Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference went virtual this year, streaming from June 7 through June 11. The event was kicked off with a keynote and jammed to the brim with announcements.
TechCrunch outlined some of the biggest news to know from the week long event. The latest major update to iOS, iOS 15, will roll into public beta this summer with a full release sometime in the fall. The release focuses on four points: staying connected, finding focus, using intelligence and exploring the world. Various FaceTime updates are coming from spatial audio to shareable links and more. “Focus” mode will allow you to shift your phone into different, customizable modes, and notifications can be set up to “batch” as well. Live text will now be recognized in photos, whether handwritten or printed.
Other areas of newness include updates to Apple Wallet and Apple Maps. Home, office and hotel keys will be incorporated into Apple Wallet, allowing the ability to unlock compatible doors in those places with your phone. Maps will be receiving a details-focused overhaul, including the addition of 3D elevation maps and rendered landmarks, crosswalks, bike lanes, etc. AirPods will now work with the Find My app and the Pro version includes a Conversation Mode where you can boost the volume of voices and control ambient noise volume.
iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS will also have new features and updates rolling out. Plus, we will be seeing new security updates and Health updates, along with Siri being opened up to third-party manufacturers and their devices. Lastly, while the keynote tends to focus on consumer-facing announcements, there were a few developer highlights noted too. To learn the full details about all of the exciting announcements shared, visit here for TechCrunch’s full recap.
