It is Apple season once again! (Although there are many Apple seasons 😄)
This blog post will be a broader recap and review of the event as a whole. I will dive deeper into the certain announcements in upcoming posts.
The event started with Craig Federighi (VP of Software Engineering) leading a group of Apple employees and some presenters in a flying plane to skydive down to the Apple Park. The pilot was playing music to get everyone hyped, and I noticed there was a throwback, as he was using the original iPod. How nostalgic. Everyone suited up in Apple-themed jumpsuits and glided from the plane with some revealing parachutes that said “Welcome to WWDC24” and others saying “iOS”, “macOS”, “visionOS”, “iPadOS”, and “watchOS”, for their major operating systems, previewing what is to be announced ahead. This all happened while the crew of employees was skydiving toward the Apple campus (aka donut, spaceship, Park, etc). It was so exhilarating! Watch for clever nuances as the intro rolls in the event.
Apple first kicked off the event with previewing visionOS 2. The update adds a range of new features and changes like an all-new Photos app now containing SharePlay and the ability to create spatial photos from existing 2D photos through machine learning. New gesture controls are also added from frequently used controls for Home View and Control Center. A new ultra-wide version of the Mac virtual display is now available with it being the equivalent of two 4K displays side-by-side along with the support for a physical mouse. You can now rearrange app icons in the home view within visionOS 2. Travel Mode gains support for trains when traveling with Apple Vision Pro. There are even more new features, but those are the major highlights. Apple Vision Pro is will become available in more countries by mid-July this year.
The following section of the event was the highly anticipated iOS 18. The release introduces all-new customization options, the biggest-ever redesign of Photos, powerful updates for staying connected, and Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system (from Apple). Look for another post detailing iOS 18 in deep.
Apple then focused on its Audio & Home section. Apple TV now has some new features and introduces InSight, a feature that displays timely information about actors, characters, and music from Apple TV+ movies and shows onscreen in real time (from Apple). Other updates to the TV app make watching content even easier to enjoy your show or film. Apple Fitness+ has been redesigned in tvOS 18 to help users make the most of its robust library, stay motivated, and keep consistent with their fitness routine (from Apple). There are also new screensavers on Apple TV, including Snoopy and more landscapes. With AirPods, Apple announced some great updates. Here it is from Apple:
Delivering a seamless, hands-free experience, Siri Interactions allow AirPods Pro users to privately respond to Siri with a simple head nod yes or shake no. For even clearer call quality, Voice Isolation comes to AirPods Pro, helping ensure the caller’s voice is heard in loud or windy environments. AirPods updates also significantly reduce audio latency while gaming, and add Personalized Spatial Audio for even more immersive gameplay.
Apple then highlighted the changes to watchOS. These updates include the new Vitals app, training load, new ways to tailor Activity rings, intelligent customization of the Smart Stack and Photos face, and the Translate app on Apple Watch (from Apple). I will dive deeper in another blog post.
The next section was iPadOS. Most of the updates correlated with the iOS updates. New updates include the introduction of Calculator with Math Notes, new handwriting tools in Notes, additional ways to customize iPad, and more (from Apple). I will dive deeper in a separate blog post, too.
Updates to the macOS system was then talked about. The system is called “macOS Sequoia” this year, continuing their California naming scheme. The Mac experience gets better than ever with iPhone Mirroring, big updates to Safari, highly anticipated games, and more (from Apple). I will dive deeper with another blog post.
And finally, an overarching theme of the event was AI, and Apple’s new model is called “Apple Intelligence”. This is Apple’s push into the business of AI. It sets a new standard for privacy in AI, and understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant (from Apple). These models Apple highlighted are very groundbreaking throughout the system with things like creating a smarter Siri, custom emojis and images being some of the highlights. I will unpack all of the announcements with Apple Intelligence in another post.
Overall, Apple’s latest event was packed with exciting announcements that promises to enhance the user experience across their ecosystem. From the thrilling skydive introduction to the detailed previews of visionOS 2, iOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, and all the other software, Apple showcased significant advancements in software and AI. Apple’s push into AI with Apple Intelligence marks a significant step forward, setting new standards for privacy and AI. With these innovations, Apple continues to lead the tech industry. I look forward to exploring these updates in greater depth in future blog posts.
Check out this video from MacRumors on a quick recap of everything announced at WWDC24:
The Apple Enthusiast 