such as space audio for its wireless headphones, where sounds change as users turn their heads.
Apple could announce an updated version of its Mac Pro computer, which is aimed at users such as developers who need a lot of computing power and is the latest machine in Apple’s line to use an Intel Corp. (CPU) processor. ). This machine would likely have a powerful processor made up of Apple’s multiple silicone chips fused with advanced packaging technology, said Ben Bajarin, head of consumer technology at Creative Strategies.
The Apple Store was offline Monday morning, a move that in the past has been followed by new products being added to the site.
Register now for FREE and unlimited access to Reuters.com
Sign up
Stephen Nellis report in San Francisco; Edited by Lisa Shumaker
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust.